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Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is sponsored and dedicated L’iluy nishmat Eliezer ben Fivel z’l.  May his neshama bask in the Divine radiance among all of the tzaddikim who have departed from this world, amongst them the kedoshim who were brutally killed in today’s terrorist attack, Amen.

“Conceal shall I conceal My face on that day” (Sefer Devarim, 31:18). Galut (the Exile) is a twofold concealment, wherein the concealment itself is concealed. The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh teaches that so great is this concealment, that one is not even aware of the concealment; one may even come to think of the darkness as light. How does it feel to be in exile?  Alienation – a feeling of division between Ahm Yisrael and Hashem. So great is the separation that we don’t even sense that He is with us.

Therefore the exile is an exile of the mind in addition to the body. There is a great sense of abandonment and isolation as though the nation of Israel is left on their own.  However, the very name of Yisrael implies Yashar Kel, straight with Hashem; we are always bonded with our Creator.

The exile will continue to grow until we reach the point where our heartfelt crying is so powerful and broadcasts the message, “We can’t live without You Hashem.  We need Your revealed presence back in our midst.”  Such is the spiritual level we should strive to attain, particularly when tragedies occur.

Although Hashem is ‘hiding’, hiding implies that He is here, but that we can’t see Him.  Hashem is here…always with us.

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated l’iluy nishmat Ariella Rivka bat Avraham a’h.  She was certainly a most precious soul, to be taken from this world at just a bit over 8 years old.  I can still hear her angelic voice singing to me … her innocence and love of life, certainly worthy to strive towards. Thank you Ariella, for inspiring my life and the lives of so many others.  May her neshama bask in the radiance of the Shechina HaKedosha together with all of the righteous souls who have departed from this world, Amen.

This weeks coming Parshat Toldot speaks of so many profound meaningful lessons one of which is finding meaning in the face of life’s struggles. The greatest challenges are here to teach us who we are – if we are willing to ask the questions and confront the answers.

We are all pregnant with two nations inside of us battling to reign. Inevitably we ask the same question Rivka Imeinu did when she felt the tug of war during her pregnancy, “Im Keyn, Lama Zeh Anochi (If life is like this… with so much suffering… Why am I?)”

We indeed are carrying life inside, the potential to build a spiritual edifice in a spiritual desert.  The desire to elevate, seek meaning and define life’s purpose is constantly ‘nagging’ at us.  However, life has a conniving way to lure us into the frills of entertainment decorating this world too.

Our souls ignite aglow when we experience an uplifting Tefillah. We then realize that life is here, no need for anything more.  Next we find ourselves in Esav-consciousness being driven by our ego tendencies.  A fight until the end; a battle of the fittest!  Let us realize and accept that we need both for our personalities to evolve and attain higher goals.

Rivka searches on high for her answer.  She asks, ‘Why am I this way’.  She wants purpose and understands there is meaning in life. She gets an answer but not a complete understanding of why.  Yet, she keeps seeking – after all the search is what is important.

The search is what life is about.  We are all combating to seek the upper hand and elevate ourselves in the process.  This is the story of our lives.

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Attaching rich meaning and purpose to life’s challenges equips us with the vital gear to combat them. A person would be happy to dig a hole no matter how difficult the task appears, knowing that he will be planting a garden in that pit and soon enjoy a beautiful floral display.

In fact often times it doesn’t matter if we personally benefit from the hardship rather than someone else; as long as it is of value.  Willingness to work out at the gym is likely to be stronger if we hold onto the foresight and long term goals associated with healthy exercise.

It is basic human instinct to resist difficult occurrences.  Nonetheless it is of great significance as it adds to character growth.  The level of greatness that one can attain through challenging times is possible particularly because he is lifting himself up while feeling weighed down.

There are valuable lessons we can learn from yesterday’s midrash regarding the three possible reasons for enduring hardships.  Could it be that we have been chosen to show our strength by example to others while we experience difficulties?  Maybe the troubles are meant to elevate us personally in ways that were previously hidden?

Yet, the possibility always stands that we may not comprehend the reason why and not be able to answer the ancient question, “Why me” or “Why them” or “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Yet we have a better chance of accepting even that which we cannot grasp with our limited mind by learning Emuna.  Knowing that Hashem eternally loves us and is guiding us through life moment by moment, day by day ties purpose into challenge.

The new Daily Dose of Emuna motto:  Hashem (Purpose) + Challenge = “I can handle it!”

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This undoubtedly is the most asked question! The Midrash Bereishis Rabbah (32:3) gives three metaphors in trying to tackle this ancient question that probes the minds of both young and old:

* Rabbi Yonatan explains:  a potter checking his pots (by tapping their surface) does not hit the weak pots that would crack.  Yet, he checks the strong pots that can withstand numerous hits without shattering.  So too does Hashem test the strongest of His children.

*Rabbi Yossi ben Chanina teaches:  when a flax dealer knows that his flax is of superior quality he does not hesitate to beat it as this causes it to thicken.  However a thinner piece of flax will crack when whipped.

* Rabbi Elazar explains:  When a farmer has two cows one strong and one weak, which one will he use to carry the heavy load?

The first teaching seems to suggest that checking the pots is for the purpose of the pot and not for the potter in order to demonstrate to the pot how strong it truly is. The second lesson learned from Rabbi Yossi is that hitting the flax strengthens the flax itself and increases its quality and ability to withstand hardship.  Rabbi Elazar in the third explanation brings down that difficulties helps strengthen others by example.

Tomorrow we will delve further into these three metaphors, yet we can be certain of one thing; there is meaning behind all hardships.