GOOD TIDINGS

  “The most devastating human experience is the failure to remember past experiences and to learn from that past how we are to live in the present and how we can prepare for the future.”

    I speak this way as I continue to watch the disaster and devastation that has overwhelmed the city of Houston by hurricane Harvey.   Why, you may ask, am I visiting this terrible tragedy once again? I happen to come across an article that I wrote about my personal experience as the Rabbi in Lido Beach during the terrifying hurricane of Sandy that destroyed so many homes, physically, and had a great psychological affect on so many innocent men, women and children. 

   In that article I quoted an amazing and magnificent poem by Minnie Louise Haskins:
"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown, and he replied, Go out unto the darkness and put your hand into the hand of G-D. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

  For those in Houston and for many who fear hurricane Irma, which is bearing down towards the State of Florida, I say, “Take all the precautions possible, and   do as much as is humanly possible. Hold dear to your B’tachon, your Faith in G-D, and together you will weather the storm.  

   As I continued to write my Blog there was a certain philosophical u turn that I began to take as I reflect upon this week's Torah reading of Ki Tavo, which describes the bringing of the  Bekurim, the first fruits, to the Bes Hamikdash as an offering of thanks for the bountiful produce. What intrigues me most is the proclamation that the farmer recites as he hands over the Bekurim to the Kohain. "You shall take of the first fruit of the land ...........ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך הי אלוקיך ולביתך 
"And you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your G-D has given to you and your household"

  The אור החיים, writes, “The idea of טוב in this context means, דבר הכולל כל טוב, ואין זה אלא הקדוש ברוך שהוא מקור הטוב. It refers to G-D who encompasses everything, and who is the source of all good.”

 

   Though we may experience difficult times, it may be family problems, it may health problems, it may be financial problems, it may be problems with children, we need to look heavenward for the solutions. Often these solutions are not so easy to come by, but the good can be found if we but look towards Hashem for He is the essence of good and He can turn the tide of difficulties into a state of blessings. 

 

 This may be a simplistic answer to many, but in its simplicity it is truly profound and can answer our questions in a more understandable fashion. 

 

  As we walk with the S’chinah the S’chinah walks with us.

 

The Psalmist said it well:

עוברי בעמק הבכא מעין ישיתוהו 

"They pass through a valley of tears, and convert it into a life giving fountain"

  

Let us live lives that continue to convert our troubles into Blessings and by the grace and help of Hashem we will succeed.

שבת שלום ומבורך