People think they hear Hashem’s message, but they fool themselves

“This is what Hashem spoke about, when He said, ‘I’ll be sanctified through those nearest to Me…’” (Vayikra 10:3)

Rashi asks, “When did Hashem say this?” Ramban answers that Hashem never said those exact words. However, these “words of Hashem,” are obvious from His actions. When Hashem does something, it’s to make a statement to us.

Rav Schwab comments: “We say after Krias Shema in Shacharis, ‘Praiseworthy is the man that’ll listen to Your mitzvos, and Your Torah and Your words, he’ll place on his heart.’”

We know about mitzvos and Torah, but what are “Your words” referring to?

Rav Schwab says that when Hashem deals with someone in a certain way, He’s sending him a message, and when he gets that message and understands what Hashem’s telling him, that’s called “placing Hashem’s words on your heart.” (Rav Yisroel Reisman, Shiurim al Chumash)

“IT’S

MAMASH because of lashon hara!”

“No, I heard everyone needs to say perek lamenatzeiach six times a day.”

Circa 1991, in my seminary dorm under the shadow of Saddam Husein’s threat of chemical warfare. Take any group of teenage girls, give them a “situation,” and they’ll find you dozens of reasons for the hardship and dozens of solutions. We used to call this Insomnia Inspiration. Late night DMCs evoke deep spiritual convictions that seem to make perfect sense even the next morning. A generation later, I wonder how many of these “mamash, I heard it myself!” solutions have become minhag by now. And the trend ain’t over.

Rav Schwab’s son tells a story of his father. In his old age, Rav Schwab was confined to a wheelchair and relied on an aide. One day, the aide was late, and Rav Schwab arrived late to shul. He was very bothered, as it was his strict practice to always be early. Rav Schwab commented that this happened because when he got married, the day after sheva brochos ended, he was late for shul.

People think they hear Hashem’s message to them, but often they fool themselves as to what the message actually is. I once had an incredible conversation with a good person. He had a job interview scheduled for nine that morning. He was debating whether to shave his beard for this interview. At seven, he decided to shave his beard. At eight thirthy, he got a call saying that the position was already filled.

“But,” said this man, “I saw Hashem was talking to me! He wanted me to shave my beard, and that’s why He set up the interview. Once I shaved it, the interview wasn’t necessary.”

I was shocked! Mouth hanging open! This was the message he was taking? But people fool themselves like this all the time. So how do we get the real message?

“You need to kiss the mezuzah seven times every night, then missiles won’t fall on your house.”

“You have to shuckel very hard when saying v’lamalshinim, and then Hashem will kill Hamas.”

These were from my son Shloime’s fellow third-grader.

I’m not trying to be facetious. Some suggestions (although probably none of the ones I just listed) that fly around the world via word of mouth, emails, or social media may very well be valid. Others are definitely not. But that doesn’t stop the tide.

Rav Pam said that we’re not neviim, and when things happen, either to Klal Yisrael or to an individual, we can’t easily figure out the precise message. But one thing’s certain: The message is connected to something that’s part of our avodah, that we know we have to work on anyway.

So do I sit there verifying the source of the suggestion? Seek brachos from gedolim? Pay money for someone to daven at certain kevarim? Not all bad ideas. But I’m still missing the point.

The real point is much harder than forwarding a “TESHUVAH MESSAGE!” (definitely in caps!) to hundreds of my contacts. The real point is… me. It’s my mission. It’s my problem. It’s my solution. This directive is mind-blowing, uncomfortable, and sometimes seems impossible. But that’s the point. What’s my responsibility here? Why did Hashem send me this missive? And what can I, alone, do to help alleviate this tzarah?

I can’t give you the answers. It means reaching into the depths of your soul and finding that truth, the one you’re pushing away with all your consciousness, the one you know deep down is really Hashem’s message to you.

To: faigy@peritzman.com. Subject: You have mail. Please accept your message.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 940)