Trials of the Generation: How Much Is a Small Overcoming Worth?

Let us consider, the Creator exiled us from our land so that in the exile we may come to refinement and preparation for redemption. Can it be that Hashem's actions in the exile of Israel will not reach their purpose to bring about rectification?!

And if you say, doesn’t it seem that as a result of the exiles, on the contrary, we have stumbled more, fallen into forgetting Hashem, assimilation, forgetting the Torah, and if so, what benefit have we gained from the exiles?

To this we must answer: We cannot grasp the depth of Hashem’s thoughts and calculations. Only the Creator holds the scales to know what will lead to tilting the scales in favor of our merits.

When the Temple stood and there was divine revelation to Israel, every sin was of heavy weight, and even complaints about their situation were considered great sins. Conversely, all merits and mitzvot they performed were scrutinized, for in a state of revelation many complete mitzvot were demanded of us.

Hashem saw we couldn’t withstand this test, so He preferred to hide His face from us and send us into exile. In such a state of darkness and trials, concealment and much suffering, then, every mitzvah becomes a powerful defense, and each small sin carries less weight than in times of the Temple, where we were in a state of revelation; the merits then had less power, and each sin carried more weight, so that the scales are not in our hands to know when the scale of merit tips more for us.

Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin would say (Beit Aharon page 87): "My beloved and my brethren, believe me—and it is filled in all the holy books—that which the early righteous had to achieve in many days and months, can now be rectified in one hour, because the world is in a state of 'foot', so Hashem has compassion on His world and brings His holiness downward".

The words of the holy Gaon from Karlin are quoted by the rabbi "Michtav Me'Eliyahu" (Vol. 4 p. 109) who adds: "The explanation is, that in a state of lowliness, easier trials are given, and choosing good becomes easier, as known. If so, only one point is required of us... and it is as thin as a hair's breadth, but the main thing is that it be genuine—permeating from side to side, and then it is possible to gain tremendous spiritual wealth, the portion of a generation and generations literally, which is immeasurable".

Thus, it is written, in our generation, it is possible to gain the portion of several earlier generations.

Similarly, the words of the Chafetz Chaim are famous: when there is a lack of grain, even the inferior grain is sold at a high price, and the Chafetz Chaim said this is our generation, where each action holds importance and value.

Therefore, we must be encouraged and strengthen ourselves today and cherish every overcoming, especially every inner work done truly for the sake of Hashem, every guarding of the eyes, guarding of the tongue, subduing of a desire or bad trait like anger and pride are very precious.

"A Candle at Night Is Better than a Torch by Day...!"

In exile, our good deeds shine like "small candles", yet they are at night, in times of darkness and concealment, and their light is better than the first, who shone in their deeds like a torch, but they were in a state of "day", a state of revelation and few trials. And if you say what about those who stumble and fail due to exile, and even those who are lost in the darkness of exile—know that at the end, all Israel will do teshuva, as explained by Rambam, and also written by the Or HaChaim HaKadosh (on Numbers 25:14): "And He thinks thoughts so no one is banished, and even if a Jewish person falls, in the end, he will return to his root". And it is said (Psalms 94:14): "For Hashem will not forsake His people, nor abandon His heritage", meaning, ultimately Hashem will make it that all will return, and as stated, the teshuva of those last ones who will return finally out of necessity, their level is much lower than those who returned first without necessity, but the exile in the end will lead to the teshuva of all Israel.

And truly Hashem knew of this weakness existing in man in times of stumbling, so He commanded us about teshuva, and not only did He command us but also swore in His great name that He desires teshuva. And we bring several proofs that the Creator knew and understood the weaknesses of humans in their faith in Him after their sin, and therefore He clarified this to us more than any other mitzvah, as will be explained below.

The article is taken from the book "Living in Faith". To purchase Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi's book click here.