Know, Sh’kasheh Me’od Lihiyot Mefursam (It is Very Difficult to be Famous). Being widely known causes a person great harm. There are times when it requires that he suffer on behalf of the masses, as it is written (Isaiah 53:5), “and through his wounds we were healed.” On account of his fame, he is in the category of “Therefore, I will give him a portion from the many” (ibid. 53:12). He therefore has to suffer on behalf of the many, since it is said of him: “and through his wounds we were healed.” Nevertheless, some people are meant to be famous, and [Heaven] makes them, in particular, widely known.
However, there are certain tzaddikim who accept suffering upon themselves of their own accord, for the sake of the Jewish people. By doing so, they exchange the spiritual influx; as explained above, in Lesson #63:3, concerning the verse “with two it would conceal its face.” See there.
דַּע, שֶׁקָּשֶׁה מְאֹד לִהְיוֹת מְפֻרְסָם, כִּי מַה שֶּׁהוּא מְפֻרְסָם, הוּא מַזִּיק לוֹ מְאֹד, כִּי לִפְעָמִים צָרִיךְ לִסְבֹּל יִסּוּרִין בִּשְׁבִיל רַבִּים, כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו נ״ג:ה׳): וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ. כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁהוּא מְפֻרְסָם, עַל־כֵּן הוּא בִּבְחִינוֹת (שם): לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק לוֹ בָרַבִּים, עַל־כֵּן צָרִיךְ לִסְבֹּל יִסּוּרִין בִּשְׁבִיל רַבִּים, כִּי עָלָיו נֶאֱמַר: וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ. רַק שֶׁיֵּשׁ כַּמָּה בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת מְפֻרְסָמִים, וְעוֹשִׂים אוֹתָם דַּוְקָא מְפֻרְסָמִים.
Know, Sh’kasheh Me’od Lihiyot Mefursam (It is Very Difficult to be Famous). Being widely known causes a person great harm. There are times when it requires that he suffer on behalf of the masses, as it is written (Isaiah 53:5), “and through his wounds we were healed.” On account of his fame, he is in the category of “Therefore, I will give him a portion from the many” (ibid. 53:12). He therefore has to suffer on behalf of the many, since it is said of him: “and through his wounds we were healed.” Nevertheless, some people are meant to be famous, and [Heaven] makes them, in particular, widely known.
אֲבָל יֵשׁ צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁמְּקַבְּלִים מֵעַצְמָם יִסּוּרִים עֲלֵיהֶם בִּשְׁבִיל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבָזֶה מַחֲלִיפִין הַשֶּׁפַע. כַּמְבֹאָר לְמַעְלָה בְּסִימָן ס"ג עַל פָּסוּק: וּבִשְׁתַּיִם יְכַסֶּה פָנָיו, עַיֵּן שָׁם:
However, there are certain tzaddikim who accept suffering upon themselves of their own accord, for the sake of the Jewish people. By doing so, they exchange the spiritual influx; as explained above, in Lesson #63:3, concerning the verse “with two it would conceal its face.” See there.