Usually, we share stories about Tzadikim, but amech kulam Tzadikim — every Yid is a big Tzadik. So I’ll tell you a story about two “regular” Yidden.
The story is about a conversation that two Chassidim once had with each other. It’s unknown who they were, but the fact that this conversation was remembered and passed down through generations tells us that even though it might sound like a simple exchange, there’s something deep here, something we can all learn from.
One Chassid asked his friend, “I have a question for you. When a king is going about his official business, taking care of royal matters, he’s careful to always wear his crown. But what happens when the king goes home and finishes his day’s work? He takes off his royal clothing to relax and rest. My question is, what does the king do with the crown? Where does he put it for safekeeping?”
The second Chassid answered, “What kind of question is that? He puts it on his hat rack. He probably has a shelf or a hook where he hangs it up for the night.”
But the first Chassid wasn’t satisfied. “Why does he put it on a shelf? He’s the most powerful person in the world, with thousands of loyal servants. Wouldn’t it be more respectful for him to have a special servant who holds the crown on his head, right by the king’s side, until the king is ready to wear it again? Let the servant be the hat rack! Wouldn’t that show more respect for the crown?”
The second Chassid admitted he had a point. “It does seem more fitting for the crown to rest on the head of a servant instead of sitting on a shelf. But the problem is, there’s a real concern. If a servant walks around too long with the king’s crown on his head, he might start to think that he’s the king! He could forget his role and take the honor for himself. The king wouldn’t want that, so he’d rather play it safe and leave the crown on the shelf.”
The first Chassid still wasn’t satisfied. He asked, “What if the king had a servant who was so loyal and so devoted that he truly saw himself as nothing more than a hat rack, just a tool to hold the king’s crown and nothing else?”
At that point, the second Chassid conceded. “If you had such a servant, one who truly saw himself as absolutely nothing but a hat rack for the king, then yes, such a servant would be worthy of holding the king’s crown until the king needed it again.”
What can we learn from all this?
From all the Tzadikim we’ve had, the one who Hashem trusted with His most prized possession, the one who He gave His “crown” to — the holy Torah — was Moshe Rabbeinu. Hashem gave the Torah to Moshe, to the extent that the Torah is even called Toras Moshe. The Torah is Hashem’s crown. So why was Moshe Rabbeinu chosen over anyone else? Was he more careful in halacha, or more charismatic than any other leader?
The answer is simple. Moshe Rabbeinu saw himself as a hat rack. He didn’t see himself as great, or deserving, or important. He saw himself as nothing more than a humble servant — a vessel for Hashem. And because Moshe saw himself in that way, Hashem was able to place His crown on his head.
The lesson for all of us is to see ourselves as messengers of Hashem, here to fulfill our shlichus in this world. We’re all just a bunch of hat racks, walking around as vessels that Hashem can use to bring His light and goodness into the world. The more we live with that mindset, the more we will be zocheh to Hashem’s crown, and all the bracha and shefa that comes with it.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 45.