By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM
This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM
In this week’s Torah reading of Bechukosai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34) there is
a section known as the “Tochacha” (Rebuke). It is an ominous warning of the troubles
that will befall Israel should they stray from the G‑dly path. The mystics
teach that even those frightening punishments are, in reality, hidden blessings
that cannot be perceived at face value.
There is an interesting analogy on this theme from the well-known author
Rabbi Dr A.J. Twerski. A mother takes her toddler to the doctor. The doctor prepares to
give the child a vaccination by injection. The child isn't stupid. He sees
trouble coming, so he doesn't make it easy for the doctor. In fact, Mom must
hold the child down while the doctor administers the injection, and throughout,
the kid is screaming and shouting. Not a minute later the child is suddenly
burying his face in Mom's shoulder, desperately seeking solace in his mother's
embrace. And the question is “Why?” Wasn’t Mom not an accomplice to the crime
when she held him down while the doctor attacked him? Why is this child
suddenly finding comfort on Mom’s shoulder? She is the enemy!
The
answer is that every child knows intuitively that his mother loves him and
wants only the best for her child. Even if there seems to be a momentary lapse,
he knows it will be short-lived. After the fleeting test of faith, the innate
and essential bond of love between mother and child is quickly re-established.
And so it is with our Father in Heaven. Sometimes we may feel angry from what we
see happening or are experiencing. Why does He allow all these terrible
misfortunes to befall us? And yet, we know that He really and truly does love
us. After all is said and done, we are His children. Does the mother in the
clinic hate her child? Is she punishing him? G‑d forbid. Does the doctor want
to hurt the child? Of course not! So, just as a child is comforted by his
mother, so is the Jew comforted by the knowledge and conviction that G‑d loves
us.
To us it may remain a mystery but to G‑d there is a cosmic, eternal
plan. The child
doesn't understand or appreciate an injection and neither can we fathom the
divine "vaccinations" we must put up with from time to time.
Nevertheless, we need to accept in good faith that somehow there is a reason -
and even a good reason - behind all our problems. Possibly, it may not be
revealed to us in this world, only in the next. So we do need a fair amount of
patience. But surely the wait is worth the end result and benefits.
In our moments of misery and days of distress, let us remember that our
loving Father in Heaven is surely no less caring than the mother in the
doctor's office.
(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi
Yossy Goldman)
A Meaningful and Uplifting Shabbos
to all!
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