How to Stay Strong in Times of Crisis: A Torah-Based Approach

In times of crisis, it's common to feel that the situation is hopeless, that things won’t get better, and that we’re facing a long, difficult road ahead.

The Talmud (Chullin 5b) comments on the verse “Man and beast You save, O G-d”, asking: Who is the “beast” that merits salvation? The sages answer: it refers to a person who behaves simply, like a beast- someone who doesn’t overanalyze the future but instead focuses on the moment. He, too, is saved.

Rabbi Gedaliah Eisman explained that in times of crisis, it’s not productive to project too far into the future. In such times, the path ahead looks dark, and envisioning a long-term plan can be paralyzing. Instead, we should focus entirely on the present and on getting through the next station in life. This is the meaning of “Man and beast You save”- there are moments when the right approach is to simply live like a “beast,” taking one step at a time without excessive calculation.

The Subtle Trap of the Evil Inclination

Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz brings a powerful insight into the workings of the yetzer hara (evil inclination). The Gemara (Shabbat 105b) says: “This is the craft of the evil inclination: today it says, ‘Do this,’ and tomorrow, ‘Do that,’ until finally it says, ‘Worship idols!’- and the person does so.”

The strategy here is gradual. The yetzer hara doesn’t urge a G-d-fearing person to commit spiritual suicide immediately- it starts small and leads step by step to total collapse.

There are exceptions. After the giving of the Torah at Sinai, when the people were at their spiritual peak, they suddenly fell into idolatry by building the Golden Calf. The verse says, “They turned aside quickly from the path I commanded them.” That was a rapid and dramatic fall.

Is it a gradual decline or sudden collapse?

Rabbi Shmulevitz explains: In normal times, the evil inclination works slowly and methodically. But in times of crisis- when a person’s strength is diminished- it strikes quickly, knowing that resistance is low. For this reason, after showing Israel an illusion of Moses’ death, panic took over, and the yetzer hara succeeded in bringing them down instantly.

This same pattern is seen in the story of Cain. After G-d rejects Cain’s offering, he spirals quickly: he becomes furious, falls into a deep emotional slump, kills his brother Abel, and even denies divine justice. Such a sharp descent is possible because Cain was in emotional turmoil and he was therefore vulnerable.

Learning from King Solomon

During the coronavirus lockdown, we faced a similar vulnerability. Isolation, disruption, and uncertainty weaken our emotional and spiritual resilience.

In such times, we can learn from King Solomon. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 20b) outlines his fall: first, he ruled over the heavens and the earth, then only over Israel, then only over Jerusalem, until finally, he ruled only over his staff.

What does it mean that Solomon ruled over his staff?

The Ben Ish Chai explains that even when Solomon had nothing but his walking stick, he gathered people to teach them wisdom. He was no longer a king in worldly terms, but he never stopped being a king. He never gave up. Because he held onto that inner identity and continued doing what he could, he ultimately returned to greatness.

A Practical Mindset for Today

This is the mindset we must adopt during crisis: Focus on what we can do now, rather than mourning what we can’t. Even in less-than-ideal circumstances we must give our best.

We must not wait for perfect conditions to live our highest values. Don't think, “I'll thrive when I'm back at full strength, back in the study hall, surrounded by friends.” No. We must give our best now. This is how we move from our own inner "Egypt" toward redemption.

Greatness doesn't require ideal conditions. It requires courage, focus, and consistent small steps, taken even in the darkest tunnel.