LIGHT INSIDE THE DARKNESS

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.
I heard that Renee had an operation on her back, Mommy had an operation on her foot (bunion), and I am recovering from complications following a few bouts of flu etc. Thank you everyone for all the good wishes, care, and help etc - much appreciated! Wishing everyone who needs, a refuah shleima, and please see dvar Torah below.

We wish long life to Annette Davidoff on the passing of her father Sheldon. We were all so fond of Sheldon ah, who was a great man and achieved so much in his life. Wishing you only simchos in the future. Mazal Tov to Binyamin Mordechai Davidoff on his upcoming birthday next week. Wishing you to continue growing into a chayal. I haven't mentioned it yet to Shmuly and Devorah Leah, but I was so impressed on his knowledge of the Bet Hamikdash at such a young age BH.

I found it so interesting that the last 2 parshas Tazria, and this week Metzora have both been discussing illness. In specific this has mostly been about tzaraas, 'leprosy' (in truth it is not really leprosy but a distinct spiritual illness) But the lessons we learn here will equally apply to other illnesses also.

In Sichos from the Rebbe (Likutei sichos Vol 22, and Shabbos Tazria/ Metzora 5751), the Rebbe explains as follows:
If something bad occurs to one it could be for one of 2 reasons.

1. It is an expression of the forces of evil, or
2. It is actually an expression OF A VERY INTENSE FORM OF GOOD.

The method of correction will differ in each case:

1. Plain evil needs to simply be eradicated.
2. In the second case, the remedy is not through eradication, because there is a tremendous power of good here. Rather the solution is REVEALING THE TRUE NATURE AND SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, HOW BELOW THE SURFACE, IT IS REALLY SOMETHING GOOD!

And a few points from the 2 parshas which reflect this concept:

1. The word in Hebrew for the tzaraas lesion is nega. This contains the same Hebrew letters of oneg, which means a high level of pleasure.
2. The first parsha is called Tazria which refers to birth. What is the link between birth and tzaraas? Because the illness allows the sufferer to see deeper into his current position in life, correct his ways, and have a spiritual rebirth.
3. When the walls of a house acquired tzaraas, it sometimes necessitated that the house to be broken down. Rashi explains that when these walls were broken down, buried treasures were discovered from the previous goyish owners. But the question is, if Hashem wanted the Jews to obtain treasures could He not have given this direct? The Kedushas Tzion explains, that Hashem wanted to demonstrate that EVENTS THAT APPEAR NEGATIVE, ARE A MEANS OF FACILITATING GREAT GOODNESS!!

We daven every morning that Hashem should not test us with difficulties, and so it should be. But if they do occur, let us find THE LIGHT INSIDE THE DARKNESS. Hashem is so kind, and gives us exactly what we need for growth and development.

Gut Shabbos to all.