In simple terms, the role of the Jewish people is to serve G-d.
When we intently focus on G-d in our prayers, we "teach" ourselves a very important concept: our inheritance is a key to a constant feeling of gratitude to our Father. All this is fine and dandy but in reality, how often do we turn to G-d for help?
At times, the feeling is on the level of thought only and suddenly our request is answered. We feel happy and slightly embarrassed. How did we merit this, how was it answered so quickly? Do we even deserve a response? Still, we're thankful. Given our today's lowly, simple status, do we even have a right to question and even expect an answer? To lift the curtain somewhat on this cause-and-effect-less connection between us and G-d, here's a wondrous recent story.
A woman decided to put up a sukkah, probably for the first time in her life. She called up her friend with questions on the how and when. Finally the sukkah went up. Suddenly, a few days before the holiday, the woman calls up her friend again, this time all agitated and upset. "It's all over, I've invited guests, some for the first time and how are they going to be able to eat in the sukkah?" Turns out the issue was not the sukkah itself but her next-door neighbor who had been doing renovations on her house for 2 months. She even moved out to speed up construction.
The entire site was filled with supplies, all sorts of equipment, and all that was accompanied by lots of noise and dirt. The workers were on the site from early morning until sundown, so although night meals in the sukkah weren't a problem, day meals would obviously be disrupted. The woman's friend then suggested to perhaps approach the owner of the house and explain the situation. The woman rejected the idea, her friend then suggested she should just pray to G-d.
After the holiday, this woman again called her friend and told her a remarkable story: the first day of Sukkos, she went out to set the table in the Sukkah, sure enough, the construction was going full blast with all the attendant noise, dirt, etc. The woman got agitated, simply sat down in her sukkah and started talking to G-d - "Listen to me, I've tried so hard to fulfill this miztvah so that other Jews could have a chance to fulfill it too and also to make You happy. Are you going to allow something extraneous to ruin this?"
The woman was so wrapped up in the conversation, she didn't notice that a good 30 minutes had passed. She snapped out of it only by realizing that it was absolutely quiet outside! She looked around and saw not a single worker and all the equipment was turned off. She first thought they were on break but after awhile she realized that they'd been gone too long for just a break. They didn't return that day or the following day, in fact they didn't return the entire holiday!
The following Sunday, the woman, out of curiosity, asked her neighbor why the work had suddenly stopped. The neighbor angrily replied that 8 days prior, in the morning, just when the Jewish woman was complaining to G-d, the workers suddenly called and said they weren't coming, they lacked supplies, etc. The other workers already on the site then left also. She was only able to get them to come back 8 days later! And this is the answer to our question.
Does a Jew have a right to turn to G-d with a question and expect an answer? Yes! A right and an obligation. This is what G-d wants and can't wait to answer. Any request, any time, any place. Turn to Him, you're expected. With a love and care that only a father can bestow.
And rest assured, the answer is ready and waiting from the 6 days of Creation!!!
When we intently focus on G-d in our prayers, we "teach" ourselves a very important concept: our inheritance is a key to a constant feeling of gratitude to our Father. All this is fine and dandy but in reality, how often do we turn to G-d for help?
At times, the feeling is on the level of thought only and suddenly our request is answered. We feel happy and slightly embarrassed. How did we merit this, how was it answered so quickly? Do we even deserve a response? Still, we're thankful. Given our today's lowly, simple status, do we even have a right to question and even expect an answer? To lift the curtain somewhat on this cause-and-effect-less connection between us and G-d, here's a wondrous recent story.
A woman decided to put up a sukkah, probably for the first time in her life. She called up her friend with questions on the how and when. Finally the sukkah went up. Suddenly, a few days before the holiday, the woman calls up her friend again, this time all agitated and upset. "It's all over, I've invited guests, some for the first time and how are they going to be able to eat in the sukkah?" Turns out the issue was not the sukkah itself but her next-door neighbor who had been doing renovations on her house for 2 months. She even moved out to speed up construction.
The entire site was filled with supplies, all sorts of equipment, and all that was accompanied by lots of noise and dirt. The workers were on the site from early morning until sundown, so although night meals in the sukkah weren't a problem, day meals would obviously be disrupted. The woman's friend then suggested to perhaps approach the owner of the house and explain the situation. The woman rejected the idea, her friend then suggested she should just pray to G-d.
After the holiday, this woman again called her friend and told her a remarkable story: the first day of Sukkos, she went out to set the table in the Sukkah, sure enough, the construction was going full blast with all the attendant noise, dirt, etc. The woman got agitated, simply sat down in her sukkah and started talking to G-d - "Listen to me, I've tried so hard to fulfill this miztvah so that other Jews could have a chance to fulfill it too and also to make You happy. Are you going to allow something extraneous to ruin this?"
The woman was so wrapped up in the conversation, she didn't notice that a good 30 minutes had passed. She snapped out of it only by realizing that it was absolutely quiet outside! She looked around and saw not a single worker and all the equipment was turned off. She first thought they were on break but after awhile she realized that they'd been gone too long for just a break. They didn't return that day or the following day, in fact they didn't return the entire holiday!
The following Sunday, the woman, out of curiosity, asked her neighbor why the work had suddenly stopped. The neighbor angrily replied that 8 days prior, in the morning, just when the Jewish woman was complaining to G-d, the workers suddenly called and said they weren't coming, they lacked supplies, etc. The other workers already on the site then left also. She was only able to get them to come back 8 days later! And this is the answer to our question.
Does a Jew have a right to turn to G-d with a question and expect an answer? Yes! A right and an obligation. This is what G-d wants and can't wait to answer. Any request, any time, any place. Turn to Him, you're expected. With a love and care that only a father can bestow.
And rest assured, the answer is ready and waiting from the 6 days of Creation!!!
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