Happiness Is All Perspective

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This week's parsha, Eikev, tells us how Hashem tested the Jewish people with the manna. "And He afflicted you and made you hungry and fed you manna, which you did not know, nor did your forefathers know, so that He would make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but rather by, whatever comes forth from the mouth of Hashem does man live." Then it says, "Who fed you manna in the desert, which your forefathers did not know, in order to afflict you and in order to test you, to benefit you in your end, and you will say to yourself, 'My strength and the might of my hand that made all this wealth for me.' But you must remember Hashem your G-d, for it is He that gives you strength to make wealth..." 

How could the manna, "bread from heaven," which was totally G-dly, fed them for forty years in the desert and had every flavor, serve as a means to test and challenge the Jewish people? 

How did the manna afflict them? 

In general, there are two kinds of tests or challenges, the test of affluence and the test of poverty. The manna had both of these characteristics. On one hand, it was G-dly, had every flavor, and the Talmud tells us that when they went to collect the manna, they would find with it precious stones and gems, so it came with both spiritual and physical wealth. On the other hand, the verse says, "Who fed you manna... in order to afflict you." 

The Talmud tells us two opinions as to why it caused them to suffer. It never gave them complete satisfaction, either because they were only able to collect it for one day at a time, tomorrow was uncertain, and "You can't compare one who has bread in his basket, to one who doesn't have bread in his basket." When you have food, you are less hungry, because you have the security of knowing that you can eat whenever you want to. Or because although it tasted like anything, it didn't look like the food they were tasting, and "You can't compare one who sees (his food) and eats, to one who doesn't see (his food) and eats." (Like Crystal Pepsi.) 

Although they had the most amazing G-dly food, they weren't satisfied, either because they couldn't hold on to it, or because it didn't have the right look. But these flaws are not real, they were only perceived flaws. 

The same is true about the study of Torah, compared to other subjects. Other subjects are limited, you can master the subject, and that is very satisfying. However Torah is unlimited, no matter how much you know, you are left wanting more, its completeness is elusive. The more you know, the more hungry you are for another angle, deeper, higher, etc. 

The same is true within Torah itself. On one hand, you have the revealed Torah (Mishnah, Talmud, Halacha, etc.), which although it is Hashem's infinite wisdom, being that it comes to the world dressed in physical cases and scenarios, its study can sometimes leave you satisfied. On the other hand, the hidden or inner Torah (Chassidus, Kabballa, etc.) is Hashem's pure infinite wisdom, it's not dressed up in the physical, the more you know, the more hungry you are for deeper, higher, etc. 

The hunger for Torah and especially the inner Torah, is only in your perception, you perceive that there is more, so you are hungry. 

That means that the only true flaw is in the one who is perceiving it. The way to overcome these flaws is to go out of himself, nullify his own existence to Hashem, then his perception will be Hashem's, where everything is good and truly satisfying. 

The same is true for the manna. How did one find satisfaction in the manna? He had to know that the manna was pure infinite G-dliness that came into the physical world and given to him as a gift from Hashem. if he will humble himself, nullify himself, totally negate his own existence and see that it's all from Hashem, he will truly be happy and satisfied. Because everything that comes from Him is good, there are no flaws. 

Now we will understand why it continues. "And you will say to yourself, 'My strength and the might of my hand that made all this wealth for me.' But you must remember Hashem your G-d, for it is He that gives you strength to make wealth..." Because the manna served as the paradigm for true happiness and satisfaction, the recognition and the true perception that everything he has is from Hashem. 

When he has this perspective, everything in life becomes good. Since he is humble, he sees not only the spiritual, but also the physical is good and holy, there is no difference, because it is all from Hashem. 

The same could be applied to our daily lives. Many of us struggle with happiness, we are often dissatisfied with the hand that we have been dealt. It is all based on your perspective and perception. When faced with a challenge, if you think that it is all your doing or man's doing, "my strength and the might of my hand that has made all this wealth," then you are truly in the hole of unhappiness, self pity and self loathing, but when you recognize that it is all from Hashem, "for it is He that gives you strength to make wealth," then you could find meaning in any situation or at least the knowledge that it is from Hashem, will take away your self pity and self loathing, and you will be happy with yourself. 

I recognize that sometimes we are presented with such a devastating challenge that no amount of positive thinking will soothe the pain. But knowing that it is from Hashem will make things a little bit easier. 

Happiness doesn't mean that you walk around with a smile all day, it means that you are satisfied with yourself and your situation, and that is based on your perspective. 

I have been asked: How do you stay positive through the devastating challenge that you are faced with, ALS and being paralyzed? The hardest things for me, is not being able to be the father and husband that I want to, I struggle with that every day. Though I know that I can't do anything to fix the situation, barring a miracle from Hashem. It hurts not to be able to kiss and hug my children, not to be able to talk and play with them. But as far as everything else is concerned, I say, "What keeps me going, is the realization that Hashem is real, that He has a plan for the world, and I am part of it. Everyone is a part of it, and everyone's part is important. So if He put me in this position, He must want something of me that I can only do in this position. When you see it this way. Instead of feeling down when you are in a challenging situation, you are filled with a sense of purpose, and you are lifted up." 

May all our suffering come to an end, with the coming of Moshiach. May he come soon.