“Life happens” and how we deal with it is what builds our character. Tuesday morning, Chavie woke up in San Antonio to discover that our fairly new minivan was stolen right out of her parents’ driveway. Car seats, stroller, topper, 100’s of DVD’s; it’s just a royal pain in the neck. It’s hard to digest this reality and it brings up feeling of anger and general distrust in humanity. Yet, we are expected to see our reality from a different lens, a holier perspective. The Talmud says that when G-d destroyed the Holy Temples in Jerusalem “He poured His wrath on to wood and stones”, instead of onto the people, and for that we are to be grateful.
In this week’s Torah portion, Va'etchanan, we read the key prayer of Judaism, the Shema. In it, G-d commands us to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might”. Rashi explains that “with all your might” is instructing us to love G-d with whatever measure He metes out to you, whether it be the measure of good or the measure of retribution. Thus, King David says: “I will lift up the cup of salvations and I will call upon the name of the Lord” and “I found trouble and grief and I called out in the name of the Lord”. G-d is always our address, our comfort space, whether things seem to be superb or extremely challenging.
Woodrow Wilson said “If you lose your wealth, you have lost nothing; if you lose your health, you have lost something; but if you lose your character, you have lost everything.” I don’t claim to know what G-d is smoking at every moment of every day. I don’t know why our minivan was stolen or why I was chosen to spend quality time with insurance companies and the amazing team at Denny Menholt Honda in Bozeman. What I do know is that He’s been good to me and for that I am grateful. I will do my very best to remain focused, remain upbeat and remember: it’s only a car, Baruch Hashem.
With all your might, Chaim!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!