As the Jewish calendar swirls to its magnificent final curtsy we know we should be embracing the simchah emunah and yedidus that Purim ushers in. Why then do we so often allow thoughts of mess calories and a looming Pesach to creep into our psyche turning any inspiring dreams into a stale stagnating reality?
Much of our year — and our lives —is peppered with these deceivingly comforting thoughts that allow us to fall into spiritual despair. We sometimes view growth as the privilege of the young but as I often remind my seminary students all of us have a supreme personal obligation to guarantee ourselves an inspired life.
Filling the Pit
Rav Shimshon Pincus ztz”l in his commentary on the Torah gives tremendous insight into the well-known midrash that discusses the pit Yosef was thrown into. The pasuk states “And the pit was empty — there was no water in it.” Rashi cites the midrash which elaborates: “It had no water but snakes and scorpions were inside.”
How could Yosef’s brothers be so cruel? Are they not the original Bnei Yisrael known for their compassion modesty and kindness? While they may have convened a beis din and deemed Yosef worthy of death they didn’t rule that his death should come through the venom of snakes and scorpions!
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