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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
Life comes with both good days and challenging ones. While we are blessed, at times we are tested.
Pirkei Avos teaches “Asara nisyonos nisnassoh Avraham Avinu, Our father, Avraham, was tested ten times, v’omad b’kulam, and he withstood all of them.” (Avos 5:3)
This week’s parsha, Lecha Lecha, opens with one of Avraham’s life tests. Lech lecha. Go for yourself. HaShem instructed Avraham to leave his land, his birthplace, the home he grew up in. Everything he was familiar with, and start a new life.
Where to? “El ha’aretz asher ar’echa, to the land that I will show you.”
With a giant leap of faith, Avraham and Sara packed their bags and left behind the world they knew. With emuna and bitachon, they crossed hot desert sands “to the land that I will show you.” They didn’t have Waze to guide them, they didn’t know how long it would take, they didn’t even have an exact destination.
Imagine being asked to leave your comfort zone for the unknown. How stressful would that be.
Avraham and Sara made a life-altering move. A move that changed not only their destiny, but the destiny of our people for generations to come.
In parshas Vayeira, we read, “V’hoElokim nisah es Avraham, and HaShem tested Avraham.” (Breishis 22:1). Ramban addresses the purpose of life‘s tests and challenges. Ramban teaches that when we experience difficulties, we actualize our potential, elevating our very being.
“V’omad b’kulam, And (Avraham) stood up to them all.” It’s not just accepting the challenge, but how one accepts the challenge. Nowhere do we see any kvetching, complaining or doubting. No grouchiness or hesitation.
Avraham, who experienced firsthand the needs of the desert traveler, established an eishel, an open, inviting home, where he made it his mission to welcome so many.
Like Avraham, all our patriarchs and matriarchs experienced life tests. Each one, in their own way, rose to the challenge. Generations later, we are the carriers of their spiritual DNA, genes that enable us to find the strength to stand up to our own personal life tests.
At times, life’s trials and tribulations seem too much to bear. We protest… it’s not fair, why can’t life be easier. All we want is happy, it that too much to ask for?
In times of pain and frustration, we cry out, not understanding the why behind it all. Tests are for the Avrahams and Saras in the world….so, why me?
“V’hoElokim nisah es Avraham, and HaShem tested Avraham.” My mother a”h often taught that the Hebrew language is like no other. It is Lashon Hakodesh, the Holy Tongue. There is a life lesson to be found in each and every word.
The word nisayon, a test, shares common letters with the word neis, meaning miracle. Neis can also mean a flag or banner.
The difficulties that we at times endure, are there to help us realize our purpose, our life mission. A mission to do, not only for ourselves, but for the betterment of our family, our friends, our community. And, who knows, it may even morph into the betterment of mankind. Challenges help us discover our “flag”, the banner we fly high, proclaiming our mission statement.
And that leads us to understand the third meaning of neis… miracle. For the greatest miracle of all is to recognize one’s purpose in life.
My mother would often bentch us to have “nachas from yourself”. To be proud of where one is in life.
Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, the Mir mashgiach, would tell his students that as important as it is for one to know his faults in order to know what he must amend, it is even more important for one to know his capabilities, to know what he can accomplish. To know one’s mission and do it.
During the last year of my mother’s life, she devoted herself to writing a book, Be a Blessing. Her final message to her readers, to Am Yisroel. A message that we, as the grandchildren of Avraham Avinu, have a tafkid, a life mission to do good and bring blessing to the world around us. As HaShem tells Avraham, “V’heyei bracha, and you shall be a blessing.”
Zahava List lives by the words “be a blessing”. Zahava writes that “no one is a stranger to pain, each person has their unique challenges.” For Zahava, it was postpartum psychosis. In her own words, “I am not a rebbetzin… I never imagined starting an international organization. All I wanted was support. To have people by my side who cared… who understood my challenges, because they had their own mental health journey and could relate.
It started with one phone meeting, four women listening and supporting each other. Four unrelated women who called themselves Sisters… giving each other strength, thereby strengthening themselves. Word spread. Four became forty, then four hundred, and now, eight years later, two thousand.”
Zahava took her challenge and followed in the path of Avraham, to be a blessing. While she wishes there weren’t so many who need support and encouragement, the reality is, there are.
Zahava saw a need and founded Chazkeinu, an organization that is there for those suffering with mental health issues. Most importantly, it has brought the entire subject of mental illness to the forefront, and removed the stigma that made a painful situation even more difficult. Through its work, Chazkeinu has made people realize that mental illness is just like any other illness, and there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of.
Zahava is the embodiment of v’heyei bracha. She writes: “I often remind myself that Hashem gave me this illness for a reason. Even though I don’t know why I was chosen to have this, I know that Hashem gave it to me to help me be the best Zahava I can be. Through my illness, I was able to accomplish things that I never would imagine I would be able to do. I am grateful for that, and hope to accomplish even more. To know that I can give strength to others because of what I went through, gives so much meaning to my life.”
(To learn more about Chazkeinu, visit chazkeinu.org)
The same Chumash that tells us that HaShem tested Avraham, also tells us “VaHaShem beirach es Avraham bakol, And HaShem blessed Avraham with everything.” (Bereishis 24:1). The G-d who tests is the G-d who blesses.
With HaShem’s help, our lives should be filled with brachas – bakol, in everything we do.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
