Dvar Torah for Parshat VaEra 5766

Based on Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #70

We started sending out a weekly dvar Torah nine (9) years ago, when we Jews were in exile. The thing is...

We're still in exile. The whole world is still in exile, suffering and far, far from experiencing the full goodness of life that the blessed Creator wants us to experience. When's it going to end? We don't know.

Are there going to be any more 9/11s, tsunamis, Hurricane Katrinas, terrorist attacks, assassinations? More murders, car accidents, abuse? Why are we just sitting around and letting these things happen to us?

A law was once passed, bringing much evil to the Jews. Rebbe Nachman then said, "How do we allow God to bring evil to the world? We must call God away from all His other tasks. We must draw Him away from sending evil decrees to the world. We must tell Him to put everything else aside and listen to us, for we want to ask Him to draw us close.

"When a Jew wishes to speak to God, He casts aside everything else. Even evil decrees are set aside at that time. God puts aside everything and only listens to the person seeking His presence."

Sure, we Jews are a patient bunch, but sometimes we've got to take matters in our hands. So, carve out five, ten minutes of your day to talk to God and ask Him for help to improve your Jewishness. And if you aren't motivated enough to do it for your own sake, at least have pity on the rest of us, so we don't have to suffer any more!

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

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