Take one minute and sit down. Feel your feet on the ground and your breath, create a clear space that allows for room to ask the following question: what do I have in my life that I am grateful for? Maybe even take out your notes app and write it down.
Here is my list:
I am grateful for being in israel as a self-determined jew who doesn’t have to fear persecution the way my ancestors did in past generations I am grateful for the healthy food my seminary provides me every day so that I have energy and move my body, I am grateful for my health and my eyesight as well as all my other functioning senses. I am grateful for financial stability and a comfortable bed and a thick nice feather blanket I am grateful for my laptop and my phone that allow me to do so many things and for my clothing that helps me express myself. ok cute
We often get caught up in the illusion that the things we have in our lives are here thanks to us and our work. While that isn’t wrong we must remember that the material aspects of our lives are merely conduits for Hashems blessing. I admit that in order to actually internalize this concept, one must dare to think in abstract ways; because what exactly does that mean? I worked hard to have money to buy these ingredients and after putting in lots of work I finally have this bread, how is Hashem involved in this?
Parashat Beshalach is when the jewish nation finally become completely free people, accompanied by miracles. While Paraoh let them go in last weeks parasha, he still wasn’t done with them – he came to chase them down ! As his mighty army approaches the jews, Hashem commands the them to go into the sea. So they went in and just when it reached their mouths the sea split and while the jews safely crossed, all the Egyptians drowned. During their journey they are provided with mann, food that literally fell from heaven and took on the taste of anything they wished it to taste like.
Human activity had absolutely no effect on the amount G-d deemed fit to provide each individual — “the one who had taken more did not have any extra, and the one who had taken less did not have too little.” Not only is a person prompted to recognize that his subsistence derives from G‑d, but equally important, man comes to rely on G‑d, trusting that He will provide. The daily collection of manna amply developed this aspect of trust, for G‑d provided it on a constant and ongoing basis. Thus Jews were able to become aware of the fact that every living thing relies completely on G‑d for its food. *
To translate this into our own lives: even tho we mostly work for the things we have, it is fully dependent on a higher source wether we have a job, health, time, energy, etc. for the things we need. It is wrong to think that our livelihood depends on our boss/salary or my happiness and health on my money or my success on other people. The way G-d blesses us (which most believe must happen in supernatural manners) is through nature ! And that means all of the above, including personal effort ! And even for that we need the necessary health and energy. It would be foolish to believe that the water you drink is sourced in the tap that comes out of the wall – living with this higher consciousness means knowing, in this case, that the water comes from the lakes and oceans !
As I wrote last week: the way the force of all existence interacts with us is (among other) through the law of reciprocity. So if we infuse this deep trust into ourselves, taking a leap of faith, which is above our human and logical nature, we create a vessel for blessing which is supernatural too! How can the unimaginable enter our lives if we don’t believe it can? Well, it probably won’t. That is not because it “isn’t realistic” or other superficial reasons but simply because we don’t open ourselves up for it. If we act toward Hashem in a manner of utter trust (which we can
I like to bring this into my daily service when i say the second blessing of the amida prayer (אַתָּ֨ה גִּבּ֤וֹר לְעוֹלָם֙ אֲדֹנָ֔י) which talks about the greatness and strength of Hashem which is beyond our comprehension. This is a great opportunity to take a moment and open oneself up to the fact that Hashem can literally do anything if he wants. At this point I visualize the things which I want to come into my life, especially those which seem exceptionally far from the reality I live now, things which almost need miracles to actually come true. I strongly believe and that is what will allow this blessing to descend into my life – just like the Jews when they left Egypt, they strongly trusted in G-d and were sustained by Him in miraculous ways.
May we all succeed in opening ourselves up to this higher reality in which we are conscious that Hashem rules the world, that he will release us from our dire straits even when it is against all odds. Blessing everyone who reads this with open channels for infinite miracles and bountiness ! I hope this motivates you yes you who is reading this to let go and trust when reading the story of the jews leaving egypt, because this will makes us realize again how unlimited and beyond logic Hashems power is when it comes to helping His creatures.
Shabbat Shalom 😉 <3