Daily Jewish Thought

The Serpents: When the Poison Becomes the Cure: Finding Healing in the Very Place You Were Hurt


Listen Later

In this deep and soulful journey through Parshat Chukas, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks one of the most perplexing and powerful moments in the Torah: the copper snake on a pole.

Why did G-d command Moses to use the very symbol of suffering, the snake, as a healing instrument? What does it mean that people had to look up at the snake to be cured?

Through timeless Jewish wisdom, vulnerable personal insight, and psychological depth, Rabbi Bernath explores the mystery of pain, the challenge of resilience, and the spiritual art of transforming darkness into light. You’ll walk away with a new perspective on your own struggles and perhaps, a new path to healing.


Key Takeaways:

Transformation, Not Avoidance:
True healing doesn’t come from avoiding our pain, but from facing it with courage and elevating it with meaning.

The Snake Above vs. the Snake Below:
The same experience can be seen from a higher or lower perspective. One brings despair; the other, depth.

The Poison Is the Cure:
Just like antivenom is made from venom, your healing may emerge from the very thing that once hurt you.

Don’t Run, Look Up:
When we stop running from the “snakes” in our lives and look upward—to G-d, to our higher selves—we discover the blessing buried in the bite.

Every Crisis Holds a Blessing:
Like Jacob wrestling the angel, we can say to our struggle: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That’s Jewish resilience.

You Are Sacred Even in Pain:
Sometimes the deepest truth is not an answer to your question, but the awareness that your soul is Divine, loved, and never alone.


#healing #Judaism #Jewish #coppersnake #healingthroughpain #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology #JewishResiliance #struggle #Redemption #divinepurpose #traumatotransformation #trauma #God #snake #parshatchukat #spritualgrowth 

Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/events

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Daily Jewish ThoughtBy [email protected] (Rabbi Yisroel Bernath)

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

49 ratings


More shows like Daily Jewish Thought

View all
The Rabbi Sacks Legacy by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

The Rabbi Sacks Legacy

545 Listeners

What Matters Now by The Times of Israel

What Matters Now

341 Listeners

The Tikvah Podcast by Tikvah

The Tikvah Podcast

623 Listeners

Orthodox Conundrum by Scott Kahn

Orthodox Conundrum

213 Listeners

Meaningful People by Meaningful Minute

Meaningful People

1,972 Listeners

For Heaven's Sake by Shalom Hartman Institute

For Heaven's Sake

433 Listeners

Unpacking Israeli History by Unpacked

Unpacking Israeli History

1,183 Listeners

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor by Ark Media, Ilan Benatar

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

3,230 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

1,089 Listeners

Chutzpod! by Chutzpod!

Chutzpod!

515 Listeners

Honestly with Bari Weiss by The Free Press

Honestly with Bari Weiss

8,822 Listeners

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam by Unpacked

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

140 Listeners

Here I Am With Shai Davidai by Shai Davidai

Here I Am With Shai Davidai

355 Listeners

Ask Haviv Anything by Haviv Rettig Gur

Ask Haviv Anything

816 Listeners

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt by Jonah Platt

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

472 Listeners