How Should We Perceive Suffering in This World? Words of Encouragement for the Weary Soul

Here we present the uplifting and heartwarming words of the holy Rabbi Aharon Rata zt"l from his book "Guardian of Faith":

...And so everything that Hashem does with us now, at the end of our exile, which seems to us as suffering and great trouble, God forbid, all is hidden within it great kindness and benevolence, like a father who strikes his son out of great mercy and kindness. And when our righteous Messiah will be revealed speedily in our days, His good and benevolence will be revealed to us, blessed be His name, that was hidden in all these troubles and concealments and decrees, and regarding this time it is said (Psalms 118): "I will thank you for answering me," and we will thank His great name for everything He has done for us in the exile.

For Hashem is great and mighty in power to repay us thousands upon thousands and endless bountiful good beyond our understanding, even to the prophets, as it is written (Isaiah 64): "No eye has seen Hashem but you, will do for those who wait for him," precisely for those who anticipate Hashem. For Hashem has not revealed even to the prophets the reward for Israel, as mentioned there (Yalkut Isaiah, hint 478), and this is his language: How did they see? Rabbi Berechiah said: like a crack in a barrel. Rabbi Chiya said: like the crack of a doorway. And Rabbi said: they saw a feast, but not the reward. And Rabbi Yossi said: they saw neither a feast nor the reward, until here is his language. Thus, Hashem even concealed from the prophets the magnitude of the reward for Israel.

Kindness without Measure

And all the sufferings of Israel in this world, besides being in themselves great kindness without measure, as it is mentioned (Midrash Psalms 118): "I was chastised by Hashem," beloved are the sufferings, for they atone like sacrifices. In the sacrifices it is said: "and it shall be accepted for atonement," and regarding sufferings it is written: "as a father the son He accepts." Another thing, beloved are the sufferings because they atone more than sacrifices, for a sin offering and a guilt offering do not atone except for the specific sin, as it is said: "and it shall be accepted for atonement," but the sufferings atone for all, thus "I was chastised by Hashem," until here is his language. Thus you see the great value of the sufferings in essence.

And certainly what Hashem will repay us for every strike and sorrow of Israel beyond measure and counting, and regarding that time it is said (Isaiah 60): "Lift up your eyes around you and see: they all gather and come to you, your sons from afar they come, and your daughters on the side are supported," this refers to the gathering of all the holy sparks of every son of Israel that he accomplished in the days of his exile, which are called his sons and daughters, and they will all draw near to you, both those who were mended by repentance, and by faith, and by sufferings and Torah and prayer and acts of kindness.

And it is written after: "Then you will see and be radiant, your heart will tremble and expand because the abundance of the sea will be turned onto you, the wealth of the nations shall come unto you," see there. Then we will see eye to eye the kindness of Hashem with us. And you will shine – for Hashem will illuminate our blind eyes, and we will see His goodness and kindness, and our hearts will expand – because in this world they thought that the main thing is only to gather wealth and chase after livelihood and foolishness and vanity of this world, and Torah and commandments are just like simple stones in the world, but then Hashem will illuminate our eyes, and He will show us great and awesome lights of the commandments that we performed and caused in all the worlds, and the King's delights in this.

And regarding that time it is said (Isaiah 49): "And you will say in your heart, ‘Who bore me these, for I was bereaved and desolate, exiled and repelled; and these who has raised them? Behold, I was left alone; where are these?'" because the holy Israel now see themselves at the end of this exile, exiled, bereaved, and desolate, in sorrow and trouble, and each one fell in his own eyes in despair and darkness and downfall, God forbid, and then speedily in our days each one will wonder and say: Who bore me all these great lights, and I was bereaved and desolate, thinking that he is poor and needy, and did nothing in his service and commandments, because of despair and downfall and weakness of mind from the troubles of the treacherous time, Heaven forfend, but then at that time the Merciful Creator will reveal to us our actions and endeavors in our good deeds and what we have caused thereby in all the worlds, and to differentiate to the correction of our souls and for our good, and all concealments and darknesses will be revealed.

And besides all these things, every son of Israel will merit to have as numerous angels and servants, as our holy Rabbis, of blessed memory, have mentioned, and lights and pleasures without measure and counting, and they will thank and praise for the miracles and wonders that Hashem, may he be blessed, will do for us for the small sorrow we suffered in exile, for His great name, the mighty and awesome.

And it is written (Zephaniah 3): "Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Rejoice and be happy with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!" For Hashem will give us all the wealth of the nations and their influences, as mentioned in the verse brought above (Isaiah 60): "The wealth of the nations shall come to you," for all the influences they took from us in exile the higher officials and their forces and those joined with them, Hashem will return to us double upon double without measure and counting.

The Hope and Expectation of the Promised – Ensures Joy

And we will return to the matter written above (Psalms 118): "I will thank you for answering me," and it is written after this: "From Hashem this has come; it is marvelous in our eyes," this refers to the redemption of Israel, as mentioned (Midrash Psalms 118) that it will be marvelous in our eyes that we did not understand the ways of Hashem. And this is the language of the Midrash: A parable to someone who was making laundry (explanation: a place where the launderer cleans the items) for the launderers, and he became a prince (explanation: a demon), and everyone was amazed at him, and he said to them: Are you amazed at me?! More am I amazed than you! Thus, when the nations of the world will see Israel in peace in the future, they will say: Are these not the afflicted?! Are these not the downtrodden?! And Israel will answer them: Are you amazed at us?! More are we amazed than you! And the Holy Spirit will answer them: From Hashem this has come. The people of Jerusalem and the people of Judah will open their mouths and they will praise and glorify together to Hashem and say: Give thanks to Hashem for He is good, for His kindness endures forever, and the kindness of Hashem is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, until here is his language.

Therefore, we must only trust in His great name always, for whoever trusts in Hashem will never falter forever, and all decrees will turn to good, even if several decrees were pronounced upon him – through the attribute of trust all the decrees are torn up, and it is even more effective than prayer, as I will explain specifically, with Hashem's will, the great value of trust. And see in the holy book "Duties of the Heart" the Gate of Trust, and you will see wondrous marvels in the great value of trust with all sorts of explanations to strengthen hearts in Hashem. "Happy are all who take refuge in Him" (Psalms 2), "And those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Hashem, have not forsaken those who seek you" (Psalms 9).

And with the power of our trust in Hashem we will pass all tests and nothing will frighten us in the world, for this is called the essence of trust, that he is not afraid and does not fear anything and does not fall in his heart because of any reason or thing, and on every fall and descent and concealment and sorrow he strengthens his heart in Hashem the good and merciful, and knows that at the end of all ends it must be rectified, and why should he act foolishly and rebel against Hashem, God forbid, and cause waves upon waves over himself?!

And Hashem wants and desires the repentance of the wicked, even if they are at the utmost fall and descent, God forbid, and Hashem desires and longs for the improvement of the actions of every son of Israel, and he should not rely on falsehood and politics, and he should not attribute anything to chance, God forbid, then Hashem always shows him kindness and true miracles, and also (Isaiah 43): "When you pass through water, I am with you, and through rivers they will not overflow you; when you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you," etc.

May it be His will that we merit to trust always in Hashem, and to cleave to Him, blessed be He and in His ways, and we will rejoice and be glad in His kingdom, blessed be His name forever and ever, amen so may it be His will.

The article is taken from the book "Living with Faith." To purchase the book by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi click here.