BS’D

In Parshat Devarim Moshe Rabbeinu asks, “Eicha Esah Levadi” How can I bear alone (on my own) your trouble, burdens and quarrels?” (Deut. 1:12). Hidden in the word Eicha we find many powerful messages. The gematria of Eicha is 36, equal to the number of prohibitions for which one gets karet, spiritually cut-off chas v’Shalom. Therefore, one of the intents of Eicha is to propel us to reconnect to our inner truth and repair what is broken in our lives. We are destined to go from churban (destruction) to chibur (connection). How?

The first time the word Eicha is found in the Torah it is presented as a question asked by Hashem after the sin of Adam HaRishon. Hashem asks, “Ayeka” (same letters as the word Eicha but pronounced differently). Adam HaRishon is asked, “Where are you?” During the mourning period of the three weeks, we too are urged to search for our inner truth.

Just as Hashem looked to find Adam then He wishes to see us as well. Even though we too carry a bundle of faults, Hashem still ‘longs’ for us. The passionate call of a Ba’al Teshuva who calls out to Hashem for guidance and compassion uncovers the greatest light from darkness. These are the days of yearning intended to piece together the brokenness of our lives.

The road from darkness to light is found in the question “Where are you?”

BS’D

Taken from – http://www.divreichizuk.com/id101.html

Rabbi Fischel Schachter told the story of a woman, a Holocaust survivor, who settled in America after the war and was married for twelve years without having children. One day she was sitting in a doctor’s office on Madison Ave. in Manhattan, and the doctor, going over her charts, said to her, “Madame, please listen to me. I am saying this for your own benefit – give up. Medically speaking, there is nothing we can do so you can have children. When hair will grow from my palm, that is when you will have a child.”

The woman left and boarded the Madison Ave. bus. During the ride, she contemplated her life. She recalled the horrors she experienced as a young girl in Poland, when the family had a trap door beneath the dining room table and they would go and hide under the floor when the Nazis approached. She volunteered to be the one to close the door, put the carpet over it and then hide on top of a piece of furniture. She would sit there, all curled up, and listen in terror as the Nazis searched the house, smashing furniture as they went from room to room. Time and time again, the family was saved. But finally, the Nazis noticed a soft spot on the floor, and they discovered the trap door. This young girl watched as the Nazis dragged her family away. She was the only one who survived the war.

Once she got to America, she desperately wanted to begin a family. And now, after twelve long years, her hopes were shattered.

She said to herself, “I have no reason to get off this bus.” And so she stayed on the bus, sitting there the rest of the day. Finally, the driver informed her that he was driving the bus to the garage for the night, and she needed to disembark.

“I have nothing to live for,” she muttered.

“Listen, lady,” the driver said, “I’ve had a hard day. I don’t know what your problem is, but you’re not going to solve it by staying on this bus.”

She got off the bus and said, “Master of the world, You were with me all along. You saved my life countless times. You brought me here. You let me start my life over, and so it is in Your hands. I have no right to give up. The bus driver is absolutely right – You didn’t save my life for me to live on the Madison Ave. bus. Please tell me what to do. I won’t give up. I will continue serving You no matter what.”

A year later, she had a child.

That child grew up, got married, and has his own grandchildren. By the time this woman passed away, she had enough great-grandchildren to make that doctor’s hair stand up.

Rabbi Fischel Schachter added that he heard this story firsthand from the woman herself , whom he knew quite well. She was his mother.

The Rabbi concluded by saying that there are going to be times in our lives where our hopes will be shattered, and everything we’ve been banking on will suddenly be lost. At such moments, we can easily fall into despair and feel a sense of betrayal. But we must not give up. We should instead say, as his mother did, “Hashem, I don’t have to understand, but everything in my life is in Your hands. I will try my hardest to succeed in the difficult position You have put me in.” If we can do that, then we have emunah, and we open the doors to salvation and blessings that would never have been available to us otherwise.

BS’D

The soul is ‘hired’ to act as an important agent of Hashem – in charge of redeeming sparks. However because this world is ‘dark’ (hides Hashem’s light) she often ‘forgets’ her task and feels disconnected and alone. But she is not; the Shechinah joins her in darkness and guides her way.

The Jew’s essence is the Shechinah; wherever we go She goes. The Shechinah is with us as we tread on the path of life; our destiny is intertwined with Hers. The Sages teach that the Shechinah is troubled by our troubles; She willingly lowers Herself into the lowest of the lows in order to partner with us on our mission of tikkun olam.

Tikkun Olam, rectification of this world, can only take place while dwelling in this world. We are earthly agents on a Divine mission that can occur only on earth. It is for this reason we are meant to live in this world in order to repair from within; shine Divine light and awareness of its G-dly essence. Our mission becomes increasingly challenging as time passes; the holy sparks become harder to find and redeem. The darkness refuses to part with the light and relentlessly holds her captive.

We certainly have our work cut out for us; yet the real ‘Take Home Lesson’ is to never forget that we are not fighting the battle alone. Hashem is always with us; shining His love onto our every step.