As time went on, Menachem, a young productive man who seemed pretty run-of-the-mill, started battling thoughts of depression. Externally, he seemed to be fine, but internally, he was a wreck. As a young child, he had been thrown off by the loss of his father, and that void made his challenges that much more overwhelming.
The hardest part was that he had no one to turn to. He was uncomfortable disclosing his plight to anyone, so he avoided the problem — which only made it worse — and was suffering in silence.
The hardest part was that he had no one to turn to. He was uncomfortable disclosing his plight to anyone, so he avoided the problem — which only made it worse — and was suffering in silence.
One summer night, walking into a friend’s chasunah, he noticed his former rebbi walking through the big glass doors of the main ballroom, and a voice urged him to address his issue with his rebbi and seek his guidance.
Darting over, he asked if and when he could meet with his rebbi privately. Although he knew that he’d have to travel a distance to get that privilege, the urgency left him no choice in the matter.
His rebbi told him that he would be able to meet him in his house in two weeks during bein hazmanim. At that time, his present talmidim would be gone, and he would be more available. Though for Menachem it felt like a years’ time, just knowing that he had whom to talk with already comforted him.
Two weeks later, Menachem buckled himself into his seat and set off on his two-and-a-half-hour trip. In his rebbi’s house, after Menachem spoke out his heart, his rebbi emitted a heavy sigh and then turned to Menachem with the following idea based on what he’d heard from the Mashgiach, Rav Matisyahu Salomon:
Suppose you have a manager overseeing a performance being watched by thousands of people. He’s responsible to oversee the event, ensuring it sails as smooth as possible. Very little will distract him from his focus. After all, he’s managing the event. Only one thing could possibly shift his attention: if he hears that his young grandson is being bullied. Anything regarding the welfare of his grandchild means so much to him that he will put the entire event aside to take care of his beloved grandchild.
“Well,” continued the rebbi, as Menachem’s eyes were glued to him, “this story never happened, but the lesson stands true. Hashem created the entire universe, and yet, He puts that all aside and shows His interest in us — His Chosen Nation. His sole interest is in His beloved Children. That’s nothing to make light of. When we remember that the Creator puts all his interests in us, and only us, we’ll be filled with enlightenment and glow with joy.
“Rav Elya Lopian derives this concept from the words we say every day. Toward the culmination of Pesukei D’zimra, we recite: “Atah asisa es ha’Shamayin... — You’ve created all the heavens and what’s above the heavens, the earth and all that is on it, the waters and all that is in them, and you supply life for them. And yet, “Atah hu Hashem asher bacharta b’Avram — You, Hashem, have chosen Avram...”
“Says Rav Elya, ‘Hashem had — and has — everything, and lacks nothing; yet, what He chose is the one who serves Him. This is not limited to Avraham Avinu; rather, it applies to anyone who follows in His ways. He who serves Hashem has that very same singleness and is cherished in the very same way that Avraham was.’
“To have a better perception of what it means that Hashem put aside all the heavens and chose His Nation, let’s examine the stars. Science has discovered over 206 sextillion stars. If you don’t know what sextillion is, it’s a number 1 followed by 21 zeros: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That’s an astronomical number.
“Hashem, Who creates and functions this empire, puts its all aside, so to speak, and shows His sole interest in us — those who keep His Torah and mitzvos.
“So,” the rebbi told Menachem, “the next time you face depression and loneliness, bear in mind that Hashem has chosen you — yes, you — from all the endless creations, and His interest is all in you. Every mitzvah and self-sacrifice offer Hashem such nachas, something worthwhile to put everything aside and choose just that.
“Is that not something worthwhile to reflect on?”
Rosh Hashanah is a time when we freshen this awareness. While Hashem is crowned on Rosh Hashanah as King, it is specifically His children Who He chose. No one else.
Even the din on rosh Hashanah reflects this: Hashem sets up law enforcement only because He cares that much about our actions. Would our actions bear no weight, He would definitely not bother calculating them and implementing its reinforcement. Rosh Hashanah is the greatest proof that our actions have meaning to Him and that He cares about them.
This is all because we are so dear to Him, as seen before, and every move that we do is so cherished by Him.
This must leave us feeling beloved by Him.
