My rosh yeshiva in Israel, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, zt”l (late rosh yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim), was stricken with Parkinson’s disease for his entire tenure as rosh yeshiva. Under his leadership, the yeshiva grew from 1,000 students to 6,000 and increased from one building to seven! He gave shiurim, met with students and carried the whole yeshiva’s budget on his shoulders. In his advanced stages of Parkinson’s, he still traveled to America to raise funds, meeting donors in their offices despite the strain. Once, the rosh yeshiva asked a supporter for a much larger donation than usual. The donor wanted to excuse himself with a nicety, but shocked himself when the word “yes” jumped from his lips! It was clear, he said later, that seeing the rosh yeshiva push himself beyond his limits for the love of his students, he could not say no. The rosh yeshiva’s challenging illness actually helped him raise the millions of dollars he needed for the maintenance and growth of the yeshiva.
We all have areas where we may feel somewhat deficient: intellect, livelihood, shidduchim, health, child raising, anger management…the list goes on. People sometimes get caught up with the area in which they are lacking and let it weigh them down. They lose sight of their inner strength.
Parshas Naso discusses the Nazir, who accepts upon himself to refrain from drinking wine, consuming grape products, cutting his hair and touching the dead. The Torah describes the act of becoming a nazir with the words “Ish ki yaflei” a person who accepts upon himself something wondrous. The wonder of the nazir is to go against the flow. Most people engage in worldly pursuits, while ignoring the neshama (soul). The nazir, to elevate himself spiritually, accepts the challenge of undertaking to focus on his neshama and not let his body be in the driver’s seat.
Rav Gedalia Schorr notes that we say the same word (derived from the word “pelah”) daily in the bracha of Asher Yatzar after we use the restroom. The bracha concludes with the words “mafli la’assos.” The Rema (Shulchan Aruch 6:1) explains that in addition to thanking Hashem for normal bodily function, we are thanking Hashem for the wonder of keeping two opposite forces together. Man has a body and a soul, which have two opposite agendas, and Hashem makes them exist together in harmony. Indeed, the success of the soul is only due to the body, and the success of the body is only due to the soul.
In our own daily life, we sometimes let our challenges temporarily overcome us. We need to recognize that any challenges that come our way are from Hashem and therefore, in some way, for our good. Dealing with these challenges effectively might in fact be the key to our ultimate accomplishments and success.
The bracha of borei nefashos that we say after eating certain foods is an incredible bracha; it describes this exact point: It indicates that Hashem creates many different people with all their needs and sustains them with all that He created. We have our needs and Hashem provides for them.
The Bobover Rebbe would go to visit people after Shabbos morning davening in their homes. He would drink a l’chaim, pass out cake to all the people there, make a bracha, eat a small piece and then move on to the next home.
One Shabbos on his rounds, the Rebbe stopped to see Reb Zishe, who was rosh kollel of Bobov. Reb Zishe was married for 10 years but had no children. Also present was Reb Zishe’s gabbai (assistant), Reb Shmuel, who had no children after nine years of marriage. The Rebbe gave out a l’chaim and piece of cake, then uncharacteristically drank the entire cup. He motioned to Reb Zishe and Reb Shmuel and loudly recited the bracha Baruch atah… borei nefashos rabbos v’chesronam—Hashem creates many people each with their needs—l’hachoyos bahem nefesh kol chai—to give each of them life. All answered “amen!!” Within the year, Reb Zishe had a baby girl and Reb Shmuel had a baby boy. It was clear the Rebbe purposely drank a full cup to require him to say this after-bracha so he could ask for Hashem to fill their void and get all to answer amen.
Twenty years later, the Bobover Rebbe visited Reb Zishe and Reb Shmuel to drink a l’chaim on the engagement of their children to each other. Their void of being childless for so many years was destined to be filled by each other’s simcha and give them a joyous life together.
Instead of letting our difficulties hold us back, let’s instead realize the wondrous ways of Hashem and use the resources given to us by Hashem to achieve success as we conquer these difficulties.
By Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim
