Monthly Archives: December 2017

BS’D

The laws of the red heifer are incomprehensible to the human mind. We cannot understand everything in life. We are probed with questions, confusion, uncertainties – the Parah Adumah is a reminder of how limited our minds are.

What advice does the Torah offer in such cases where even Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l , the wisest of all men, could not grasp this Torah teaching? Emuna Temima (simple unadulterated loyalty and faithfulness to the Torah’s infinite wisdom, no matter how incomprehensible they may be!). There are endless events and ideas in this world that we will not be able to grasp. The only notion we need to remain faithful to is that Hashem is running the universe perfectly; without any glitches!

Oh, how much we plan; dotting our ‘I’s’ and crossing our ‘T’s’, going through the logical process. Nonetheless, the Ultimate Designer and Master Planner knows better. The list of questions; why’s and what’s just seems to get longer with no ‘Heavenly loudspeaker’ announcing any resolution for them.

To those who wish to live a life of emuna- they hear the answers. To name a few of the possible responses: ‘It is not the right time’, ‘Be patient’, ‘The delay is necessary’ and even ‘No, I can’t give that to you’ – to name a few.

In life there are delays and denials necessary to perfectly carve our eternal future life. Accepting reality at times for what it is is the top code of living a healthy balanced life. As the Kli Yakar ztk’l teaches in his commentary on Shmot (25:10), “The purpose of knowledge is to know that we don’t know.”

We do not know and do not understand. This is the greatest acceptance of them all!

BS’D

Tzaddik B’Emunato Yichyeh – A righteous man lives by his Emuna. Mankind wishes to strive upward and spiritually elevate him/herself always. The Navi Chavakuk ztk’l explains in three words how to attain it; righteousness comes through living with Emuna. Emuna should be interwoven into our thoughts, speech and deeds under every and all circumstances. Emuna needs to be sewn into the fabric of life. The following real life scenarios will help bring clarity on how to apply emuna into ‘rountine’ incidents that many of us have experienced.

It is a hot day. We make the effort and travel to a public office to straighten out some errands. The line is long, people are impatient, we giggle in our place awaiting our turn to come. It finally arrives. We approach the clerk and are told that we are missing an important document and without it we cannot complete the process. How much Emuna is needed right then and there to accept this circumstance with love?

You are in a rush and must leave Now! Oy, where are those keys? I know I put them here…. What agony… Who is to blame? Me, someone else?

In Mishlei (19:21) Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l teaches, “Many thoughts are in man’s heart, but the counsel of Hashem – only it will prevail.” What is the difference between a machshava (thought) and eitza (counsel)? Thoughts are simply that – thoughts of a final objective. Yet counsel is the outcome itself. The most carefully laid-out plans will not come to fruition if not in accordance to Hashem’s will. As my Safta a’h used to say: “You can stand on your eyelashes…” it simply won’t be if Hashem doesn’t will for it to be.

Remember that next time you are in line or misplace your keys…