Covid19 by Rebbetzin Heller
Acknowledging the not-knowing brings us closer to truth.
REBBETZIN TZIPORA HELLER
This period we're living through has the potential to bring us to greater levels of simcha (joy) and of emuna (faith). And this is what HaShem wants from us. But how can this even be reasonable to expect if there is very real suffering going on?
We know that this is coming from above and that everything that comes from above is for our good and for our benefit.
When Hashem created the world, He wanted to give us His light but He wanted us to absorb this light by making choices. The only way something can become you is when you choose to activate yourself in the world, not just by being an observer. Eg.If you read about or watch a robbery, that doesn't make you a thief. The only way one becomes a thief is by actually stealing something. And one would only steal something if they think that it will in some way benefit them.
So Hashem decided to make a world where He is hidden because if He wasn't hidden, there would be no choices.
Hashem created the world with 10 statements.
The first statement 'Let there be light', wasn't referring to physical light but spiritual light since the sun was only created on the 4th day. The world by nature is desolate.
This spiritual light exists inside of us and this light comes forth in the hard moments. The hard moments are part of the challenge of being alive b'simcha.
Every Friday night we bless our children to be like Efraim and Menashe, like Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah. Think about it! Do we really want them to suffer childlessness, complicated relationships, difficult children or being raised in foreign environments??
And the answer is yes! We're willing for them to face what they faced if only they would be like them! - to overcome, discover themselves and become more.
This is what life is for. This is what life is about.
We would like to become who we can without these challenges but sometimes we need these challenges and only Hashem knows if we need to experience the light against the backdrop of darkness and desolation.
Hashem is both our sun and our shield.
So practically speaking when you get up in the morning, meditate a second or two; Hashem gave us existence. Think about the beauty of existing. About the fortune of being a Jew.
Imagine life without all the things you most appreciate; sight, the ability to think clearly...
This is the background of light and realise that the extension of that light is finding the part of you that knows how to emulate Hashem.
So many people have responded with chesed, loving kindness, during this pandemic, with courage. People have suffered profound losses and these people are holding up the world. There has been truth-seaking in this time. We have come to see that this is something we cannot control or really understand.
Acknowledging the not-knowing brings us closer to truth.
Truth is the whole picture which includes Hashem's presence and what He wants from us.
So potentially it can bring us higher and closer to a deeper level of emuna, faith. Emuna means we know that everything is from Hashem and therefore everything is ultimately good.
And it doesn't always feel good and we don't have to pretend that it always feels good.
If you look at sefer Tehillim it's not about always feeling good and getting better and better. It's the recognising that when things don't feel good they still are good.
We should merit to experience goodness; waking up with a smile and going to bed with a smile, not using sleep as a form of escape, but with a deep trust that everything is for the good.