Dvar Torah for Parshat Shemot

Based on Likutey Halakhot, Hilkhot Birkhat HaPeirot 4:8

If you are like most people you have probably suffered some (seeming) misfortune and asked, "Why do I deserve this?" The same question was posed by none other than Moshe (Moses) himself. Although it was Divinely arranged that Moshe be raised by Pharaoh's daughter in Pharaoh's own palace, Moshe always identified with the Jewish people. And so, he asked: why do they deserve to be in such a painful, humiliating exile? One day he got his answer.

"[Moshe saw] two Jews fighting. He said to the wrongdoer, 'Why are you raising your hand to [hit] your brother?' [He] answered sneeringly, 'Who made you our judge?'... Moshe said, 'Now I know why.'"

(Exodus 2:13-14, according to Rashi)

There are two aspects of the Land of Israel, the physical land itself and its mind-set. Rebbe Nachman teaches that the true mind-set of the Land is one of peace and tranquility. That is to say, peace between people and tranquility within one's own self. The opposites of these - angst and strife - are part of a Diaspora mind-set. (It must be noted that a particular mind-set is not guaranteed by your geographical location. Your body can be in a very different "place" from your mind.)

When Moshe saw that there was machlokes, (arguments, quarrels) between Jews he understood that it was the Jews' own mind-set that was keeping them in exile. Today as well, our exile is due to the sinat chinam (baseless hatred) that brought about the destruction of the Second Temple (Yoma 9a). Our ultimate redemption will be presaged by the prophet Eliyahu who will come not to decide matters of Jewish law but to make peace in the world (Eidiyot 7:7).

Rebbe Nachman teaches in The Aleph-Bet Book (Merivah 2:13) that pain and depression lead to strife and contention. Happiness and contentment lead to peace. It's worth the extra effort to be happy.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

(If, God forbid, you have or are suffering some genuine tragedy, please avail yourself to Garden of the Souls, by Avraham Greenbaum, published by Breslov Research Institute. It is based on Likutey MoharanI, 65, the major theme of which is why we suffer.)