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Tribulations

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

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R’ Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander Ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. R’ Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.

Tribulations

Although at times we need to endure suffering we must trust Hashem always as in בטחו בו בכל עת.[1] When one trusts in Hashem, he is able to bear suffering.

 

The Pasuk states איש בער לא ידע וכסיל לא יבין את זאת; a boor cannot know and a fool cannot understand this.[2] We can explain it in the following way: a true man is one who is a boor and is therefore לא ידע- meaning he realizes he doesn’t understand the ways of Hashem and as it says ואדם מה יבין דרכו; what does man understand of his way.[3] However, a fool doesn’t comprehend this-כסיל לא יבין את זאת- as he thinks he needs to know everything.

 

In the 13 Middos, ה’ ה’ (י-ה-ו-ה) refers to the mercy of Hashem. Each י-ה-ו-ה has a numerical value of 26, referring to the 26 weeks of summer and winter. This symbolizes the good times (summer) as well as the rough times (winter). Even during the rough times, Hashem is in essence dealing with us with the attribute of mercy.[4]

 

Rashi[5] teaches in regard to Tzaraas on a house- that the אמוריים; Amorites would hide treasures of gold in the walls of their houses. As a result of the Tzaraas, one would demolish the house and find these treasures. The Piaseczna Rebbe[6] (1889-1943) wonders why the house is initially quarantined for seven days and only afterwards the stones containing the Tzaraas are removed?[7] Since the purpose is to get the treasure, once the Tzaraas is visible, it is known there is a treasure there?  He tells us this alludes to that everything Hashem does is good.[8] He writes in regard to his situation then- during the Holocaust- “Not only are we afflicted with physical pain but also with that which distances us from Hashem- no Cheder for children, no Yeshiva, no Beis Midrash to daven with a Tzibur, no Mikva and so on.” Just like the house is טמא; impure for seven days and then the treasure is revealed so too everything is for the best. Thus, by Tzaraas one says כנגע נראה לי;[9] something like an affliction has appeared to me, even if he knows it is certainly Tzaraas. R’ Chatzkel Levenstein writes the situations that gave him pain were the cause of goodness.[10]

 

The Shomer Emunim[11] tells us if we realized what a kindness it is that Hashem sends us pain (יסורים) in this world, we would dance from Simcha. This can be compared to parents cleaning up after a child soiled himself. The child screams and cries. But if the child would know what the mother is doing he would kiss and hug her.

 

Suffering can be compared to one who is ill and takes bitter medicine as the medicine cures him. This pain that the doctor is putting the patient through- with the bitter medicine- is surely considered good since it gives the patient life. Likewise, suffering is to cleanse us from our sins in order to merit the next world.[12]

 

A man who suffered numerous misfortunes in his life (childless for a number of years, after having a child the child got sick and died, etc.) came to the Pnei Menachem (1926-1996) for encouragement.[13] The Rebbe told him, “When I was very young, I went to the bank and saw someone give lots of money to the teller. I felt bad for this man because he was giving away an exorbitant amount of money. Another man came in and received money from the teller. I felt happy for him. When I got older, I realized the one giving money to the teller was better off since it was for investments whereas the one receiving money from the teller was for a withdrawal. Life is the same way as not everything that is taken from you is taken from you and not everything given to you is really given to you.”

 

We can use the suffering we endure to build us. “Don’t just go through things, grow through it.” Let us keep in mind “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” A similar saying: “When life gives you rocks, build bridges, not walls.”

 

The following is a poem that can help us in times of pain.

I asked g-d to take away my pain. G-d said no, it is not for me to take away but for you to give it up.

I asked g-d to grant me patience. G-d said no. patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked g-d to give me happiness. G-d said no. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked g-d to spare me pain. G-d said no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked g-d to make my spirit grow. G-d said no. You must grow on your own; but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. G-d said no. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked g-d to help me love others as much as He loves me. G-d said ahhh…finally you have the idea.

 

Here is another poem with a similar theme:

I asked for strength and g-d gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom and g-d gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity and g-d gave me brawn and brain to work. I asked for courage and g-d gave me dangers to overcome.

I asked for love and g-d gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for favors and g-d gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted, I received everything I needed. My prayers were answered.

 

A group of women that were learning Nach came to the Pasuk מצרף ומטהר כסף;[14] smelting and purifying silver. The women wondered how this applied to Hashem? This question spurred one of the women to research the process of refining silver. She watched a silversmith at his work where he held a piece over the fire and let it heat up. He did this because in refining silver, one needs to hold the silver in middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest, in order to burn away all the impurities. The silversmith remarked he had to sit there the entire time it was being refined to watch it while it was in the fire since if the silver is left even for a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. Upon being asked how he knows when the silver is fully refined, he said when I see my image in it. So, if today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that you are in Hashem’s hands and that He has His eye on you. He will keep holding and watching you until he sees his image in you.

 

[1] Tehillim 62:9

[2] Tehillim 92:7

[3] Mishlei 20:24

[4] The Ibn Ezra (Shemos 34:6) tells us that Hashem being an ארך אפים; slow to anger, is for the wicked! The Ohr Hachaim (Shemos 34:6) says Hashem acts the same way even after the sin.

[5] Vayikra 14:34

[6] Aish Kodesh, year ת”ש, Parshas Metzora

[7] Vayikra 14:38,40

[8] The Smag (מצות עשה 17) writes, “It is a מצות עשה to recognize that everything that happens to you is for the good. I taught this Mitzva publicly…If matters aren’t good for him, it is a  מצות עשהto think that it is for his benefit.”

[9] 14:35

[10] Ohr Yechezkal, Mmichtavim, pg 326. We must remember times of the past where it all worked out for the best and as it says זכרתי…ואתנחם; I remembered your judgements and I was comforted (Tehillim 119:52).

[11] Maamar Hashgacha Pratis, chapter 6, s.v. וכל. See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:2. The Shomer Emunim was authored by R’ Aharon Roth who lived from 1894-1946. In 1939, he settled in Yerushalayim. The two-volume Shomer Emunim which was his main work was written in 1942 in reaction to the news about the Nazi atrocities in Eastern Europe. After his death, the sect split into two groups- Shomrei Emunim which was led by his son- R’ Avraham Chaim (1924 – 2012)- and Toldos Aharon which was led by his son-in-law. Toldos Avraham Yitzchak later split off from Toldos Aharon.

[12] Siduro Shel Shabbos, volume 2:3,2,4 s.v. וגם

[13] A wise person once wrote:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

when the road you are trudging on seems all uphill,

when the funds are low and the debts are high,

and you want to smile but you have to sigh,

when care is pressing you down a bit,

rest if you must but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

as every one of us sometimes learns,

and many a failure turns about,

when he might have won had he stuck it out;

don’t give up although the pace seems slow,

you may succeed with another blow.

[14] Malachi 3:3

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