Good afternoon, Chaverim/Chaverot,
One morning this week at minyan I noticed the following entry in the margin of our siddur, Lev Shalem, on page 158, intended to inspire and help illuminate the prayers retelling of our redemption from slavery and the crossing of the Red Sea. It struck me as very much “of the moment”, so I thought to share it with you today.
Here is today’s Gratitude Thought in the Midst of a Pandemic:
The Violence at the Sea
The Hasidic Master Shalom Shakna taught:
That which results in the good
cannot take place without opposition.”
At first, I was puzzled by this entry and wondered what it was doing there next to the well-known “Mi Chamocha” prayer. But, as I have thought more about it over the course of the week, the message of this kavanah became clearer and seemed worthy of your consideration. In this dark time, a time when it is not at all clear that “good will triumph over evil” as we all would like to believe that it will, it feels helpful to contemplate and accept the reality, as difficult as it may be, that efforts leading to “good” results will always face opposition…to recognize that those things we need to do to get to that “good” may even require opposition. But, while I think it is helpful and important to face what appears to be a truth, a reality that has always been with us, I can’t help but wonder, “Why”? Why would it be necessary for so many to suffer, as the Egyptians “opposing” the freedom of the Jewish people suffered from the “violence at the sea”, in order for us to make our way through the darkness to the light?
I am not learned or wise enough to answer this question. But, at this time when we are surely seeing violent “opposition” wherever we look, if our wise sage Shalom Shakna is correct, his is actually a hopeful thought that should spur us to redouble our efforts to “repair the world”. And, right now, I am grateful for this little ray of hope, this lifeline that appeared out of the darkness in the margin of a prayerbook on a Tuesday morning, like the miraculous ancient light of those dying stars that showed up for us this week…
Shabbat Shalom to all,
Marci
