Hashem’s intimate view of my challenges mirrors mine
Geulah, the final Redemption, is one of the most frequently referenced themes in our liturgy. We daven for Geulah on a regular Wednesday, on exalted Yamim Tovim, and on days of mourning. Geulah is such a recurring theme in tefillah, we’d be forgiven for assuming the seventh brachah, “Re’eh (na) v’anyeinu… ki goel chazak Atah” is another impassioned appeal for deliverance. When the Gemara discusses the order of brachos in the Shemoneh Esreh, it addresses this precise question: “Why did they see fit to place Geulah [the brachah of Re’eh v’anyeinu] as the seventh brachah? Rava says, because they will be redeemed in the seventh [year]” (Megillah 17b).
The Gemara’s explanation seems reason enough to assume this brachah speaks of our ultimate Geulah. However, Rashi (ibid) points out that we have many other Geulah-themed brachos in Shemoneh Esreh that reference redemption more directly: “Es tzemach David avdecha” and “v’liYerushalayim ircha” speak of our yearning for Mashiach’s arrival and the return of Hashem’s Shechinah to Yerushalayim. Therefore, this brachah must be speaking of a different facet of redemption.
“Lav Geulah d’galus hi, ela sheyigaleinu min hatzaros haba’os aleinu tamid — this brachah doesn’t refer to redemption from exile, rather it’s a bid to be redeemed from the myriad afflictions we suffer daily” (ibid).
Life is riddled with adversity. Sometimes our challenges are modest-sized: Rush-hour traffic, car trouble, strep throat, unexpected expenses, weight gain. Other challenges are more formidable: Financial woes, child-raising hardships, shidduchim troubles, relationship issues.
Create a free account to keep reading.
