(8) “He has told you, O man, what is good, And what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice And to love goodness, And to walk modestly with your God;
The Story of Reb Zusya - Hasidic tale
Rabbi Zusya of Hanipoli was an 18th century Hasidic rabbi and a revered teacher. There is a story of a conversation he had with his students when he was old and had taken ill. He began to weep until one of this students asked, “Rabbi, why do you weep? Surely if anyone has assured a place in the kingdom of heaven it is you!” The rabbi turned his head towards his beloved students and began to speak softly. “If, my children, when I stand before the heavenly court, I am asked, ‘Zusya, why were you not a Moses?’ I shall have no hesitation affirming, ‘I was not born a Moses.’ If they ask me, ‘Why were you not an Elijah?’ I shall speak with confidence, ‘Neither am I Elijah.’ I weep, friends, because there is only one question I fear to be asked, ‘Why were you not Zusya?’