At a recent Hakhel Shiur, Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Shlita, related that HaRav Nosson Wachtfogel, Z’tl, was once asked the following question: All the abundance that we have today--is this a brocha--or a klala--a curse? His response was that, in fact, it is neither. Rather, it is purely a nisayon, a test for each one of us in life. Every generation has its own tests. Seventy or eighty years ago in the very same country the test may have been deprivation and even near-starvation. Today, as we visit the supermarket, the clothing store, or any one of the "Depots" that abound, we must realize that our goal is to strike the proper balance--to thank Hashem with sincere and deep thanks for the bounty and choices that we have (as per the meaning of the Brocha of Borei Nefashos), and concomitantly not to blatantly or even discreetly engorge or overindulge in that which would not please Hashem.

One must be a proactive thinker while at a smorgasbord, on a weekend vacation, at the electronics store, or even in front checkout counter in the supermarket--to decide whether he really needs that new electronic gadget, pleasure, extravagance, or even just the small extraneous item. We can pass the nisayon--replacing excess and overindulgence with appreciation and gratitude!

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Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS

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