When we are faced with sorrows, we call out and turn to Hashem and His Torah, as David HaMelech stated, “Tzarah v’yagon emtza, uv’sheim Hashem ekra–I will find troubles and sorrows, and I will call out in Hashem’s name” (T’hilim 117:13). When everything is going well, it is easy to turn to Hashem and thank Him for His goodness. The real test comes when we run into rough waters. How do we react to yisurin – life’s difficulties? We turn straight to Hashem!
The Chazon Ish zt”l (Emunah and Bitachon, Chapter 2) says that difficulties do not come by accident. They were decreed from Heaven. One who has bitachon (trust in Hashem) realizes this and turns to Him. He pours out his heart in t’filah (prayer). This is the hallmark of a Jew. This is what keeps us alive.
We must also remember to act with extreme compassion to others as they face challenges. We need to daven for others and demand that whatever suffering our friend is going through must stop immediately.
There is a famous story told of the Baal Shem Tov’s wife, who was once combing the knotted hair of an orphan child, who had been badly neglected. The little girl cried from the discomfort. The Baal Shem Tov quietly passed by and went on with his day. This was held against him in Heaven.
There was no injustice in the story, so what was wrong with the Baal Shem Tov’s actions? From here we can learn that we must feel the pain of our fellow Jew. If we see another person suffering, we should do whatever is in our power to ease the pain.
List of People Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Shimshon Shimon ben Mazal
Aharon Mordechai ben Sharon
Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah
Yisachar Dov ben Chayah Brachah
Tinok ben Chanah
Azriel ShemTov ben Brachah Esther
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Ronny Tzalach ben Simchah
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Moshe ben Devorah
Yehoshua ben Miriam
Yosef ben Leah
Nisan ben Yael
Efrayim Gavriel ben Esther
Chaim Yehudah HaLevi ben Sarah
Refael Meir HaLevi ben Esther
Mordechai ben Evelyn
David Chaim ben Rivkah
Moshe Leib ben Chanah Breindel
Evon bas Sally
Luna bas Rachel
Malkah bas Miriam
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Ronit bas Rivkah
Mahnaz bas Nosrat
Sylia bas Rachel
Karen bas Rachel
Shoshanah Shurah bas Zina
Sonia bas Raya Rachel
Tinok bas Chanah Moriyah
Brachah Chanah bas Sarah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
