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"LIVING WITH THE TIMES..."

Enjoy life-inspiring thoughts on the Torah portion,

by our spiritual leader, Rabbi Pinchas Allouche

HOW TO FACE BITTER CHALLENGES

For the portion of “Behaalotecha”

Unfortunately, life is not always smooth sailing. “Every one carries a personal bag of ‘Tzarot’, sufferings” the old Jewish saying goes. Some have it easier than others, but at some point we are all compelled to face our hardships and ask: how should we go about them? Are there any magical remedies?

This week’s Torah portion shares with us a fascinating episode: Moses, our eternal Jewish leader just couldn’t take it. A number of Jews never ceased to grumble, complain and personally attack Moses in the most vicious manners. Consequently, Moses proclaimed to G-d, “I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if You deal thus with me, kill me, I pray to You… and let me not look upon my wretchedness” (Numbers 11:14-15). But G-d reserved an unusual answer for Moses. Instead of showering him with words of comfort and encouragement, He bestowed His infinite presence on Moses. This unusual spell of divinity later empowered Moses and his tribunal court with renewed holiness and prophecy, like never before. What a bizarre reply to Moses’ plea! It doesn’t even include any direct relation to the content of his words!

G-d’s words come to teach us a powerful message: In times of crisis, human beings often tend to slow their lives and sink into bitter depressions. However, G-d’s response to Moses teaches a person to react in an opposite fashion. Instead of saying ‘less’, one should always say ‘more’. Moses wanted to say less and quit, G-d disagreed and gave him the tools to do more with renewed energy, and an enhanced divine presence. Interestingly, since that point in time, our nation has always adopted that approach. Just take a look at our rich history: The forty years of wander in the desert invigorated us to conquer the land of Israel with exceptional dynamism and vigor. The strenuous wars of King David inspired his son, King Solomon, to pursue peace and sovereignty under his rule. The anti-Jewish regime of the Greeks empowered the Maccabis to launch a holy war that later brought about the unimaginable rededication of the Temple. Haman’s evil decrees forced Mordechai and Esther to unite our people to pray and combat him with much effectiveness and success. The Spanish inquisition indirectly generated unprecedented growth and prosperity in Jewish communities around the globe. And, some argue, that the bitter Holocaust is the reason behind the strong push to finally build a Jewish state.

Over the player’s entrance to Wimbledon’s center tennis court, hang a few lines from the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster; and treat those two impostors just the same…” I have forever cherished these lines as they powerfully resonate this lesson. Only when one treats both disaster and triumph with equal enthusiasm and vigor can one “become a man” as the poem concludes.

“Esta es la vida,” my dear wife, often says. That’s life. Indeed, it includes countless obstacles and hardships. But next time you are faced with a challenge, pleasant or harsh, triumphant or disastrous, remember to learn the lesson that Moses learned from our omnipotent G-d: Instead of saying ‘less’, just say ‘more’. And this proclamation of ‘more’ will undoubtedly lift you to the loftiest heights and bring about everlasting peace, profound serenity and sweet victory.

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