Insight of the Week

You’re Not Bearing the Burden Alone (From 2022)


Listen Later

Parashat Naso includes birkat kohanim – the special blessing with which the kohanim are commanded to bless the rest of the nation. The first portion of this berachah is: יברכך ה' וישמרך – "G-d shall bless you and protect you" (6:24). Rashi explains this to mean that Hashem should bless us with material prosperity, and then protect it for us. Normally, Rashi writes, when a person gives his fellow a gift, the giver's involvement ends the moment the gift is given. It is now entirely up to the recipient to do with the gift what he wants, and to take care of it. It can be stolen, it can be misused, it can be damaged, it can be lost, it can end up causing harm in some way. The kohanim bless the people that Hashem will not only give them money and possessions, but also protect these gifts for them. Hashem does not leave us after giving us a gift. He stays with us, guarding it and protecting it. We've all received many gifts. Our spouse, our children, our homes, our careers or businesses, our friends, our community – everything we have is a gift from Hashem. And, as we all know, these gifts can often be difficult to handle. Raising children in today's day and age is very, very hard, and fraught with challenges. Full-time jobs are often very demanding, and take up our entire day. Every businessman knows how much stress and pressure is involved in running a business. Our close-knit community is wonderful, but with so many people knowing each other and working with one another, complicated and uncomfortable situations arise. We have so many blessings, but with those blessings come numerous challenges. This is particularly felt when one is privileged to make a simchah , like marrying off a child. Nowadays, the logistics involved in making a wedding are overwhelming. There are so many details that need to be ironed out, so many different people that we are trying to please, accommodate, and avoid offending, and so many different pieces that need to fit into the puzzle. What should be the happiest time in our lives can easily become the most stressful time. We need to remember that Hashem stays with us after giving us a gift. He doesn't just hand it to us and go away. We are not shouldering the burden by ourselves. Whatever it is that we're struggling with, we must realize that we are not alone. Hashem is by our side, carrying the weight of the responsibility with us. Once we realize this, and we turn to Him in prayer and ask for His help, the burden becomes so much easier to handle. We will then be able to truly enjoy and cherish all the blessings in our lives, without seeing them turn into sources of stress and hardship.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Insight of the WeekBy Rabbi Joey Haber

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

13 ratings


More shows like Insight of the Week

View all
The Office of Rabbi Sacks by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

The Office of Rabbi Sacks

535 Listeners

All Classes by Rabbi YY Jacobson

All Classes

368 Listeners

The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast by Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz

The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

234 Listeners

Meaningful People by Meaningful Minute

Meaningful People

1,969 Listeners

18Forty Podcast by 18Forty

18Forty Podcast

654 Listeners

Behind the Bima by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

Behind the Bima

556 Listeners

TorahAnytime Daily Dose by TorahAnytime.com

TorahAnytime Daily Dose

43 Listeners

Unpacking Israeli History by Unpacked

Unpacking Israeli History

1,122 Listeners

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor by Ark Media

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

3,066 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

1,033 Listeners

Kiddush Club - News for Jews by KiddushClubPodcast.com

Kiddush Club - News for Jews

207 Listeners

Kosher Money by Living Lchaim

Kosher Money

813 Listeners

Gedale Fenster - Podcast by Gedale Fenster - Podcast

Gedale Fenster - Podcast

375 Listeners

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer by Living Lchaim

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer

1,078 Listeners

Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko by Meaningful Minute

Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko

278 Listeners