Finding Hope in the Midst of Crisis
Wanted to share a piece I wrote for the Philadelphia Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia about finding hope in the midst of crisis
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It has been more than a month since the first anniversary of Oct. 7. Since the attacks, we have been living with all of the challenges of the post-Oct. 7 world. From the struggles facing Jews in Israel to the rising antisemitism that we face here in North America, it’s ok to say that many of us feel exhausted, confounded and even hopeless about the enormity of what our community faces.
Personally, I feel a sense of disbelief that we’re here. It’s as though the old stories of what it meant to be Jewish have become heartbreakingly new all over again.
So, where can we find hope and resilience in this difficult time?
As the Chief Jewish Learning Officer for the Jewish Federations of North America, my work centers on building Jewish learning and growth opportunities for professional and volunteer leaders across North America. Naturally, the question of how to find hope and resilience is a frequent topic in our conversations. Today, I want to share a piece of Jewish wisdom that has been a source of strength for me over the past year and that I’ve shared with leaders across the continent.
In the Talmud (Tractate Brachot 5a-5b), there’s a strange, troubling, and fascinating discussion that begins with a theological debate: Why do good people suffer and face challenges in their lives?
The initial answer might feel unsatisfying: suffering, they say, could be a form of divine punishment. Perhaps one hasn’t done enough mitzvot, like studying Torah or giving tzedakah. But then the rabbis take the conversation further, introducing an even more challenging idea.
They suggest that if someone is doing everything right and still suffers, it must be because of something called “issurin shel ahava,” or “sufferings of love.” In other words, if you’re righteous and still face challenges, it must be some form of divine love – G-d bringing challenges to those G-d loves the most.
For many of us, myself included, this explanation creates more challenges than it solves. The idea that suffering might be a form of divine love feels inadequate and far from comforting. Remarkably, even the rabbis of the Talmud seem dissatisfied with this conclusion.
What follows in the Talmud is a series of stories that seem to undercut the theology they’ve just proposed.
In these stories, three rabbis fall ill and are visited by their peers. Each time, the visiting rabbi asks, "Are these sufferings dear to you?” The question assumes that suffering is a form of divine love. Yet each of the sick rabbis responds in the same way: “Neither they nor their reward.” In other words, they reject the notion that their suffering is desirable, essentially saying that they would rather be healthy and untroubled than be the unlucky recipients of such “love.”
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What happens next is profound: upon hearing this answer, each visiting rabbi reaches out a hand to help the suffering rabbi heal.
I love this narrative for three key reasons, each offering guidance for navigating today’s challenges.
Pragmatic Realism - The rabbis' response is refreshingly honest. They don’t try to sugarcoat suffering or offer hollow platitudes. Suffering is hard, unwelcome and an inevitable part of life. Acknowledging this reality has a certain power and wisdom – it allows us to sit with the truth rather than grasp for easy answers.
The Power of Presence - The Talmud reminds us that the best response to suffering is to show up. When we face challenges, suffering is always harder in isolation. Hope and resilience come from connection – being in the community and creating spaces where others can feel supported and seen.
Action Over Words - Sometimes, words fail. There is no magic phrase that can erase pain. But we can always reach out, literally or figuratively, to help lift someone up. Taking action – even small steps – expresses love, support and solidarity. After acknowledging the difficulty, we can move forward by joining hands with others and putting one foot in front of the other, even without knowing exactly where the path leads.
The difficulties we face as Jews today are not simple, and there are no quick fixes. These struggles will likely persist for a long time to come.
But in the face of this, we can choose to show up for one another. Let’s resist the temptation to assign blame or search for simple answers. Instead, let us offer help when we can and accept help when we need it. Together, we can walk through this period of difficulty with strength and in solidarity.
Finally, let’s take heart that we are not alone. We are part of a community grounded in thousands of years of Jewish wisdom – wisdom that continues to guide us toward hope, even in the most challenging times.
Rabbi Mike Uram
Chief Jewish Learning Officer
Jewish Federations of North America
Data Engineer at 10alytics
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