Some bochrim in a yeshiva outside of Toronto decided that they were going to play a psychological trick. In a zany but calculated move, they brought three scared little goats to the building at night. They labeled the goats before they released them. The first one they inscribed in big characters, the number 1. The second animal got a big 2 on his body and the third – got the number 4. The goats were scared so they hid in the oddest of places – but everyone in the yeshiva knew they were there, because they left a trail.
And so the search started – but the other bochurim could not find little goat number 3 as much as they tried.
After a day and night of overturning every possible hiding place, they gave up, halting their search.
They could not find the goat that simply never existed!
We have just completed the beautiful yomtov of Chanuka – the Chashmonaim searched for a container of pure oil with which to light the menorah. They searched and searched and finally they found the purity they knew existed.
We can all learn a valuable life lesson from this search. When it comes to ruchnius – to matters of the spirit – don’t give up! But when we wish for gashmius – we need to do the hishtadlus, but not until the end. Let Hashem in. Let’s not look for something that may not be there at all, as the bochurim in the yeshiva in Toronto did.
Even more so: we may be searching for something too perfect, while neglecting to appreciate what we have right in front of us. The richest man is the one who is satisfied with what he has at the moment. Don’t push the hour. When the yeshua is supposed to arrive, it will be there in full force for us. Just as Yosef was rushed out of prison, into a high position of power in only one day – we too will receive the reward we need when the right time arrives!
Even though we would all love to see our challenges solved right away, Hashem has a better plan, custom made for us. Only when the dark skies clear up will we realize that it was all for the good, and the timeline was right on the money. May Hashem hear our prayers and bring all of klal Yisroel the yeshuous we need!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
