Life Is Difficult. Once You Accept This, Life Can Be Fun

Women's Eikev Class: This women's class was presented onTuesday Parshas Eikev, 19Av, 5779, August 20, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY. The Jewish people are standing at the Eastern side of the Jordan river. They are poised to enter the Promised Land. Their faithful leader, Moshe, speaks to them. These are his words: "Hear, O Israel! Today, you are crossing the Jordan to come in to possess nations greater and stronger than you, great cities, fortified up to the heavens. A colossal and towering nation, the children of the giants, whom you know and of whom you have heard said, "Who can stand against the children of the giants?!" This is mind-staggering. Moshe is repeating, almost verbatim, the words the Ten Spies uttered 39 years earlier which caused an unparalleled catastrophe, and derailed Jewish history from its course. Is this for real? After everything they have been through, Moses repeatsas we said, almost verbatimthe terrifying and destructively-impactful words of the spies which sowed terror and dread in all of their brethren hearts! It is here that we discover the truth of Torah. Judaismdoes not deny reality; it does not sell us the Brooklyn Bridge. It acknowledged the real fears internal and external hardships, but it also says: Hashem is with you; you can confront every fear.Life is difficult, but if you can accept that, then life can be a lot of fun! CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a powerful tool, but sometimes it can fail you. It is then that you need another, very different tool -- articulated in this story of Eikev. The lecture is based on an address by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbos Parshas Eikev, 23 Av, 5731, August 14, 1971.