3078 —תפקידו של שמש בהארת בית הכנסת

B"H, 5 Kislev, 5715. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the second of Toldos, in which you write main points from your experiences and that you are now serving in holiness as shamash at the Beit Knesset Linat HaTzedek.

Surely you have heard the saying from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, which he said in the name of the tzt"z when addressing a shamash: "Kra la'shemesh veyizrach or – Kra la'shemesh veyizrach or" (Call to the sun and light will shine – Call to the shamash and light will shine). My father-in-law explained that a shamash in a shul—his work, his inner service—should be to help people daven with feeling, to learn as is proper, to say Tehillim after davening, and to expand Torah study sessions etc., for then it becomes bright—illuminated—in the shul.

And the measure of the Holy One is measure for measure: when one brings light into the place that G‑d calls His house of prayer, G‑d brings light into the homes of those who strive in this.

As explained in several sefarim...

With blessing.

Summary

A shamash's true role is not just physical service but inspiring heartfelt prayer and learning among congregants. By illuminating G‑d's house spiritually, one merits that G‑d illuminates their own home as well.