Shehakol
September 7, 1970: Muslim terrorists hijacked TWA flight 741 from Tel Aviv and rerouted it to a desert airfield in Jordan. Among its passengers were Harav and Rebbetzin Yitzchak Hutner; their daughter and son-in-law, Harav and Rebbetzin Yonason David; and Mrs. Rachel Harari-Raful and her two sons, Chacham Yosef and Chacham Avraham, along with their wives and young children.
Jews all over the world prayed for the welfare and salvation of their brethren who were being kept in the scorching heat, at the mercy of their Muslim captors.
Following her release and the subsequent release of her remaining family members, Mrs. Rachel Harari-Raful was asked how she survived those torturous days when her own life, along with the lives of her children and grandchildren, were in jeopardy.
She replied, “Every time I started feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, I poured myself a cup of water and recited the berachah of shehakol, in which we declare that everything came into existence through Hashem’s word. Reciting the berachah helped me recognize that everything comes from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Proclaiming that He is the One in control gave me the chizuk I needed to continue.”
Chacham Yosef Raful’s wife later related that she recalled a time when her mother-in-law became very disturbed about something. Mrs. Rachel Harari-Raful took a glass, filled it with water and slowly recited the berachah of shehakol nihiyeh bidvaro. This was the way she calmed herself.
The berachah of shehakol is an opportunity to remember that every single thing that happens comes from Hashem!
(Sparks of Majesty by Genendel Krohn, Feldheim Publishers, page 190)
Take This Home
How many times a day do you recite the berachah of shehakol? The next time you recite this berachah, focus on the meaning: …that everything came to be through His word. This means that every single thing you have, every single thing that has happened to you and that will happen to you – is only because Hashem wills it. This is what it means when we refer to Hashem as “Ribono shel Olam – Master of the Universe!”
In Short
The Ohr HaChayim Hakadosh points out that Hashem told Avraham Avinu to leave his homeland – lech lecha – but He did not tell him where to go. However, when Avraham took his wife Sarah and nephew Lot to follow Hashem’s command, the passuk tells us: “Vayikach Avram es Sarai ishto v’es Lot ben achiv… vayeitzu laleches artza Cana’an – when they found out they were going, they were told their destination.
The nisayon of agreeing to leave without knowing where he was headed was a personal test for Avraham – whether he would put his trust in Hashem and just go. However, Sarai (Sarah) and Lot were not challenged this way because the test was not meant for them!
Similarly, every Jew experiences nisyonos – and each one of those tests is tailormade for that person, for his growth and for his ultimate benefit!
It Happened to Me!
My Olam Haba Moment
I had a really busy morning ahead of me, including a doctor’s appointment that involved first picking up one of my children and then shlepping across town to get to the doctor’s office. I tried to be organized about my schedule, as I had limited time to get everything done. But when I attempted to start my car after errand number one, I found, to my dismay, that it was dead. To make matters worse, after calling a friend for Chaveirim’s number, my phone died too. The extra time it cost me to trek back inside, call Chaveirim, wait for their arrival, and then run the engine to make sure it was fully charged really derailed my plans. I started feeling frustrated, but then I changed the track in my head: Obviously, Hashem has other plans for me today.
There was no amazing, clear hashgachah pratis ending to my day. Actually, it was an exhausting day of running, running, running to get everything done. Perhaps I needed the aggravation as a kapparah, perhaps Hashem was testing me to see how I would react to my plans going awry. But when my mindset is that Hashem has a plan for me in this world, then I can let go and better accept what comes my way.
D.L.R.
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