I am very excited for the opportunity to share words of Torah with you. Each week, in this spot, I look to share an idea I've found that speaks to me and that I think will resonate with you as well. This week, I share with you an excerpt from an article by Rabbi Shraga Simmons entitled ‘Why Things Happen’, in which he shares some deep lessons about what perspective we should have in the face of challenge.
The beginning of this week's Parsha describes the specific cause-and-effect of human actions. "If you follow the laws, then you will have abundance ... but if you break the covenant, you will have distress..." The idea that "choices are meaningful" is so basic to Judaism that it is expressed in the very first verse of the Bible: "In the beginning, God created heaven and earth." There are two ways to understand the origins of life: Either it is random, or by design. What are the implications of this argument? [...]
The Jewish perspective is that the world is here by design. Which leads us to the next question: Why are we here? We are here for a purpose. Before a person is born, his soul – non-physical and eternal – is living in a "world of souls." [...] But then one day the soul gets a tap on the shoulder. "It's time for you to go down into the physical world, to be placed into the body of a human." Why? Because the soul, as-yet imperfect, needs to refine itself through encountering and surmounting challenges.
These challenges come in the form of specific events which modify our behavior in the area where our soul needs its "tikkun," rectification. These events are not random; rather, they are instructive. Which means there is a deep connection between the event and the message it contains.
The task of life? To discover that connection, and grow from it. [...] Sometimes the connection is not so obvious, and we have to work hard to discover it. We may not even always be successful in making the connection. But whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: We cannot lose. The process of introspection is bound to reveal tremendous insight and growth. [...]
Every test, every challenge, is tailor-made for our specific set of circumstances and station in life. The whole point is to awaken us from apathy and slumber, and to encourage the soul rectification that we came here to do. Granted, sometimes the test is fiercely difficult. But as difficult as it may seem, it reveals a deeper purpose in the overall scheme of life. That ordeal has the power to lift a person to become wiser, stronger, and more compassionate. [...]
God does not challenge us with trivialities. He challenges us only to grow. Imbalance in one area will trigger a challenge to modify that trait. The whole concept of mitzvot is that they are actions which work against our nature. [...] All the mitzvot direct our growth, building our weakness into strength. [...] Life is not about suffering. Life is about growth and making the change we were put here to make. Challenges will happen. That we cannot change, because that is our reason for being. What we can change is our attitude. Will we view difficulties as a nuisance, or as a message? Let's make the most of it. We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Have a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davies
Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
