“Conspiracy VS Reality” by Rabbi Schapiro
Read a piece on the Parsha and on current world events written by Rabbi Sholom Schapiro, the Shliach of the NY Torah Center on 5th Avenue in Manhattan • Full Story
Read a piece on the Parsha and on current world events written by Rabbi Sholom Schapiro, the Shliach of the NY Torah Center on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
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Some people accept the reality that they see, and maintain that conspiracy theories are delusions. Others say that what appears to be reality is merely a smokescreen and coverup for the reality that is hidden from view.
Consider the following scenario.
A Jewish family arrives in Egypt on a business trip. They are accused by a senior government official of being spies and a member of the family is taken hostage. Later, when they are leaving Egypt, planted evidence implicates them as thieves, and they are told that they must leave the framed thief behind as a slave.
No, this is not a headline from the news today, it is actually the story of this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash.
Our parsha opens with Yehuda and his brothers under the impression that they were at odds with a powerful Egyptian viceroy. This anti semitic ruler was demanding that they leave their youngest brother Benyamin behind to remain his slave.
Dramatically, the hostile ruler revealed himself as their long lost brother, Yosef. By uttering a few words, all was well. Their dear brother Yosef was alive and the ruler of Egypt. He was not tormenting them, but testing their devotion to each other. In a moment, the despair and confusion was replaced by relief and gratitude.
When we take a look at the world around us, there is so much that we cannot make sense of. We may become confused and depressed, and unwilling to contend with all of the adversity.
We look at the world and it simply does not add up. We have questions that have arisen this year, and we have questions that have accumulated over the millennia of Jewish history.
Much like the brothers in this week’s Torah portion, we’re certain we know the reality. In truth, all it takes is one sentence, one line, to change everything. All that has to be done is a small adjustment to change a blurry photo into clear focus.
The world stands at the threshold of redemption, when all will become clear and when Hashem will make sense of it all. We will see how everything was part of a master plan, and that Hashem runs everything in the world.
The Rebbe asked of us to open our eyes and see the reality of redemption unfolding, the reality that Moshiach is here, and that very soon we will be redeemed from this exile.
Shabbat Shalom,
Dedicated in loving memory of Laizer Ben Shimon – yahrtzeit 13 Tevet
Rabbi Sholom Schapiro
KOLLEL TORAH CENTER
393 Fifth Avenue, Ground Floor
New York, NY 10016
212-532-7618
www.thetorahcenter.com
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