D'var Torah

This week’s parasha is a continuation of last week’s speech by Moses to the Israelites as they are about to leave him and enter the Promised Land.  This week he tells them that, if they maintain their covenant with God by observing all the commandments, God will make them fruitful and victorious over their enemies. Reminding them of their forty years of wandering through the wilderness, Moses tells them: “God subjected you to the hardship of hunger…then gave you manna…in order to teach you that human beings do not live on bread alone…”

I have always been a bit uncomfortable with this type of language. Does God really put us through trials in order for us to learn important lessons? Did God want the families of the victims of October 7^th to learn some profound life lesson? Do those people affected by COVID need to understand that material goods are less important than people? What is the lesson for the five-year-old child who lives with a serious or terminal illness?  This type of approach does not fit with my personal theology. I do believe, however, that we can learn many critical and Godly lessons from the trials that come our way. I would not say, though, that the trials themselves come from God.

To learn compassion, patience or tolerance is to learn a God-like quality. Although difficult, when faced with a life challenge, it can be a true blessing to realize that something wonderful and enriching has come forth as a result. Hard as it may be, we can even look for new meaning and insights in the midst of struggle. Certainly, this past year has been a testament to that. There were many lessons learned; many new values and commitments realized especially for our American Jewish community.  For many, these silver linings have deepened our Jewish identities and clarified the Jewish values we appreciate most. While I am not inclined to attribute the tragedies and challenges we as individuals or as a community to God's hand, I always want to be open to lessons I can learn from all that life brings us - the good and the bad. 

Shabbat Shalom.