Spiritual Wisdom in Hardship: Turning Setbacks Into Self-Reflection

A person must be wise in matters of spirituality no less than a merchant is wise in matters of business. Every simple merchant prefers to invest a little and risk losing only a little, in order to potentially gain much. It is better to lose a little now than to lose much later.

So it is with suffering: “The prudent one sees evil and hides himself.” When he sees trouble, he takes it to heart, safeguards his soul, and does teshuvah (repentance). He does not dismiss it as coincidence, so that he won’t be forced to receive another “reminder” from Heaven — usually a sharper one.

“Why Did God Do This to Me?”

A remarkable story is told about Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer (recorded in the book Et Milchama). The story involves Rabbi David Auerbach, who merited to serve Rabbi Isser Zalman.

One day, Rabbi Isser Zalman was walking home from the yeshiva accompanied by Rabbi David. When they arrived at the house, the Rebbetzin had prepared a cup of milk for Rabbi Isser Zalman on a small kerosene stove, as this was essential for his health. She asked him to be careful and remember to remove it from the fire after a few minutes.

However, being so deeply absorbed in Torah study, Rabbi Isser Zalman forgot about the milk. It boiled over, spilled entirely, and only then did he realize he had forgotten. He began trembling in fear and turned to Rabbi David, saying: “Why has God done this to me? What sin did I commit today that Heaven punished me immediately on the spot?”

He began to search his actions and soon recalled: every day a Yemenite Jew sat at the exit of the “Etz Chaim” Yeshiva, and Rabbi Isser Zalman always gave him a small coin. That day, it seemed he had forgotten and passed by without giving. He calculated that the value of the spilled milk was equal to the coin he had failed to give — and he was punished measure for measure. Immediately he told Rabbi David to run back and give the man the coin.

When Rabbi David returned and reported that he had given the money to the Yemenite Jew, Rabbi Isser Zalman calmed down and felt at peace again.

A great person does not attribute events to chance but sees everything in terms of reward and consequence. Even when suffering a minor loss, he immediately searches his deeds and corrects what needs correction.

“But We Are Guilty”

This is like the reaction of Joseph’s brothers in the Torah portion of Miketz (Bereishit 42:9). When accused of being spies, their first response was not to think how to escape or defend themselves, but to say: “But we are guilty” (ibid. 42:21). They immediately examined their deeds and accepted the yoke of Heaven upon themselves.

We must learn from them how truly great people respond: whenever something happens, they ask what Heaven is demanding from them, and immediately consider what they must correct.