Rosh Hashanah 5769/2008 - Jewish Infertility

can achieve happiness and fulfill the mitzva of והיית אך שמח , beinghappy on Sukkos.Sukkos commemorates the special Heavenly Protection thatthe Yidden had for forty years in the desert. These clouds thatsurrounded the Yidden in the desert kept the people cool andprotected them from enemies’ arrows. They smoothed valleys,flattened hills, kept their clothes fresh and mapped out theirroute. Most likely, many of us associate clouds with darkness. Herewe see that even clouds can be an expression of our Creator’s love,enveloping and shielding us.Avrohom was challenged and tested with ten major nisyonos andpassed each one. Akeidas Yitzchok was the final and most difficultchallenge. The Midrash says that as Avrohom bound Yitzchok tothe akeida, tears streamed from his eyes in fatherly compassionand mingled with the angels’ tears. Avrohom succeeded in passingthis tremendously difficult test even though he cried. His face wastearstained, an expression of the great pain and strain that he felt,yet deep inside his heart and soul, he was at peace. He was singingnot despite the pain, but because of it. He was singing because‏.רצוננו לעשות רצונו here was his opportunity to expressWhen faced with challenges we, too, can cry. We are not failingwhen we admit that infertility or any other nisayon aches. Despitethe pain and anguish of immaterialized dreams, we must also beable to burst forth in song and gracefully accept our role. Ourbodies may cry but our souls can sing, for deep inside of us weknow that we are reaching new heights. We are not being crushed;in reality, we are being built.It is with this lesson of the Yomim Noraim that we step rightinto Sukkos. Immediately after having stormed the Heavens, afterpleading that Hashem, our merciful Father, should grant us all ofour needs, we celebrate Sukkos. We leave our comfortable homesto sit in small, humble huts directly under the skies. We are, in fact,telling Hashem we asked You to shower us with bracha, to grantus all of our heartfelt requests, but You know what is best for us,and our happiness is not dependent on what we have or whatYou give us. We can leave our homes, our comforts and desires.So long as we have Your protection and shelter - עזרם ומגנם הוא - weThese clouds that accompanied the Jews in the desert were inAharon’s merit. Aharon Hakohen was a man who loved peace. Hesettled arguments between people and helped couples to live inserenity. He not only made peace for others, but he was also atpeace with himself and with Hashem. Therefore, when his twosons died, the posuk says אהרן ‏,וידם Aharon was silent, and therewas not one word of complaint. Despite his pain he was neitherangry nor resentful. He was able to bow down to His Will, and wasat peace and in complete harmony with Hashem. Indeed, it is niceto have sunshine and it is wonderful when everything goes well,but from Aharon we learn that sometimes Hashem give us clouds.Perhaps it’s a little dark and difficult, but if we realize that in dark,cloudy, trying times Hashem is there lighting our way, lighteningour loads and smoothing the steep rocky paths of challenge, thenwe can be at peace and intrinsically happy.When we sit in the Sukka, commemorate the clouds andוהיית אך remember Aharon Hakohen, then we can easily fulfill, being happy on Sukkos. Our happiness is not marred but שמחrather enhanced by the clouds. The clouds of Heavenly protectionremind us to see that every cloud has a silver lining. Real simchadoes not depend on what we have or don’t have. True joy is tohave life, to be challenged. Face the problems, grow spirituallyand deepen the relationship we have with Hashem. I once reada fabulous quote:I slept and dreamtThat life was joyI awoke and sawThat life was dutyI acted and beholdDuty was joy.One of my favorite stories is about a famous crippled violinistwho bravely went up on stage to perform. He put his crutchesaside, removed his leg braces and began his performance. Whileplaying a beautiful melody on his violin, one of the strings snapped.Shaarei Tikvah Issue 57/ Rosh Hashana 200821rosh hashana_magazine2.indd 2121/09/2008 7:00:34 PM