Seeing Hashem In Current Events
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The Tzaddikim were always conscious of the Yad Hashem in world events and often pointed out Hashgachat Hashem just by hearing ‘what’s going on in the world’.
We don’t yet have prophecy restored, but we do have the ability to observe and to ponder…
So, I can’t help but see the Geula coming closer, in a very natural way..and the Dinim on the Nations who have made things hard for us…
The Gulf of Mexico is filling with pollutants, making its water unsafe and unusable.
And here in Hashem’s Land, the Israeli Water Commission has announced the opening of the world’s largest desalination plants, predicting that, with Hashem’s help, Israel will soon be able to clean and use Mediterranean water, even to the point of redirecting the water to the Kinneret and refilling the Jordan, and the Dead Sea.
Chasdei Hashem.
May we keep seeing Hashem’s miraculous intervention and graciousness to us, His Children, here in His Land.
Parshas Bamidbar 5770
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Parshas Bamidbar
The Slonimer Rebbe in Nesivos Shalom points out the Medrash that says that the Torah was given with fire, water and in the desert. Fire surrounded Har Sinai, the Torah teachings nourished and revived us like water and all this happened as the Jewish Nation stood in the wilderness.
The metaphor is clear- fire represents serving Hashem with passion, energy and striving upward. It also represents Yir’at Hashem- fear of losing His closeness, awe of His greatness.
Water represents the concept of serving Hashem with love. It also contains the element of humility, since water, as opposed to fire, tends to go from a higher elevation to a lower one.
In the physical world, fire and water are opposites. In the world of the spirit, they don’t cancel each other out, but they complement and complete each other.
These weeks of Sefirat HaOmer were meant to be a time of elevation, of self correction, of preparation for the yearly spiritual adventure of Kabbalat HaTorah, receiving of the Torah. We are beginning the last week of Omer.
So, what if your Sefirat HaOmer has not been a time of growth, of self correction or a time of inspiration? What if you’ve just been concerned with ‘regular’ life, and have not felt an upgrade in your spiritual life?
The Rebbe says that the answer is to go to the third element of Kabbalas HaTorah- the desert. We might not be in awe or in love with Hashem and His Mitzvos right now, but we can be Mevatel ourselves to Hashem and His Mitzvos.
Mevatel means to put your own apparent desires aside when they conflict with Torah. It means to stay committed to the actions of Torah. It means to humble yourself to commit to Torah life, despite the lack of inspiration.
Bitul is about a decision to commit yourself to the Torah. It is about recommitting to thousands of years of Jewish history, to your Land and destiny. Bitul reminds us that the body is the vehicle of the soul, that which allows the soul to manifest and express itself. The body and soul made a pact to serve each other- the soul enlivens the body and the body allows to soul to perform physical actions.
Putting the ego first is the opposite of Bitul. Committing to acting the right way, the Torah way, is the key for any Jew, inspired or not, to receive his or her portion in the Torah on Shavuous.
This is an interesting time in world history. Not a day goes by without some global change. The economy of the world, particularly Europe has been hit. It is not a coincidence that the Icelandic volcano began to disrupt Europe on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust day. It is not a coincidence that Europe is covered in ashes.
The ashes of our brothers and sisters were also scattered by the Europeans just a few decades ago. Hashem is great and His justice is great.
May we see the true and everlasting Geula BeRachamim in these days.
Lag BaOmer 5770
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LAG BAOMER 5770
MI KE’AMCHA YISRAEL
Having just returned from Meron with the music still ringing in my ears and the light still shining in my eyes, I want to share two stories with you that touched my heart.
The first was one that I heard on the bus going up to Rashbi from the head of one of the seminaries here in Yerushalayim. In his words:
“My first experience with Meron on Lag Ba’omer left me speechless. Well, perhaps not speechless…perhaps that was the problem. As a regular Yeshiva Bachur, I was used to the discipline, the dignity and the Derech Eretz of Torah and B’nai Torah. The wildness of Meron shocked me. The music, dancing, merriment that bordered on Tohu, disturbed me. Those were days in my life when I was in a religious fervor of Emes and I remarked to a friend that in my humble opinion, Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai must be ‘turning over in his grave’.
No sooner had I said this, when I saw something that verified my fears- some young man, apparently very merry and borderless, began to start up with one of our students. I ran over to defend her, and the man began chasing her, and then me with a large stick. He could barely walk a straight line, this young man, and I just ran around, dodging him, until all the girls from the group were safely away and he had run out of strength.
Frustrated by his inability to hurt me ( I have no doubt that when he came back to his sober self, he would never have wanted to do any harm…), he tried to wield his piece of wood towards me, but it finally got the better of him and he dropped it. In the end, all he could get out was a big mouthful of spit, hurled forcefully towards me and landing on my shoulder.
Back on the bus, we all had a good laugh but I began to ponder. Why had this happened to me- and on Lag Ba’omer no less, in the holy resting place of Rashbi? Thinking back to the events prior to the ‘attack’, I decided it was because I had criticized Jews- albeit inadvertently and certainly without wanting to damage anyone. Who was I to say anything about Rebbe Shimon’s opinion of the revelry at his Tzion on his Yahrtzeit? This is his day, he ‘invites’ all the Neshamos that need his specific method of Tikun to come to him. He certainly loves and accepts all of us, despite our wrongdoings. This is his party- who am I to say anything against anyone who heard the inner call to come and be elevated?
I decided then and there never to criticize any Lag Ba’omer event in Meron- for there are things going on there in the souls of Jews that we just don’t quite understand.”
When the Rav told this over, in his self effacing and humble way, it made me think of all the potential that this story contained. It could have been said as a warning to the girls we were taking up to Rashbi to be in their guard. It could’ve been turned into stam Leitzanus, a good funny joke, another Israeli chutzpa story. It was a good entertainment possibility, as our patience was tested time after time with traffic and well meaning but sometimes unorganized traffic managers… Instead, it described the midda of the day- humility, acceptance of every Jew and faith in the power of the true Tzaddikim to enlighten and inspire.
The second story was told to me by a friend on Erev Shabbos, in front of the fruit store…
It seems that a newborn girl was diagnosed with blindness in one eye. The devastated young parents went to their Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Sheinberg Shlita with the news and in need of advice. He told them, “Lag Ba’omer is coming up soon and the light emanating from the holy Rashbi on that day is very great. Your daughter needs to see, and Rebbe Shimon enlightens all of our eyes. Take her there and may Hashem help.”
The young couple made the difficult trip with their infant to Meron. Anyone who has made the trip knows it’s often arduous, and although worth every minute, it takes much inner strength and determination. The young couple made it up to Meron and the father actually took his young daughter into the Tzion, and placed her directly on the Matzaiva of Rashbi.
The next week, the doctors were amazed to reconsider their original diagnosis and pronounce this baby totally fine.
But to me, the biggest miracle of Meron is the fact that although hundreds of thousands of Jews of all stripes and types arrive and stay in the tiny area of Rashbi’s cave, never was there a terror attack or violence. There is virtually no security to speak of, no screening, no searching and no metal detectors to walk through.
Hashem takes very good care of his kids.
Maybe one of the reasons for the extra care is the food lining the sides of the streets, with people literally begging you to eat something, and in doing so, to merit them with the Mitzvah of Hachnasos Orchim.
As our trip came to a close, we told the girls to meet us by the big Chabad balloon, which would be bobbing on the Chabadnik who stands next to the bouncing Breslovers, who share their music with the Rav Ifergan Sefardim who also support the Ethiopians and who are next door to Yad L’Achim saving women from Arabs and kids from missionaries, who enjoy the food from the Tzefat Rabanut, next to the Shtefenesh tent…sounds like the enhanced version of Chad Gadya…
May all who came to Meron see with physical eyes the Brachos of the Rebbe come true, may all who sent messengers to daven for them also see their Yeshuos and may all of Klal Yisrael have all their Yeshuos and come next year to the great Lag Ba’omer parade that will begin in Meron and dance straight to the rebuilt Bais Hamikdash.