WATER GOES UP BEFORE IT COMES DOWN
Upon our arrival to Mount Sinai the Torah says “And Moshe ascended to HaShem and HaShem called out to him from the mountain” The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh asks why did Moshe ascend the mountain if HaShem had not yet called him? In answering this question the Ohr Hachaim teaches us a great lesson in how we need to serve HaShem.
There is a principle that HaShem wishes to grant much shefa, positive energy and spiritual influence to Man. However, HaShem designed the world in a way that before He grants this shefa Man must first recognize his need and request it from HaShem. In other words, Man has to take the first step be-fore HaShem becomes involved. We find this in the material world as well. Just as the baby must first suck before his mother’s milk comes, we too must first look to HaShem with yearning eyes before His shefa comes down. This is practiced when bringing offerings in the Mishkan. Before the Heavenly fire came down the kohein had to first bring his own fire.
This parallel is also found in rain, the ultimate material shefa that comes from heaven. Before it can rain the water must go heavenward as vapor into clouds and only then does the earth receive its needs.
The Ohr Hachaim explains that Moshe ascended the mountain in his quest to draw himself nearer to HaShem. Only after that expression of yearning to come closer, did HaShem call out to him. Before HaShem brings a person close to Him, the person must draw himself closer to HaShem.
This week our people suffered many losses with the passing of several great men. These include Reb Dovid Soloveitchik zt’l, Reb Yitzchok Scheiner zt’l, Rabbi Abraham Twerski zt’l and others. Among our losses was my beloved brother in-law, Reb Michoel Bodenheimer zt’l.
As I learned this lesson of the Ohr Hachaim Haka-dosh it struck me how this picture of a person yearning to be close to HaShem resembled Reb Michoel. He had cancer for many years during which he suffered much pain. Three years ago we were speaking on the phone and he told me of a new song he adopted. I asked him to sing it for me and I recorded it. It is actually a popular tune that he took and chose the lyrics from the words of the Shaarei Teshuva and then added a few words to personalize the song.
These lyrics inspire me to focus on the meaning of life and the goals we can set for ourselves. I would therefore like to share them with you as well.
“Rebbe Eliezer ben Yaakov says, as long as a person sits in comfort none of his mistakes and sins are cleaned up. However, by means of painful and challenging experiences he becomes beloved to HaShem. Ribono shel Olom, you love me, oh! I thank you”
His desire to be closer to HaShem and to be more beloved by Him eclipsed all his pain and discomfort.
As my father zt’l, who suffered much pain in his final year would often say, “Paysach, you never want to daven for pain, but when you get it, cherish it!
May all of klal Yisroel have a nechama from their losses and may we all draw ourselves closer to HaShem so that we can benefit from His infinite shefa.
Have a very safe and very wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind