THE POWER OF DIFFICULTY

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well

Mazal Tov Hirshy on your birthday this Shabbos. Wishing you another successful year with your studies, the education of your children, together with Mariashah, and with much joy.

And another Mazal Tov in LA! Mazal Tov Sophia on your first birthday next week. Looks like Hirshy and Family will be celebrating this coming week!

This weeks parshah is 'Pinchas' and the haftarah is drawn from 'Jeremiah'.

There is always a connection between the parshah and the haftarah, and I found this week's connection interesting, which I would like to share.

We have now entered the '3 weeks of mourning' for the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash, which was the start of our long exile and suffering through the centuries to this very day, when we still find ourselves in this exile, waiting for Redemption and the building of the Third and Final Bet Hamikdash.

So how does this link to the parshah and haftarah?

First of all the haftarah includes Jeremiah's prophetic vision of an almond tree which ripens in 21 days. These 21 days correspond to the 3 weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the yearning for it's rebuilding.

But what I found more interesting, was the link between Pinchas and Jeremiah (I think the ref is The Rebbe's sicha in vol 18)

Both Pinchas and Jeremiah were partially descended from non-Jews, Pinchas from Yisro the Midianite, and Jeremiah from the woman Rachav of Jericho.

As a result both Pinchas and Jeremiah were denigrated on this account, and both had much darkness to overcome in their journeys.

Jeremiah overcame his dark ancestry and was righteous.

HIS OWN EXPERIENCE IN WRESTLING AND OVERCOMING HIS PAST UNIQUELY QUALIFIED HIM ON HOW TO INSTRUCT THE ERRANT JEWISH PEOPLE ON HOW TO OVERCOME THEMSELVES, AND MAKE A FRESH START.

When we refine ourselves through difficulties posed by ingrained habits etc, THE CHANGE WE EFFECT WITHIN OURSELVES BECOMES PERMANENT. (rather than temporary inspirations on receiving gifts etc)

Because Jeremiah was practiced at refining himself, he was able to resist the downward pull of materiality within himself, and then he could inspire others to raise themselves out of it.

PINCHAS HAD A SIMILAR JOURNEY AND BATTLE AGAINST HIS DIFFICULTIES, but his refinement resulted in the characteristic of self-sacrifice, which goes beyond rationalisation, another type of dedication to Hashem.

Now it says that the one who will come to announce Mashiach will be Eliyahu, and we are taught that this is none other than PINCHAS (Targum Yerushalmi)

This indeed then should be our attitude to the exile in general, (and our own personal difficulties in particular), and to the 3- week mourning period.

Hashem sent us into exile in order to refine and elevate the lowest levels of creation (and ourselves) and to transform the world.

Focusing on this positive purpose of the exile and the 3 weeks, helps us both rectify and nullify them. Because once we have rectified them, they no longer have a purpose, enabling us to usher in the period of Mashiach.

Difficulties give us this opportunity.

Gut Shabbos to all.