In Parshas Chayei Sarah (24:1), it says that Avraham was old – ba ba’yamim – and Hashem blessed him ba’kol (“VaShem beirach es Avraham ba’kol”). If we look at Avraham Avinu’s life, we see that he had many challenges and was constantly being tested by Hashem. What is this mysterious ba’kol (“with everything”) that Hashem blessed Avraham Avinu with?
Rav Kook explains that being blessed ba’kol means seeing the “painful” as part of the meaning, order, and purpose of the universe. It means seeing the hard and dark moments and experiences as part of kol, the bigger picture. When a person acknowledges that everything in life is a blessing from Hashem – ba’kol – everything – the good and (what seems to be) the bad are all part of Hashem’s blessing, then he’s accepting everything as having been Heavenly decreed. Such a person goes about his day with complete equanimity, with total faith in Hashem. We learn that Avraham Avinu lived his life believing that he had kol (everything). Avraham chose to focus on what he had and not on what he lacked.
Avraham Avinu and David HaMelech experienced many challenges during their lives but they were both able to maintain a very positive disposition. In T’hilim, Chapter 54, David HaMelech says, “Hashem helps me, and Hashem is with those who support me.” Rabbi Shmuel Silber explains that David HaMelech is teaching us a very important lesson here. David HaMelech says, “I know that Hashem is always here to help me, but how do I feel supported? I feel supported with those things that support my soul. It is when I take stock of all the things that I have, that I’m finally able to realize and understand how much Hashem loves me.” When we live a life focusing on our brachos, that’s when we begin to appreciate the magnitude of the brachos that we have.
List of People Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Shimshon Shimon ben Mazal
Aharon Mordechai ben Sharon
Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah
Yisachar Dov ben Chayah Brachah
Tinok ben Chanah
Azriel ShemTov ben Brachah Esther
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Ronny Tzalach ben Simchah
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Moshe ben Devorah
Yehoshua ben Miriam
Yosef ben Leah
Nisan ben Yael
Efrayim Gavriel ben Esther
Chaim Yehudah HaLevi ben Sarah
Refael Meir HaLevi ben Esther
Mordechai ben Evelyn
David Chaim ben Rivkah
Moshe Leib ben Chanah Breindel
Eynav ben Tziporah
Yair ben Sarah
Moshe ben Zlata
Evon bas Sally
Luna bas Rachel
Malkah bas Miriam
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Ronit bas Rivkah
Mahnaz bas Nosrat
Sylia bas Rachel
Karen bas Rachel
Shoshanah Shurah bas Zina
Sonia bas Raya Rachel
Tinok bas Chanah Moriyah
Brachah Chanah bas Sarah
Devorah bas Esther
Batya bas Moonavar
Sarah bas Alizah
Chavah bas Bayla
Bella Berta bas Raya Rachel
Taliah Tanya bas Nina Nekadam
Raya Rachel bas Esther
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.