Rachum v'ChanunĀ Is The Reality!
We are all in shock and pain from the horrifying mass murders and the deadly missile barrage happening here in Eretz Yisroel since Shemini Atzeres. As I write these words everyone is sitting with apprehension,
not knowing what the coming days will bring, Hashem yishmor. I hope that by the time you read these words We are all in shock and pain from the horrifying mass murders and the deadly missile barrage happening here in Eretz Yisroel since Shemini Atzeres. As I write these words everyone is sitting with apprehension, not kwe will be zocheĀ to good news. Going from the highly spiritual and beautiful days of Tishrei to such heart-breaking events is not easy. I dare not claim that I know what Hashem wants from us, but perhaps I can suggest something that can help us.Ā
Our founder, Yossi Hecht, relates how he had a fourth surgery to once again remove a tumor from his spine, and how after the surgery he went through grueling and painful physical therapy to be able to walk again. It was worth it. He progressed to using a walker, and then to being able to use canes. Unfortunately, the tumor came back, and the fifth surgery wiped out all his hard work. This time he became completely paralyzed from his waist down, with no medical solutions. To top it all off, his dedicated mother, who had stood by his side at all times, giving him encouragement and strength, was diagnosed with the machalah, and was nifteres.Ā
He was not yet married at that point and took his situation very hard. He began to think to himself, "we say that Hashem is 'rachum v'chanun' ā Compassionate and Gracious, but to me, it doesnāt look that way. Here I am, a young orphan and wheel-chair-bound!" Earnestly, he went to Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit"aĀ and asked him this question. R' Shmuel sat for a few minutes in silence until he answered "rachum v'chanunĀ is the reality!" Meaning, we donāt always see how, but we must know and believe that this is the absolute truth. Everything Hashem does for us is totally and completely out of His extreme and complete mercy and love!Ā
When we hear of tragedies like this shocking attack, it is hard to see how Hashem is the Merciful One. But He Is.Ā Period. It may not be easy, but we have to constantly reiterate it to ourselves. One of the ways to do so is to see the great mercy Hashem displays in other areas. We can start with the fact that we are surrounded by 70 wolves who would love, and continuously try, to swallow us alive; Hashem protects us over and over. Then we must each examine our own personal lives. Even though we have many shortcomings, Hashem overlooks them and continues to provide us with all our physical needs, including a healthy body! Each time we use the restroom, we should think of the great mercy He has on us, at all times. The asher yatzar you say afterward will be one said with true feelings of gratitude.Ā
As you may recall, I started this monthly leaflet as a zechusĀ for a refuahĀ sheleimahĀ for my daughter (Esther bas Sara Miriam), a young mother undergoing treatment for the machalah. Even though this is a very difficult situation for our family, we see Hashem's mercy even in the middle of the darkness, in so many different ways. Because He is rachum v'chanun. May the chizukĀ from this leaflet bring her a complete recovery and also to R' Yossi Hecht (Yosef Chaim ben Devorah Leah), founder of ashertotheyatzar.com, and to all our brothers and sisters who have been wounded in this horrible attack.Ā Ā
May we shareĀ besuros tovos,
Eliezer M. Niehaus
Editor
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Rabbi NiehausĀ is the author of āOasis: Experience the Paradise of Shabbosā and āHEAVENWORDS: Elevate your Tefillah and Yourselfā. He is the Rosh Kollel of Kollel Zichron Aharon Yaakov in Kiryat Sefer and is a rebbi in Yeshivas Beis Dovid and Yeshivas Imrei Binah in Yerushalayim.Ā