In this week’s Parsha, the Torah recounts the journeys and encampments of the Jewish people. The Jewish people made many stops along their journey in the desert. It was an arduous trek filled with many tribulations and challenges that helped strengthen and fortify Hashem’s nation.
I would like to share with you an incredible idea from Rav Dovid of Lelov zt”l that I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: The Midrash says that there is a parallel to Bnei Yisroel’s journey in the desert and our prolonged and lengthy exile. Just as every stop and destination in the desert was recorded in the Torah by Moshe for posterity and eternity – the same will be for us in our 2,000-year-plus exile. All our journeys will be written as well.
We have been through a lot. We have been through many dispersions, expulsions, and exiles. When Moshiach comes, Eliyahu Hanavi will record all of our previous stops – the long journeys of our bitter exile and turn it into a very special sefer. He will turn it into a holy book. The Lelover says something astounding. He says that not only will our national exiles be recorded, but even our personal struggles and challenges that we overcome will also be written in this sefer!
We live in a world of temptation and indecency – but also a world of tremendous opportunity. There is going to be a sefer written about every single person and how they fought through the exile by persevering and fighting off the temptation and challenge that they faced until the end of the exile. A sefer is going to be written about us! We will be victorious! We will remain holy and succeed!
Before Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l came to America, he applied for a rabbinic position in Europe. Rav Yaakov hoped and sincerely believed that he would receive this job. Soon after, it became known that a man of a much lower stature was chosen for this prestigious job. Rav Yaakov was downtrodden and broken. He knew that he was a much better candidate for that position. Rav Yaakov didn’t know what would be with him and his family. He wasn’t sure how he would be able to put bread on the table. He had no choice – he had to move to America. When he came to America, he eventually became a Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Torah Vodaath – one of the Gedolei HaDor (greatest rabbis of the generation).
Many years later, Rav Yaakov gathered his large family together and told them as follows: “The ‘winning candidate’ – the man who was chosen for the job was tragically killed out with the entire city by the Nazis. I prayed so hard that I would get that job. I was so disappointed when I didn’t receive that position. Now, however, it is all clear to me. If I had gotten that job none of you would be here today! Hashem spared my life!” We never know Hashem’s plans! When you are going through a time that may seem dark and bleak, know that Hashem is there and that Hashem loves you. Hashem is doing what’s best for you!
