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Light after Darl<ness

From the I<il<ayon to Covid

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

A Our Yamim Noraim Torah readings timeless covenant with Avraham,
the world attempts to come
saying, "I will greatly bless you and
o terms with the countless
reflect this outlook. On the first day of
challenges presented by Rosh Hashanah, we read the dramatic greatly multiply your descendants"
he Coronavirus pandemic, account of how Hagar and Yishmael, (Bereishit 22:17).
the word 'resilience' has gained new cast into a barren wilderness, drank
Hashem destroyed the kikayon. But He
popularity in the global lexicon. Yet, their last drops of water and feared the
then used Yonah's experience to teach
the term is inadequate as a response worst. Hagar placed her child behind a
to adversity. bush, not wishing to see him die. But, us one of the most fundamental princi-
ples of Judaism - that all life is sacred.
at that moment of profound personal
'Resilience' comes from the Latin,
anguish, an Angel of Hashem appeared While our tradition, therefore, justifi-
meaning to recoil or rebound. It implies
to her and said, "Do not be afraid, ably encourages positivity amid adver-
that, over time, we can return to where
Hashem has heard the boy crying" sity, the Ram barn goes one step further.
we started. But, as any Shoah survivor
(Bereishit 21:17). Hashem then opened He observes that "the transition from
will attest, real
her eyes and she saw a well of water. trouble to ease gives more pleasure
adversity cannot
merely be shrugged Similarly, on the second day of Rosh than continual ease" (Moreh Nevuchim
off. It remains a Hashanah, we read how Avraham 3:24). This is a challenging concept,
part of you for the Avinu was about to do the unthink- particularly for those who have expe-
'Resilience' comes from the rest of your life. able, to sacrifice his child in service of rienced great pain and suffering. Yet,
Latin, meaning to recoil or Hashem. Yet again, at the most critical the Rambam goes on to point out that
The Israeli psychol- moment, an Angel called out to Avra- "the Israelites would not have been able
rebound. It implies that, ogist and Nobel ham, "Do not reach out your hand to conquer the land and prevail over its
over time, we can return to Laureate, Professor
against the boy" (Bereishit 22:12). inhabitants if they had not previously
where we started. But, as any Daniel Kahneman, undergone the vicissitudes of their tra-
Shoah survivor will attest, real points out that neg- On Yorn Kippur, we read that when the vails in the wilderness."
kikayon plant, under which Yonah had
adversity cannot merely be ative experiences
loom larger and been sheltering from the desert sun, Often, quite remarkably, it is in encoun-
shrugged off. It remains a part
feel more intense was destroyed, his suffering was so tering significant challenges that
of you for the rest of your life. great that he begged for death. From people reach the most extraordinary
than positive expe-
here Hashem taught Yonah a lesson - if levels of human achievement. Hashem
riences. However,
he could grieve so profoundly over a has taught us repeatedly throughout
he maintains that it is possible to train
plant, how much more precious were our history, and reinforces very pow-
ourselves to take better control of how
the lives of the inhabitants of Nineveh! erfully for us over the Yamim Noraim,
our minds process these happenings.
We can derive inspiration from the All of these examples have something that adversity is temporary. Eventually,
Torah account of creation: "And there striking in common - their cause and the darkness will give way to the light
was evening and there was morning" effect. and when it does so, we can emerge
(Bereishit 1:5). Morning always follows strengthened by the trust that we have
Hagar and Yishmael were cast away
evening; darkness always gives way to placed in Him.
because Hashem instructed Avraham
light. Recognition of the fact that adver-
to heed the concerns of Sarah. Yet,
sity will always be followed by deliver-
Hashem then promised that "a great
ance helps us withstand hardship and
nation" would be descended from
see that, just as there is a certainty Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is the Chief Rabbi of
Yishmael.
about night and day, adversity can be the United Hebrew Congregations of the
an unavoidable and necessary part of The Akeida was a direct commandment Commonwealth, and serves as President of
what it is to be human. from Hashem. Yet, He then made His Mizrachi UK.