HOME ABOUT US DONATE ASK THE RABBI CONTACT US
Chabad Student Center at Vanderbilt University
Post a CommentSend this page to a friendShare thisSubscribe
9 Comments

Hitting Rock Bottom


Audio Download:  Download MP3 audio file

By Ben-Tzion Krasnianski   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Ben-Tzion Krasnianski is director of Chabad Lubavitch of the Upper East Side in Manhattan

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
 

9 Comments Posted  |  Post A Comment
Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: June 22, 2010
response to a listener from LA
Dear friend,

There's always a higher perspective, as the verse in 'Eichah' states that no evil emanates from above. The Talmud states that Satan's intent is for the sake of heaven!

The Zohar uses the analogy of a king who hires a prostitute to test his son the prince. The prostitute who is eminently qualified and does her job faithfully is secretly praying in her heart of hearts that the prince won't fall for her! There's a deeper dynamic at play beyond the surface and obvious reality.

Imagine an aborigine walking into a hospital seeing 10 men and women dressed in white tying down this poor helpless person whom they then proceed to cut open. From his point of view, he would yell bloody murder! Were he to see the bigger picture, he would realize that the exact opposite is true.

Yet since by Divine providence G-d created us human, and on the human level pain is pain, there's a lesson in that too. G-d wants us to fight evil and to pray to end all pain.
Posted By Ben Tzion Krasnianski, New York, NY

Posted: June 21, 2010
more on evil
Rabbi- Can you please comment on my question above regarding destructive forces with apparent 'evil' intent- for example, persecutors throughout history like Nazis, Haman, Hamas, PLO, Inquisition, etc. I realize you don't know G-d's mind- but how do you contend with the destruction when these forces are unleashed at us, the Jewish people?
Posted By Anonymous

Posted: June 20, 2010
Response to a listener from Melbourne
Dear friend,

It's actually our failure and setbacks that allow us to reveal a much
deeper level of the unity of G-d. It's only because of our ability to fail and to wreak havoc that when we do willingly choose to do the right thing, that choice is so precious and meaningful.

That is why the one who has failed miserably and then chooses on his own to return -- the 'Baal Teshuvah' -- is considered greater than the 'Tzaddik,' the righteous one.

Only G-d has the ability to choose, and He has given us the ultimate gift, free will, the ability to emulate him by deliberately and consciously choosing to do the right thing. Choice is personal and touches our very core and essence. It's person to person, where our essence touches the essence of G-d.

It's only by transforming failure to a world of opportunity that we
reveal how deep and profound is G-d's unity. How even in a world where there's freedom of choice, we willingly choose to do the right thing because we recognize the absolute truth and the reality of the unity of G-d that permeates every aspect of our existence.

With best wishes,
Posted By Ben Tzion Krasnianski, New York, NY



 

Now playing...

Hitting Rock Bottom

More in this section


Subscribe

Get the best in Jewish audio & video delivered to your inbox
 

Chabad Student Center at Vanderbilt University 436 Village At Vanderbilt Nashville, TN 37212-3150 615-739-6019

Powered by Chabad.org © 2001-2010 Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center. All rights reserved.
In everlasting memory of Rabbi Yosef Y. Kazen, pioneer of Torah, Judaism and Jewish information on the web

Mayanot- Taglit
Birthright Experience!
This summer!

Birthright logo.jpg


webimage2010-.jpg