Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - September '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the rabbi

Life Lessons from the away from using the word “curse” and choose the word in our shul a few years ago. This woman who was forced
“exchange” in its place?
to dance before Dr. Joseph Mengele for her survival,
Ballerina of Auschwitz In a sermon delivered on August 13, 1966, the Rebbe while her family was being gassed in Auschwitz, endured
explained that in this curious quandary, the Kabbalists indescribable suffering. We sat with mouths agape as she
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler were trying to enlighten us as to the very nature of evil as declared that “Auschwitz was the greatest classroom I ever
FDR was arguably one we redefine the meaning of the bad things that happen to experienced. Nothing happens without a reason, and I chose
of the most revered and us. An item is only exchanged for something similar to it, to learn the lessons that G-d was teaching me, despite the
admired presidents of the never with something opposite to it. By calling curses “the harsh manner in which they were taught to me.”
great United States. Though exchange of the blessing,” the Torah is telling us that curses She said that “You cannot heal what you cannot feel.
he failed to formally are actually blessings in disguise. Hence, you have to have the courage to face yourself.
acknowledge the horrors of This translation by Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel is the Develop the courage to face your demons instead of trying to
the Holocaust, his 12-year earliest translation of Torah into the vernacular Aramaic. overcome them… Everything that happens is for a profound
presidency propelled our Living 2,000 years ago just prior to the destruction of our reason. And if we’re not ready to understand it, then you
country out of the Great Second Temple by the Romans, he was the foremost student have to try harder.”
Depression to become the of the famous Hillel. The sages related that his holiness was Indeed, the Torah is telling us here that there are no such
global superpower it is today. so intense that, while he was busy studying the holy Torah, things as curses, only hidden blessings. It’s up to us to utilize
Many thinkers have struggled to identify what exactly a bird flying over him at that moment would be burned! our wisdom to decode these setbacks into the advances
was the reason for his astonishing success. But his wife, When he wrote his commentary on the Torah, the Talmud they are destined to be. I have personally experienced the
Eleanor, revealed that one epic disappointment in 1902 relates that the Holy Land trembled and a heavenly voice greatest lessons of my life through the darkest struggles I
influenced him more than anything else to become the called out: “Who has dared to reveal My secrets to mortal have endured, and I have come to realize that wisdom begins
legend that he was. men?” Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel declared: “I am the one at the end of your comfort zone. In a deeply personal way,
While studying at Harvard, he applied to join The responsible for revealing Your holy secrets to mankind. But I have come to perceive that pain is your teacher, as it will
Porcellian — an exclusive student club dating back to not to do myself honor, nor for the glory of my ancestors take you to places into which you’d never have willingly
1791, to which his father as well as his cousin, President did I do this, but solely so that the Jews may understand ventured.
Teddy Roosevelt, had belonged. Sadly, his application was what the Prophets have told them.” I know this is a difficult pill to swallow. It might be the
rejected, and he was crestfallen. He told his relative, W. His resting place in the Galilee is in Amukah. Legend most difficult challenge That you ever have to overcome.
Sheffield Cowles, that this “was the greatest disappointment has it that anyone who prays there for marriage will find As you reflect on the suffering you’ve been through in
of [his] life.” However, the inferiority complex he developed a spouse within the year. Thousands of people pray at his your life, given the choice, would you elect to never have
by virtue of this propelled him to become an overachiever. grave each year. In fact, one of my cousins met his wife experienced that pain? In an acutely mystical manner, the
Most of the members of The Porcellian were Republicans, through an amazing encounter just hours after praying at suffering that challenged us to our limit uncovered unknown
and this likely inspired him to break from his own family’s this holy tomb. depths within our beings that we would never otherwise
tradition and become a Democrat. The founding principle behind this paradigm shift is have tapped into.
Indeed, things are not as they seem. Failure is success in that G-d is essentially good and therefore everything that Making the decision to view things differently is the key
progress. Had FDR been granted his wish, WWII might well comes from Him is only good. Hence, the Torah tells us to switching from a victim mentality to that of a victor. As
have had a dramatically different outcome! This profound explicitly that “No evil descends from Above” (Midrash Dr. Edith Eger said: “Suffering is universal; victimhood
wisdom is taught to us in the opening verse of Parshas Rabbah, Bereishit 51:3; Tanya, Iggeret HaKodesh section is optional.” Only when we muster the courage to find the
Re’eh, as it reads: 11) and “by the command of the Most High, neither good light within our own hearts will the light of consciousness
“See, I am giving you today the blessing and the curse” nor evil come” (Lamentations 3:38). shine on all of humanity, as we usher in the era of higher
Deuteronomy 11:26). The Kabbalists translate the word Essentially what this means is that everything that consciousness — the era of Moshiach.
“curse” in this verse as “exchange,” wherein G-d notifies happens to us is good — if we can see the good, then it’s Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
us that He is giving us “either a blessing or its exchange.” revealed good; if we can’t, then it’s hidden good. The Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio
What is this supposed to mean? Why would the Torah shy Ballerina of Auschwitz, Edith Eger, was a guest speaker Show. Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.