It’s been a busy week for me. Saturday Night and Sunday were Purim. Tuesday, I went cross country to help a friend create operation systems in his Chabad House. Wednesday, I was in Texas for a wedding. I am writing this today, on my flight home.
Tuesday, a truck pulled up with a pallet of Shmurah Matzah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe OB”M was a major proponent of ensuring that every Jew has Shmurah Matzah for their Seder and ideally for the entire Passover. We unloaded the pallet and started discussing the operations side of delivering over 500 matzah packages. It’s an expensive campaign (approx $15 for a 3-matzah package). How do you cover it financially? Is it worth it? What’s the return on investment?
My friend mentioned that we are mailing a package of G-dliness, it is invaluable. Shmurah Matzah is called the bread of faith and the bread of healing. When you eat the matzah on the Seder night, you are awakening an inherent faith in G-d. When that faith exists, you may not understand the mechanics, but you can trust that Hashem will find a way and messengers to cover the cost of the matzah campaign. Sending this G-dliness to every Jew, encourages each one to use the bread of faith and the bread of healing on the Seder night and to make it a part of who they are physically. How can it not be worth it?
A Rabbi sitting at my table by the wedding, the following day, told a story that further brought home this message of faith in G-d. A person wrote to the Rebbe saying: my faith in G-d is questionable, and my daughter is not well. If Hashem heals my child, then I will increase in my Torah and Mitzvot observance and have faith. To which the Rebbe responded: Sorry for the delay in responding but know that as soon as I received your letter, I mentioned your daughter for healing at the holy resting place of the Previous Rebbe. The Rebbe continues with the following PS:
I addressed you in my response letter with the title “a man who is in awe of G-d '' despite that you wrote your faith is questionable. Each and every Jew has faith in G-d because of their G-dly soul. It is just that at times the faith is not expressed because of the conniving thoughts of the animal soul. G-d sometimes needs to wake us up to reconnect with our true selves and reveal the faith that already exists. This can be done in a way of kindness or the opposite. Perhaps your daughter’s illness is there to awaken your dormant faith, and as soon as you reveal it, there will be no need for sickness. Then if G-d needs to reveal your faith he will do it in a positive way with blessings.
Expect your G-dly package of faith within the next 3 weeks!
Have an amazing Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman