[Avodah] better not to have been born

[Daniel Eidensohn]

Micha Berger wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 01:33:50PM -0400, Zev Sero wrote:
>   
>>                              But from Hashem's point of view, He wants
>> [geirim] so much that He sent us out among the nations for the sole purpose
>> of finding and recruiting them.
>>     
>
> That's R' Elazar on Pesachim 87b, using the lashon "Lo hiflah HQBH es
> Yisrael levein ha'umos ela kedei sheyosifu lahem geirim."
>
> And yet we know there are other reasons, such as our needing an
> onesh.
>
>   
An alternative explanation is that of the Kabbalists:

*Rav Tzadok(**Pri Tzadik -- Parshas Parah #3): *... This that it says in 
Pesachim (87b) that G-d exiled Israel only in order to have converts 
join them.. This is explained [Arizal] that it doesn't mean actual 
converts but rather the gathering of sparks of kedusha and vitality 
which are found amongst the nations. These sparks are extracted from the 
nations by means of Jewish exile....

*Rav Tzadok**(Pri Tzadik -- Prashas Metzora  #6): *The purpose of exile 
is in order to extract the holy sparks from the nations as it says in 
Pesachim (87b) that G-d only exile the Jews in order that converts would 
join them. The holy books state that this doesn't mean for the purpose 
of non-Jews converting but rather that the Jews will acquire the 
holiness that exists amongst the nations. This is similar to the 
statement describing the Egyptian exile that the Jews despoiled Egypt 
and made it like a trap that had no corn for bait or like a pond that 
had no fish (Pesachim 119a). The term "fish" alludes to the basis and 
source of life as Bereishis (1:20) described them was "living soul". 
Thus this describes the spoils which they took from the nations of the 
world as it says in Tehilim (119:161): "I rejoice at your word, like one 
who finds great booty."

*Rav Tzadok**(Pri Tzadik - Parshas Behar #11):* As it says in Pesachim 
(87b) that G-d did not exile the Jews except that they should have 
converts join them. This is referring to the sparks of holiness that the 
Jews extract during exile and consequently also obtain converts from the 
nations from those whose essence is good and need to become part of the 
Jewish people...**

*Rav Tzadok**(Pri Tzadik -- Parshas Eschanon #1):*... The purpose of 
exile to extract from the nations the source of life which is that Oral 
Torah which they have. However in relationship to them this life is in 
exile within them because they take this life force and reverse it. This 
idea is found in Pesachim (87b) that G-d only exiled the Jews in order 
that the converts join them. That is referring to the sparks of holiness 
which they extract. When the Jews extract all the Oral Torah then that 
will be the end of the kingship of Moshiach...And Shabbos which 
corresponds to the attriubte of kingship there is also a revelation of 
the Oral Torah as I have explained many times.**






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