The "Small" Acts of Kindness Within Pain

When Joseph the Righteous was sold by his brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelites, forcibly separated from his father's house, he was in great sorrow and pain. The Torah highlights a "small" kindness that the Creator bestowed upon him during this difficult and painful time: "And behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites... and their camels were carrying spices, balm, and ladanum" (Genesis 37:25). Rashi asks: Why does the Torah specify what the camels were carrying? What difference does it make? This teaches us how much Hashem cares for the righteous, because typically these caravans carried petroleum and tar, which smell terrible, but Hashem arranged for Joseph to travel with a caravan carrying "spices, balm, and ladanum" with their pleasant and sweet fragrance.

However, there is something puzzling here: Joseph is in such a difficult and fateful situation, being separated from his land and family, headed toward the unknown. Is this "kindness" that Hashem does for him so significant at this moment that the Torah sees fit to mention it?! Does the type of cargo the camels carried really matter in such a difficult situation?!

Indeed, even within hardship and suffering, Hashem 'pays attention' to the small details. Although the great difficulty must come to a person, for reasons known to the Creator alone, even within the difficulty Hashem takes care to "cushion" and bestow "small" kindnesses, from which one can draw tremendous encouragement and strength, and realize that Hashem watches over each person with wonderful and precise providence, never abandoning them at all.

Therefore, a person should open their eyes, look at all those "small" kindnesses that the Creator does for them, even during the great trouble that has come upon them, and draw great encouragement and strength from this! To understand that Hashem is with them and watches over them well, and does not give them even a drop more suffering than what is good for them.

"Hashem has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering"

After many years of hardship in Egypt, Joseph the Righteous rises to greatness and is blessed with children. He names his second son "Ephraim," saying, "For Hashem has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." Although I am in "the land of my suffering," in a foreign and alienating land, far from my beloved father's house, even here Hashem has "made me fruitful," and His kindness has not departed from me! This verse can provide great strength to anyone who finds themselves dwelling "in the land of their suffering," in times of difficulty and distress, as written in the following letter [continuation of a letter mentioned above, written by a Torah scholar who was widowed, to his friend who was also widowed]:

"And the name of the second he called Ephraim: 'For Hashem has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering'" (Genesis 41:52). Let us imagine what "the land of my suffering" meant for Joseph the Righteous, the same Joseph who once sat at the height of honor in the house of his father Jacob, the chosen of the Patriarchs, and was brought down to the lowest level, sold as a slave to the basest nation, living for many years completely cut off from his father's house and his family, tormented by his master's wife, and all the other hardships that were his lot. There is no doubt that the mental anguish Joseph experienced was exceedingly great, but nevertheless, he discovered Hashem's kindness that accompanied him on his difficult and painful journey. This he expressed in the name he gave his son: "For Hashem has made me fruitful"! True, I am in "the land of my suffering," but despite all this – "He has made me fruitful"! The name Ephraim was meant to remind him at all times that even when there are difficulties and sufferings, nevertheless, Hashem's kindness will never depart from him. And this is the thought that should accompany us throughout our journey. Indeed, "Hashem has disciplined us," but there is no place for doubts. We must always open our eyes and see Hashem's kindness upon us all day long. And know, my brother, that whenever I was troubled by thoughts because of my difficult situation, these words were truly like a restorative to my soul and like cold water to a weary soul.

Decreeing and Sustaining

The Skolener Rebbe, Rabbi Eliezer Zusia Portugal of blessed memory, had tremendous love for his fellow Jews and was known for extraordinary acts of kindness. He and his wife personally adopted nearly four hundred children after World War II and provided for their physical and spiritual needs.

Every year, the Rebbe would gather his close followers and tell them what happened to him in his youth: As a young man in Romania, he greatly influenced young and old to come closer to faith in Hashem. He convinced young Jewish men not to join the Romanian army, since those who did so completely distanced themselves from the ways of Judaism, with no way to return. Instead, he encouraged them to join a yeshiva where they would study Torah, a step that would keep them faithful to their ancestral traditions.

One day, someone informed the Romanian authorities that a man named Rabbi Portugal was instructing young men how to avoid military service! The authorities investigated the matter and found the accusation to be true. They angrily seized the Rabbi and imprisoned him in solitary confinement, in a filthy and dark cell, even taking away his kippah and glasses. The Rabbi was a weak and sickly man, and seeing his condition in the cold and damp cell, where the only place to sit or rest was on the cold and moldy ground, he thought his end was near. He barely had contact with the outside world, and had no idea how long he would have to stay in his cell. The authorities threatened to keep him there forever.

He wanted to pray, but his head was not covered, so he pulled his jacket over his head and began to hum aloud the prayers he knew by heart. The Rabbi's custom was to pray at great length, and now, in this difficult situation, his prayer was twice as long. He sang each and every word with emotion and deep contemplation. The Rabbi reached the prayer "Baruch She'amar," which contains a series of praises we offer to Hashem: "Blessed is He who spoke and the world came into being! Blessed is He, blessed is He who speaks and acts"! Then he came to the words "Blessed is He who decrees and fulfills," and began to contemplate these words. The word "decrees" usually refers to a harsh decree, to Hashem's strict governance of His creatures, contrary to their will. And here it says that Hashem decrees decrees and even fulfills them! How is this related to this prayer, which is entirely praise to Hashem for His abundant mercy and kindness?! This question gave him no rest, and he tried again and again to think about the words. After a long time of contemplation, the explanation of the words suddenly illuminated his heart, and he was filled with excitement and joy! The word "fulfills" has an additional meaning: fulfills - gives existence, gives strength to endure, to overcome and persevere. This is the intention here: sometimes Hashem needs to decree a decree upon a person, for a reason known to Him alone, but at the same time, Hashem also "fulfills," provides the strength and ability to endure and overcome, so that the person can withstand the decree!

From that moment on, the Rabbi looked at his situation with great positivity, because he knew that Hashem was also sustaining him so that he could withstand the decree. He was no longer in a state of despair. He began to believe that it was only a matter of time until he would be saved, and indeed after several days, with the intervention of people from outside, the Rabbi was released from the Romanian authorities. Every year, on the anniversary of his release from prison, the Rabbi would gather his close followers, tell them this story, and explain the new and encouraging interpretation he found in the words "decrees and fulfills." He would encourage all those gathered to never break down in difficult situations, because even in times of hardship, Hashem gives strength to those who walk in His ways! ("Around the Maggid's Table")