Parashas Ki Sisa

"Shalom, Imma. I'm home."

"Shalom Avi! How was your day at school?"

"Terrible!"

"Oy vey, what happened?"

"Someone caused me a lot of tsaar (aggravation). I did a big favor for him. Shortly after that, he said something very insulting to me. What chutzpah! This is how he treats someone who does him a big favor? I am so upset! Please help me Imma."

"Just take it easy, Avi. Hashem loves you."

"I know that He loves me, Imma, but I need help. Can you help me?"

"I am helping you, Avi. Hashem loves you."

"How does that help me, Imma?"

"That is a very good question, Avi. The answer is in this week's parasha."

"Please tell me, Imma."

"Back in the days of Yetzias Mitzrayim, Hashem treated the Jewish people royally. He freed them from slavery, punished the Mitzrim, took them out of Mitzrayim, split the sea, brought them to Har Sinai, and gave them the Torah."

"Those are surely great expressions of His love for Klal Yisrael."

"Yes they are, Avi. One can only imagine His disappointment (so to speak), when only forty days later, they made the egel ha'zahav (golden calf). That was one of he worst sins in history."

"Oy va voy, Imma. How did Hashem react to that?"

"Look at the verses in this week's parasha - Shemos 34:6-7, Avi. Hashem proclaimed His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy to Moshe Rabbeinu. He explained that although Klal Yisrael had insulted Him terribly by sinning, He still had mercy upon them."

"I see. In what way did He have mercy, Imma?"

"The verse says that Hashem is patient - He does not rush to punish the sinner; perhaps he will repent and not require punishment. He is Rav Chessed (Abundant in Kindness) - He continues to act kindly to people, even though they sin. He keeps the sinner alive, keeps his heart beating, and provides him with food."

"That is true chessed."

"Hashem is also kind in His punishments. He punishes slowly. This does not crush the sinner, but cleanses him from the sin."

"Hashem really does love us."

"Yes, Avi. Now, you have two jobs to do. One, you have to emulate Hashem. You should have patience with that boy who wronged you. Perhaps tomorrow he will realize his mistake. He may apologize and resolve to never do it again. You are doing a big chessed by giving him the opportunity to do teshuva (correct his mistake)."

"I understand, Imma. Secondly, you must realize that your suffering is from Hashem. Perhaps you did something wrong in the past. Hashem sent you this tsaar in the form of insult to help you do teshuva and cleanse you from the sin. You should thank Him for that."

"That is a bit more difficult, Imma."

"I know, Avi. However it is possible, and surely worth the effort. Hashem loves you as a Father loves a son. He sometimes needs to reprimand the boy for his own good. If He did not care about you, He would ignore you, and allow you sin to go uncleansed."

"Hashem really does love me Imma. He gave me a little potch. Why should I hold a grudge against that boy? He is just Hashem's messenger. I will be patient with him and continue to act kindly toward him. I will forgive him, just as Hashem forgave the Jewish people."

"Avi, you make me so proud. You are such a mensch. Hashem is not the only one who loves you. I love you too, Avi. With all of my heart."

"Thank you, Imma."

Kinderlach . . .

Hashem loves you. He is patient with you. He does chessed for you 24 hours a day. Even His punishments are kind. Try to be like Him. Have patience with others. Treat them kindly at all times. Even if they cause you tsaar, realize that it is from Hashem. Be merciful to them, and Hashem will be merciful to you. As our Sages say, "Heaven will have mercy on all those who have mercy upon others" (Shabbos 151b).

Kinder Torah Copyright 2011 All rights reserved to the author Simcha Groffman

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