The Power of Acceptance
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Vaeira
והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים
And I will take them out from beneath the burdens of Egypt
And I will take them out from beneath the burdens of Egypt
Why does the verse describe the slavery and harsh labour in Egypt with the unusual word סבלותם?
The word סבלותם is related to the word סובל, meaning to bear or tolerate with patience. The Posuk is alluding to the quality through which the Jewish people would merit redemption.
Even in the height of their suffering, they did not question Hashem, saying why do we suffer while the nations of the world live in peace? They patiently accepted Hashem’s decree with love and faith.
This is why the sages teach that we should bless Hashem for the bad with the same faith and acceptance as when we bless Him for the good.
With this we can explain an account that is related in the Gemara. As the great sage Hillel was approaching his hometown, a cry of distress came from one of the houses. Confidently Hillel said, "I am sure that this cry is not coming from my home." How cold Hillel be so sure? It is because he had educated his family to accept whatever comes from Hashem and not to complain.
This idea is alluded to in the verse ויעבידו מצרים את בנ"י בפרך describing how the Egyptians made the Jewish people work with crushing labour. The sages explain that בפרך is an acronym for בפה רך, a soft speech.
The Aramaic translation of בפרך is בקשיו. This is like the word קושיא, meaning a question or challenge.
The Aramaic translation represents the intention of the Yetzer Hara, which sought to cause the Jewish people to challenge and question the ways of Hashem. But the Torah attests that that they accepted their suffering with “soft speech” and did not challenge the ways of Hashem.
As limited human beings, we cannot understand the ways of Hashem. We must try to have faith and accept that everything that happens comes from Him and must serve a purpose.
By approaching our challenges as סבלות, with faith and acceptance, may we also merit to see our redemption from all of our difficulties.
The word סבלותם is related to the word סובל, meaning to bear or tolerate with patience. The Posuk is alluding to the quality through which the Jewish people would merit redemption.
Even in the height of their suffering, they did not question Hashem, saying why do we suffer while the nations of the world live in peace? They patiently accepted Hashem’s decree with love and faith.
This is why the sages teach that we should bless Hashem for the bad with the same faith and acceptance as when we bless Him for the good.
With this we can explain an account that is related in the Gemara. As the great sage Hillel was approaching his hometown, a cry of distress came from one of the houses. Confidently Hillel said, "I am sure that this cry is not coming from my home." How cold Hillel be so sure? It is because he had educated his family to accept whatever comes from Hashem and not to complain.
This idea is alluded to in the verse ויעבידו מצרים את בנ"י בפרך describing how the Egyptians made the Jewish people work with crushing labour. The sages explain that בפרך is an acronym for בפה רך, a soft speech.
The Aramaic translation of בפרך is בקשיו. This is like the word קושיא, meaning a question or challenge.
The Aramaic translation represents the intention of the Yetzer Hara, which sought to cause the Jewish people to challenge and question the ways of Hashem. But the Torah attests that that they accepted their suffering with “soft speech” and did not challenge the ways of Hashem.
As limited human beings, we cannot understand the ways of Hashem. We must try to have faith and accept that everything that happens comes from Him and must serve a purpose.
By approaching our challenges as סבלות, with faith and acceptance, may we also merit to see our redemption from all of our difficulties.