Rabbi Sholom Ahron Ehrenfeld, a magid shiur at Mesivta Keren Orah in Lakewood, New Jersey, shared an inspiring shiur on Torah Anytime.
He began with the analogy of a person stuck in a terrible traffic jam. The person might think, If only I could fly, I wouldn’t be stuck in traffic. The Rambam teaches that this is the wrong way to think about life situations. It’s like thinking that I wish I were the sun or the moon or an angel. A person is obligated to understand that the entire world was created as a background to his unique personal service of Hashem and only he is born at this time, so he can do this.
The Kotzker Rebbe was asked if he would agree to change places with Avraham Avinu. He said no because what would Hashem gain? There would still be one Avraham and one me.
We need to inculcate the idea that “I am giving my life in the service of Hashem.”
Rav Hutner taught that the y’sod in chinuch is for a child to understand that Hashem chose one nation to carry out His great mission. We were the nation that understood about foregoing the physical to attach to the metaphysical Hashem. We need to live life attuned to this amazing reality. When Hashem limits us on a personal level, it is a personal matan Torah for each of us. At Matan Torah, Hashem gave us knowledge of His will. Just as Matan Torah was for the nation, so too, Hashem gave each of us our personalized invitation to do His will in a unique way with our unique set of circumstances.
There is a teaching in Pirkei Avos that jealousy, lust, and desire for honor take a person out of the world. Since the world was created for my personal avodah of Hashem, then I shouldn’t focus on someone else’s world. Your unique life situation is why you’re here. Focusing on someone else’s situation takes you away from your life situation. “Hashem wants to see how you use your life situation.”
Rabbi Ehrenfeld taught that a Jew is ready to die al kiddush Hashem. “If we’re willing to die for Hashem, then we are ultimately living for Hashem.”
The Chasam Sofer says that many Yidden are suffering so intensely that they want to die. Kayin wanted to die, but Hashem told him that he needed to live as a kaparah. The Chasam Sofer taught that we are here to serve Hashem, so we can’t escape our mission. You must believe you have a unique mission. “You must appreciate the greatness of your mission. Hashem wants to see you complete your mission. Hashem gives you power to get rewarded for other missions simultaneously.
My life is a life of service of Hashem. As the Talmud teaches, when you save one person’s life, it’s like saving the world.”
He concluded that your mission was hand-picked by Hashem.
By Susie Garber
