Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman
Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz
One man, a student of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz zt‑l, the late Mashgiach in Kaminetz, remembers the time when the yeshiva was forced to flee and take up quiet residence in a small town under Russian occupation. With the Communists on the search for yeshiva students, tension was in the air. One day, the police abruptly entered the town, throwing everyone into a state of panic, including the yeshiva students.
When Rav Baruch Ber learned of his students’ reaction, he was disturbed. “We cannot lose ourselves,” he said. “We need to strengthen our emunah in Hashem.” As such, he established that they should recite each day the Thirteen Ani Maamin. And indeed, the students followed suit. Together, the yeshiva poured out their worried hearts to Hashem, trusting that He would take care of them.
A few days later, the police arrived and arrested the entire yeshiva. It was horrible, the officials taking the students in groups to prison. But while the police may have been able to take away the physical liberty of the students, they had no sway over squelching their spirit. In unison, the students hummed the encouraging words of Yeshaya HaNavi, “Utzu eitzar v’tufar daber davar v’lo yakum ki imanu Kel—They [our enemies] devise a scheme, speak a plan, and it will not be successful, for our G‑d is with us.” The quiet energy was palpable between the students, their spirits aflame despite the terrifying circumstances they were walking into.
The next thing they knew—they were transported to Siberia. Yet they sang their way to Siberia, lulling to themselves the same tune. Our enemies will attempt to harm us, but it will be to no avail, for Hashem is on our side.
Three days later, the Germans entered the town and massacred them all.
It is axiomatic that everyone G‑d does is for our good. Something obviously good is easily felt as good. But what about something that is not readily apparent to be good? The answer is the same. Everyone G‑d does is for our good. Nothing changed, except one thing. We don’t understand how it is good. It is good, and that is a fact. A fact that unto itself we can take comfort in. Our comprehension may be deficient and we cannot wrap our minds and hearts around it, but that doesn’t change the fact. It is good because G‑d is good and knows what He’s doing. And do we really know what is for our good? Our understanding or lack thereof doesn’t change that truth. Hashem has a plan and He knows what that is, even if we’re in the dark about it.
The Tale of the Lubavitcher Chassid
A group of Chassidim were once traveling together on a train, each of them recounting the incredible mofsim (miraculous wonders) their Rebbes had done on behalf of others. A Lubavitcher chassid of the Rashab (Rav Sholom Dovber Schneerson) was amongst the group, though he remained sitting silently throughout it all. Finally, he was cornered with the question. “And you, what about your Rebbe?” they inquired. The chassid then began.
“I had a large sum of money and I wanted to invest it. I asked the Rebbe if a particular business was a good idea, and he said yes. Three days later, I went to him and asked the same question again, and he assured me that it was a good idea. So, I invested the money. “And so…” eagerly asked the surrounding chassidim, “what happened?” “I lost the whole amount.” The chassidim dropped their jaws. “So, where’s the mofes?” wondered the chassidim, confused. “I remained a chassid,” he replied.
When things don’t go our way, our task at that point is to remain a chassid of the Ribono Shel Olam. Whether we see how something is good or not, we know that Hashem is our Father and what He does for us is good.
It’s not always for us to see or understand. But it is always for us to hold steadfast in knowing that it is good because Hashem is good. That alone is our greatest comfort, even amidst the cloudiest and darkest of nights.