Daf Yomi Yevamos 72
Rabbi
Avigdor Miller tells the story of a businessman who reappeared in Brooklyn after
a hiatus of many years living out on Long Island. His kids were reenrolled in Yeshiva Mesivta Chaim
Berlin and initially struggled in their Talmud studies but eventually managed
to catch up to their peers.
“Why’d you
come back?” Rabbi Miller asked the man.
“I’m
ashamed to say my business went under,” the man replied miserably.
Rabbi
Miller finishes his story explaining that while this man was distraught at his
economic woes, the Almighty had in fact sent him a hidden blessing – in those
days, there no yeshivas on Long Island and now his children would once again
have the opportunity for a good Jewish education.
The Book of Joshua states: For all the people
who left (Egypt) were circumcised but the generation of the wilderness was not
circumcised.
The Gemara asks: Why were they not circumcised in the
wilderness?
One answer is that they were weak due to the
travelling.
Another answer is that the northern wind did
not blow for them, as the Beraisa teaches: For the entire duration of their
forty year sojourn in the wilderness, the northern wind did not blow for them.
The Gemara asks: Why not?
One answer is that they were shunned for the
sin of the Golden Calf.
Another answer is so that the Clouds of Glory
would not disperse.
You can
imagine how the Children of Israel must have felt for forty years. Every time they looked up, they saw
clouds. They yearned to see the sun, but
the wind never arrived to blow the clouds away and let the sunlight in. It’s easy to get bitter after all those years
of longing for the sunshine.
But the
wind didn’t blow in order to maintain the protection of the Clouds of Glory
above and around them. The Clouds not
only protected our ancestors against the harsh desert elements, they shielded
them from enemy attack and kept their clothing fresh, laundered and physically
growing as they grew!
Very often
we simply don’t understand how the Almighty is protecting us with those clouds
hanging over our heads. We think that He
is just shunning us, but ‘every cloud has a silver lining’! That cloud may be your salvation and
protection from the burning desert sun!
Everybody
wants to be rich. But is wealth always a
blessing? I know a number of people
whose kids haven’t amounted to much because they were born with a silver spoon
in their mouths. They never had to work
hard in life and so instead they turned to sorrowful and decadent lives,
leaving their poor parents reeling in despair.
Sometimes it’s life’s struggles that keep us on the straight and narrow,
like the businessman whose kids gained a Jewish education due his deficient financial
situation.
Stop
looking at the cloud above your head as a burden and a sign of G-d’s lack of
Providence. The Almighty knows exactly
what He’s doing. He loves you and cares
about you beyond your wildest imagination.
But sometimes He needs to cover you with His Clouds of Glory in order to
protect you. You may not see or
appreciate why the cloud is here today or sometimes, even for many years, but
when you maintain your faith in the Almighty, all will be good.
There’s an
old Chasidic saying that goes, ‘G-d sends people many tests and challenges in
life. Some people get the test of wealth;
others get the test of poverty.
Personally, I’d prefer the test of wealth!’ May the Almighty always shine His countenance
upon you and send you His blessing in a revealed manner and may you utilize the
sunshine to accomplish great things materially and spiritually!
