In our Birchas HaMazon, we pray to Hashem to “VeHarvach Lanu Mehaira M’Kol Tzorosainu--grant us speedy relief from all of our troubles.” The Steipler Gaon, Z’tl, explains that when it comes to Klal Yisroel, Hashem has always prepared the healing and relief already prior to the trouble or sickness setting in. We learned this most recently in Megillas Esther, where the Megillah records “Achar HaDevorim Haeleh”--after Mordechai exposed the plot of Bigsan and Seresh--then and only then does the Pasuk continue “Gidal HaMelech Achashverosh Es Haman”--did Achashverosh elevate Haman to his high position. Thus, Mordechai had found life-saving favor in the King’s eyes even before the terrible troubles began. This, the Steipler says, is true of every single tzora that we face, individually and collectively, and we must dare not fall into despair even if the predicament seems impossible.
Indeed, when the Torah relates that Hagar sent her young son Yishmael away because she didn’t want to see Yishmael die of thirst in the desert, Hashem opened up her eyes, and she saw the well of water--a well that was really always there! That is why the Pasuk does not say that Hashem opened the well--rather, the Torah emphasizes, He opened her eyes. What one needs is the zechus, the merit, to see the refuah, or the yeshua, that really already exists. How does one attain this special zechus--to merit our eyes being opened? We know that in the days of Mordechai and Esther, everything became revealed--the years of history and intrigue became unraveled, just as the Megillah is unraveled when reading it--through Tefillah and Teshuva. Similarly, with Hagar, the Pasuk records “Vatisa es kola, Vatevch”--she raised her voice, and she cried.
It thus appears that we must first earnestly turn our eyes to Hashem. He, in turn, will let our eyes see what was there all along--the yeshuos that He had previously established and provided for His beloved people.
Tomorrow, even if one cannot make it to a Yom Kippur Koton Minyan (we note that the Yom Kippur Koton Service takes about 30 to 45 minutes), everyone--man and woman, young and old--should spend at least a small amount of time in sincere Tefillah and Teshuva reflection. Almost seven months of the year have passed, and six still remain. We have plenty of time to point our eyes in the right direction--so that Hashem, as only He can, will enlighten our eyes and show us the clouds of love in the blue sky above us that will shower us with the refuos and yeshuos that we so long for ourselves, for Klal Yisroel, and for all of mankind. Remember: “Bimheyra Biyameinu” should never be viewed or recited as a banal or trite phrase--but as a sincere and heartfelt request!
-------------------------- Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS --------------------------
Important Numbers
