By the Grace of G-d
Dear Friend,
I will admit. I am struggling.
But I am happy about it.
Well, let me clarify what I mean.
It’s not like I enjoy struggles just for the ‘fun’ of it.
But I have learned and observed that it is impossible to get from point A to point B without friction, movement, effort and even at times a struggle.
There is something worse than struggling.
It is called apathy. Indifference. Listlessness. Or even worse, lifelessness.
Yes, struggling is a sign of life.
Let me reframe the concept of struggling more positively by using some of the synonyms that my computer brings up: trying, battling, fighting, striving, grappling.
Essentially all of these words convey one theme. That one is not happy with the status quo and is endeavoring to change it.
This weeks Parsha speaks about going out to do battle.
Many of us cringe at the word ‘battle’. Confrontation makes some of us uneasy.
But battles are necessary at times. The forces of good needs to fight the forces of evil to restrain them or better yet, to rehabilitate them, training and transforming the evil to become good.
Battles are not just the stuff kings and governments decide about.
Battles are fought all the time in our very own minds and hearts.
Every day we face choices.
Do we choose generosity over greediness?
Morality over immorality?
Good over evil?
We are always meant to strive to make better choices.
Click here for JLI’s short impactful video on this topic
The Torah instructs us to do battle. To TRY and overcome. In other words, when things are not as they should be, get up and go out to try and change things for the better. Don’t just go limp and lifeless G-d forbid. G-d forbid when times get tough, don’t just lie down and give up.
Battle the status quo.
Just in case the world ‘battle’ makes you feel uncomfortable, let’s not get sidetracked by using the word ‘battle’. Instead let’s replace it with the synonym ‘striving’.
We are always striving. Or at least we SHOULD always be striving.
Make sure to go into the ‘striving’ mode with a positive attitude. Think and project success. Imagine the victory you will have over your enemies. Over your inner enemy. Over the voices within you that tell you to give up. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Try your best to do your best.
There is much to struggle about when its only two and a half weeks away from Rosh Hashana and your country is in a major lockdown. With a government limitation in most of Thailand, prohibiting gatherings of more than five people, it is only natural that a Jew would be feeling a little anxious.
How are we supposed to feel upbeat without the benefit of having in person meetings with our local Jewish community?
Every Jew waits all year for the HIGH HOLIDAYS. It’s the HIGH point of our calendar year. Seeing so many familiar faces during the High Holidays. Meeting so many new faces. And enjoying Rosh Hashana dinner with the extended ‘mishpacha’ of several hundred.
How can one not struggle with their feelings under such conditions?
I hope I don’t let you down by admitting that it is a struggle.
I wouldn’t share it if I didn’t know that I am voicing what many others are also feeling.
STOP. Enough of this kvetching and moaning. (I am speaking to myself here).
The Torah tells us to be JOYOUS. To view every situation POSITIVELY.
Yes, it’s a struggle.
But we will WIN the struggle. We are NOT giving in!!!
This is battle that we can win!!!!
Remember, the same Almighty who told us to be joyous and celebrate a meaningful Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, is the same Almighty who controls every single aspect of our reality.
Since it is He who has brought this pandemic situation to the world, we can be certain that He too will give us the strength to be positive, spirited and inspired during these upcoming High Holidays. Even if we may be limited to praying and dining privately in our own – less than five people – venues.
On a practical note, regarding the upcoming High Holidays.
We are waiting to see what the governments rules will be for September. Once we know what the rules are, we will formulate plans and put forth our very best efforts to celebrate the High Holidays – Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and then Sukkot and Simchat Torah in the best way possible. Of course, safely, and responsibly, abiding by the guidelines set forth the government.
There is a crucial component when trying to draw down Hashems blessings.
One has to TRY to do something to help themselves.
It’s a story in the Midrash.
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa observed the people in his city going up to the Jerusalem laden with animals for sacrifices.
R’ Chanina was very poor. He was not able to afford to buy animals for sacrifices
He said, ‘all are bringing gifts to Jerusalem, and I am not bringing anything’.
What did he do?
He went outside the boundaries of the city and saw a rock.
He chiseled away the parts that were jutting out. He smoothed it and polished it till it was shiny and extraordinary.
‘Now I need to take it to Yerushalayim’ he said.
He looked for workers to help him transport the heavy stone. He found five workers and asked them if they would help him transport the stone to Yerushalayim. The replied that if he would give them five selah’s they would help him. R’ Chanina looked for money to pay them but at that time did not find the money and the would-be porters left.
Hashem brought five angels who looked like humans and R’ Chanina asked them if they would help.
They responded that they would help if he would give them five selah’s (payable at the destination) but with one condition. That you, R’ Chanina, help us by placing your (hand and) finger on the stone to help us carry it.
R’ Chanina placed his (hand and) finger together with those of the five men. Suddenly R’ Chanina found they were standing in Jerusalem.
Now that the job was done, R’ Chanina went off to look for money to pay. But the five men where nowhere to be found. R’ Chanina went to ask the judges in the Sanhedrin what to do regarding the fees he owed to the porters. Upon hearing the story the sages told R’ Chanina that these must have been angels who brought up the stone to Yerushalayim. No payment was needed.
The story teaches us a very important lesson.
When things look insurmountable obviously one must pray to Hashem for help.
This story tells us that Hashem wants us to try. Even if it is only putting out forth a hand or even just a finger.
When one puts forth an effort, even a small one, one becomes a vessel for drawing forth Hashems blessings.
Actually, the lesson of the Midrash happened to me in real life a few weeks ago.
I was driving along the coast of Phuket to a meeting on another part of the island. I saw the object in the road, it must have been something sharp, as I felt the tire lose its air the moment I went over it. Thank G-d there was an extra lane at the side of the road exactly where my tire went flat. And a beautiful view of the ocean. I am not exactly proficient in changing flat tires. It took me phone calls to the rental company and google searches to even find where the jack was stored.
I was hoping someone would see me in my non-mechanic-looking white dress shirt and offer help, but nobody stopped. Moping and ‘kvetching’ at the side of the road wouldn’t help me so I rolled my sleeves up and got to work. I got the equipment out. Got out the spare tire. And started to attempt to jack up the car.
The moment I had started to jack up the car, a telephone-company car stopped, and two very nice technicians took over. In a few minutes they had my tire changed.
I was amazed. This is exactly what the Midrash story taught.
And this is what I want to share.
Struggling?
That is the first good step. It means you haven’t given up.
And DO SOMETHING about it.
What can you do?
First of all, reframe your struggle by using the synonym: striving. It sounds more positive.
And then, find something that you CAN do. Even if its like a small finger trying to pick up a boulder.
As the Rebbe once wrote to a despondent person ‘doing SOMETHING, even the smallest of things, is better than going to sleep, or even worse, falling into a deep slumber’.
What can I do right now?
Right now I can give you a heartfelt and sincere blessing:
KETIVA VECHATIMA TOVA – LESHANA TOVA UMETUKAH
May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year!!!
And I can share with you that it is a Jewish tradition to share blessings for the upcoming new year with all of your friends and acquaintances.
Now you have something that you can do.
You too should reach out to others wishing them all the best.
And don’t forget to share with them that they too should reach out to THEIR acquaintances to bless them with a good and sweet year.
Thus, the ripples and effects of the blessings will circle the globe and elicit Hashem’s blessings of health, beneficence, shalom for our world.
Culminating in the ultimate of all blessings, the coming of Mashiach, AMEN.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yosef Kantor