Parshat Vayechi
December 20-21, 2002
16 Teves, 5763

NOTE: In place of my normal weekly Insights, I am posting this article that I wrote for the Savannah Morning News (printed on Sunday, December 15th), in response to the question: DID G-D HAVE A BAD YEAR? The paper contacted a couple of Christian leaders, as well as one practicing Muslim (and myself representing the Jewish perspective), and our responses were published on consecutive days. For those who didn't get to read the article in the Savannah paper, here it is [unfortunately, or more likely, fortunately, the monstrously large photo of yours truly that accompanied the article is not being sent as an accompaniment!] HAVE A GOOD SHABBOS, AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK...AS WE BEGIN THE BOOK OF SHEMOS (EXODUS).

DID G-D HAVE A BAD YEAR?

It is not easy to read God’s mind, nor to speculate how He would have characterized the events of the past year had He been asked by the editors of the Savannah Morning News to submit an article! Even the Book of Isaiah, written in an age of actual prophecy when the channels of communication between God and man were free of static (and the reality of the spiritual dimension was felt more palpably in this physical world), cautions us humans rather sternly against trying to second-guess the Almighty. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens over the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (55, 8-9)

So a little bit of (wholesome) humility is in order as we proceed to pass judgment on what kind of year G-d had in 2002.

Having said that, I do believe it’s worthwhile to share with you certain traditional Jewish insights on the meaning of life. Whatever the ultimate view from Above, we human beings down here can perhaps utilize this wisdom to achieve spiritual growth even in these admittedly difficult (and dangerous) times.

Here are four rather immense Jewish perspectives on existence that have some relevance to what we are experiencing in our society, and in the world. (If you prefer something lighter, maybe you should turn to the comics at this point!)

1. G-d fashioned man as the pinnacle of Creation, endowing him with an ability to choose the path of good or of evil (free will), and with the power to either elevate or debase himself (and all of Creation with him) through his choices. 2. G-d created this universe with all the elements of perfection in place, but gave mankind the (awesome) responsibility of bringing this Creation to fruition. Judaism teaches, then, that man is (in essence) a "partner" with G-d in completing the ultimate goals of Creation. 3. All of the trials and tribulations we experience in this world--and even evil itself--are a part of G-d’s ultimate plan, and are designed to bring out in us the latent potential (and greatness) to struggle even more heroically to choose good, and to carry out G-d’s will. 4. Ultimately, G-d will lead all mankind to its intended state of perfection (the messianic age), utilizing in the process even the evil that men choose in order to bring about His benevolent aims. However dark things may look at any point in history, there is a master plan (and Master Planner)…and the concealed light will eventually be revealed in the course of time.

Let’s now step back--if you’re still with me--and try to distill from these lofty philosophical points a few "practical pointers" that I hope we can all use to cope more effectively with current events.

If there is an ultimate plan (as well as ultimate spiritual meaning to our lives), then there is no cause for despair--which Judaism teaches is among the most damaging human maladies of all. (How can we be the happy, productive, growing human beings G-d wants if we are sunk in hopelessness?) Throughout our own history, the Jewish people has learned that periods of spiritual and physical darkness give way to periods of light and divine revelation, that cruel persecutions are followed by miraculous salvations. This, in fact, is one of the chief lessons of the Chanukah holiday, during which we Jews remember the cruel decrees of the Syrian-Greek rulers in the Land of Israel in the second century B.C.E., and celebrate G-d’s ultimate deliverance of His people.

If we are living in exceedingly dark times (and we are), then Judaism would remind us that it is always darkest before the dawn. If we can strive to keep our faith in G-d and the ultimate wisdom of His purposes, then we will be worthy to see miraculous salvations. G-d will respond to our faith by bringing a great light of redemption for all mankind--greater by far than the darkness that preceded it. Until that time, though, we can respond to the unleashing of powerful "forces of evil" in this world (as epitomized by the September 11th attacks) not with despair, but with redoubled efforts to unleash the forces of good and compassion in ourselves, as expressed in our daily lives.

And if evil is a part of God’s Creation (as Isaiah taught us in Chapter 45: "I am the One Who forms light, and creates darkness; Who makes peace and creates evil…"), then it shouldn’t surprise us to see its manifestation (though it may never lose its power to horrify). We should realize that it is central to our very task as human beings to work tirelessly to uproot evil: both in society, and in our own individual human personalities. We also must not be naïve about its destructive purpose or potential, and we must fight back with appropriate physical force when necessary--as in dealing with ruthless terrorists, who are committed to their unholy path of indiscriminate violence.

We must also appreciate how these dark times (though not welcomed by us) can ultimately bring out what is brightest, and most noble, in human beings. It would be cruel to suggest that September 11th was somehow spiritually "worth it" in the scheme of things, but it would also be dishonest to deny that a new sense of brotherly spirit was powerfully felt in this society in its aftermath. People’s sense of priorities changed, they became more thoughtful and their appreciation of the divine image in their fellow man noticeably increased. We all tried more assiduously to look out for our neighbor, and to appreciate with more sincerity the blessings we enjoy. More people attended their respective places of worship, to commune with G-d and to find closeness in community. We have seen evil in this past year, true, but have also seen much good born out of it. Why should we not try to continue in this path of finding the light in the darkness…or, put another way, responding to the darkness by generating and radiating more spiritual light?

What happens to us in this world is, ultimately, in G-d’s hands. And although as we said, Judaism teaches that the ultimate ending of the human story is a happy one, the precise pathway in which that comes about is a part of that profound divine thought-process that Isaiah cautioned us against trying to penetrate. However, the way in which we people respond to what happens to us is in our own hands, and is part of our divinely bestowed gift of moral free will. This is what we should focus on to the best of our ability.

I believe that one of the best (and most potent) responses we can make, in addition to doing more kindness for our fellow man, is to increase our efforts in prayer. Judaism teaches that one of the "hidden blessings" to be found in our tribulations is precisely that they can lead us to seek a greater closeness to G-d in prayer. True prayer is not the demand that G-d do what we want, but the humbling experience of appreciating more deeply how much we are dependent on Him for all the blessings in this world--including security, peace of mind…and life itself. We elevate ourselves, and all of God’s Creation, by using our power of free will to choose the path of prayer.

If things are insecure in our world now, then we can respond by trying to deepen through prayer our ultimate sense of security and trust in the protection of G-d Himself (while, of course, never neglecting more earthbound homeland security measures that are necessary).

Like King David, who turned even the darkest moments of his frequently hazardous life into opportunities to connect to G-d (while, at the same time, engaging in the appropriate practical, and military, initiatives required by the moment), we too can convert even our physical insecurity into greater spiritual strength.

In Psalm 27, we see how David transforms darkness into spiritual light, inner fear into equanimity, and calamity into a call for G-d’s help in realizing his ultimate quest in this world: to grow closer to the Almighty, and more diligent in following His ways.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is my life’s strength, whom shall I dread? When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh; my tormentors and my foes against me—it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army would besiege me, my heart would not fear; though war would arise against me, in this I trust. One thing I asked of the Lord, that alone shall I seek—that I dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of the Lord and to contemplate in His Sanctuary. Indeed, He will hide me in His shelter on the day of evil; He will conceal me in the concealment of His tent, He will lift me upon a rock…Teach me Your way, Lord; and lead me on the path of integrity, because of my watchful foes…Hope to the Lord; strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to the Lord."

In conclusion (and this itself is one of G-d’s kindnesses, that a clergyman like myself will eventually conclude his sermons), whatever G-d’s thoughts are about the events of the past year, I am confident that He would be quite heartened if we would try to internalize these words of King David as we face the coming year and its challenges. If we do, then whatever G-d may send our way (and despite the evil some human beings will choose), at least we will be spiritually fortified to handle it…and better equipped to live up to our noble role of being partners with Him in Creation.

May it be a year of blessing, peace, and light for Savannah, for the United States and for all of mankind.

My e-mail address is yosefe@comcast.net

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Rabbi Yosef Edelstein, Savannah Kollel. Phone: 912-351-0469; fax: 354-9923