Leading up to TU Bishvat, I shared with the Sfardi Vasikin minyan after davening some insights in hilchos brachos. The general theme that I explained to the olam is that of hakaras hatov. If you think about it hakaras hatov is the foundation of Judaism. Each day in davening we say that Hashem's name is To v - Hatov shimcha. Hashem’s Name is Good which teaches us that the essence of Hashem is good. As the Ramchal and others explain that Hashem is good and it’s the way of good to do good. When Hashem created the world initially He placed Adam in Gan Eden to enjoy the fruits. This represents the purpose of every one of us to receive pleasure; however, the ultimate pleasure is not in this world it’s in the next world. In this world, we need to work for the reward and one of the main works we need to do is to be aware of all the good Hashem gives us.
The Chovos Halevavos brings home this point in Shaar Habitachon that because of the myriad of good that Hashem gives us every moment, even if we kept all the mitzvos, we would still not be deserving of reward if not for the fact that Hashem is good and wants to give us good. Hence we can appreciate more how important every bracha is on every gift that Hashem gives us. However, it really goes much deeper. To really recognize Hashem and believe in him (as Rav Tzadok writes that through brachos we will come to a greater emuna in Hashem) means to consciously accept that all that Hashem does is for the good albeit we don’t always see it and may not understand until Mashiach comes all of Hashem decrees and punishments.
This actually connects us to Parshas Beshalach also known as Shabbos Shira. Firstly, the beginning of the parsha is a continuation of yetzias Mitzryaim. ויהי בשלח פרעה the Ohr Hachayim points out that there was something missing in the Jewish nation exit from Egypt. They didn’t really get to the proper awareness that it’s Hashem that is taking them out. This lacking is hinted in the word of the pasuk “and Pharoh sent them out” This is a constant struggle that we have between doing hishtadlus and experiencing the world from a “natural” perspective, while at the same time knowing clearly that its Hashem only and nothing and no one can do anything without Hashem allowing it.
To bring all that we have said above together, it's noteworthy that the name of this Shabbas Shira really includes all of the points above. I once heard a beautiful idea from the author of Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh about the word shira. The root is connected to a Mishna in Shabbos that speaks about an animal going out with its shir - which means bracelet. A bracelet is made up of many links. A song is made of many links too. Our life can be viewed as a song made of many links. Some links represent great and joyful occasions, some represent sad and tragic events. The challenge is to see that all links make up one great song
May we see the good even in the bad and constantly grow more in our emuna and trust in Hashem.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
