Israeli security forces have uncovered a chilling case involving a 14-year-old boy from Yaffo accused of cooperating with terrorist groups and plotting attacks within the country. The teenager, who was allegedly in contact with members of ISIS and Hamas, was arrested in Ramallah about two weeks ago during a coordinated operation conducted by the Shin Bet and Tel Aviv police.
According to the indictment, the minor allegedly served a foreign terror organization by performing a series of intelligence-gathering missions aimed at harming Israel’s national security. The youth is said to have filmed and transmitted images and videos of Israeli sites and buildings—including those tied to the nation’s security apparatus—to terrorist groups abroad.
Interrogators revealed that the boy openly stated his desire to become a “shahid” (martyr) and attack Israeli targets. He even described early efforts to assemble explosive devices, though authorities did not specify whether he had obtained materials.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court imposed a strict gag order to protect operational details and extended the suspect’s detention multiple times. Once the order was lifted, officials confirmed that investigators had extracted numerous digital files from his phone that substantiated the suspicions against him.
The police issued a sharp warning to the public following the case, cautioning that “Hostile terror and intelligence groups continue to try to recruit Israeli citizens, including through social media, to carry out espionage and terror tasks inside Israel. We call on the public to avoid any contact with foreign operatives and to report any suspicious communications.”
{Matzav.com}
WATCH:
New York City mayoral hopeful Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani sought to clarify a controversial remark he made two years ago, explaining that his statement about the NYPD’s “boot being laced by the IDF” referred to past training programs between the two forces—not ongoing collaboration.
During an interview on CNN’s AC360 Thursday night, host Anderson Cooper played a clip of Mamdani’s 2023 comments, in which he said, “I think that, for anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyper-local. We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF. We have to make, not specifically that example all the time, but just to say that, for working-class people who have very little time, who have so many stresses, who are under so many pressures, there isn’t that much time for symbolism. We have to make it materially connected to their life.”
Cooper then pressed him to explain what he meant by the statement, asking, “What does that mean? That was just two years ago, what does that mean that the boots of the NYPD have been laced by the IDF?”
Mamdani replied, “It was a reference to training exercises that have taken place between the NYPD and the IDF. And I’ve spoken, again –.”
Cooper interrupted with a follow-up question: “So, do you still believe that the NYPD is basically working hand in glove with the IDF?”
Mamdani responded, “No, what I’ve made very clear is those are training exercises that were a concern to me. And what my focus is, is on working with the NYPD to actually deliver public safety for New Yorkers across the five boroughs. And I’ve made the decision to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch because of her record in being able to deliver that safety, reducing crime across the five boroughs.”
{Matzav.com}
In a Thursday night appearance on CNN’s AC360, New York City mayoral contender Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani made it clear that, if elected, he would prevent the NYPD from collaborating with federal agencies on civil immigration enforcement. He argued that the department’s job is to focus on the city’s own issues rather than carry out federal directives.
Host Anderson Cooper pressed him on the subject, asking, “So, what do you do if he decides to — we already saw there was an ICE action on Canal Street. They said they were targeting undocumented immigrants who were selling counterfeit bags, which, on Canal Street, is kind of — there’s a long history of that, obviously. What do you do?”
Mamdani was quick to respond. “I think this is an example of what is unacceptable in this country. I think the first thing that you do is you close the door that Eric Adams opened to the NYPD doing civil immigration enforcement. He said that on national television. The second thing you do –.”
Before he could continue, Cooper interjected with a pointed question: “So, you would not allow the New York Police Department to engage or to cooperate with ICE or DHS?”
Mamdani replied decisively, “Not in civil immigration enforcement. We have sanctuary city laws where we’ve made very, very clear that, for a set of serious crimes, there is coordination with the federal administration. But anything beyond that, beyond that, I think, 172 crimes that are listed, that is something for the NYPD to focus on purely right here in New York City.”
Mamdani’s remarks drew a sharp line between federal immigration enforcement and local policing, underscoring his belief that New York’s sanctuary city policies should remain firm. By closing what he called the “door” opened by Mayor Eric Adams, Mamdani said he would return the NYPD’s priorities to serving New Yorkers exclusively — not acting as an arm of federal immigration authorities.
WATCH:
Rep. Ilhan Omar took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer this week, questioning why he has refused to endorse Democrat Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s upcoming mayoral race, Fox News reports. Speaking on CNN, Omar expressed frustration that Schumer has stayed silent while other top Democrats have stepped up to back the party’s nominee.
“Now, Hakeem Jeffries, your leader, has somewhat reluctantly, but has endorsed Zohran Mamdani, Chuck Schumer still has not. Why do you think Chuck Schumer has not endorsed Zohran Mamdani?” CNN host Kasie Hunt asked Omar.
“I really don‘t know. It makes no sense,” Omar said. “We as Democrats have always believed that, in an election, we support our party‘s nominee. Schumer has pressured other Democrats to do just that, and he should be following his own advice.”
Mamdani’s candidacy has been a lightning rod for controversy since his nomination, largely because of his hard-left agenda and open embrace of socialist principles. Party leaders have been divided over whether to rally behind him or distance themselves from his brand of progressive politics.
Hunt pressed further, asking Omar whether she believed religion might be a factor in Schumer’s hesitation. Omar didn’t mince words. “Well, the tsunami of the anti-Muslim attacks that we are seeing is deeply concerning. And I would hope that the Democratic leader in the Senate would recognize that and would offer support not just to Mamdani, but the million Muslims who live in New York City and the millions who live in New York and in America.”
The conversation then turned to one of the controversies surrounding Mamdani—his delayed response to condemning the slogan “Globalize the intifada.” Critics have argued that his handling of that issue exposed antisemitic undertones. Omar dismissed that line of criticism entirely.
“Well, everything he does or says seems to be called antisemitic,” Omar said as she scoffed. “What I do know is that he has support from a broad coalition of New Yorkers. He‘s got a huge coalition of Jewish voters that are supporting him. He‘s got a huge coalition of Muslims of every sect.
“He‘s got a huge coalition of young people who are supporting him. And the reason they are supporting him is not just because he‘s an exciting candidate to support. It’s because he took the time to listen where the policy pains were for New Yorkers. And he‘s offering a solution for them. They see hope in the kind of progress that he could create for New Yorkers.”
The interview concluded with Hunt bringing up Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has not only endorsed Mamdani but has also campaigned for him. Hunt asked whether Omar would support Ocasio-Cortez challenging Schumer for his Senate seat.
“I would like Alex to do whatever it is that Alex wants, and I‘ll be there to support her,” Omar replied.
As the chill of November nears and daylight fades earlier each evening, Americans are once again preparing to adjust their clocks. The end of daylight saving time marks the seasonal shift that grants everyone an extra hour of rest — at least for one weekend.
Daylight saving time officially concludes on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks will “fall back” by one hour. The switch always takes place on the first Sunday of November and resumes on the second Sunday of March.
For those wondering how it works, daylight saving time runs from spring through early fall, when clocks are moved ahead one hour in March to make better use of evening sunlight. When November arrives, the process reverses, bringing earlier sunrises — and darker afternoons.
Although the term “daylight savings time” is frequently used, especially in the United States, Canada, and Australia, the correct name is actually daylight saving time — singular, not plural.
The debate over whether to end the twice-yearly clock changes has persisted for years, and even reached the attention of President Donald Trump. He’s voiced support in the past for abolishing the system altogether, arguing that the constant adjustments are a nuisance.
“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate daylight saving time,” Trump said on Truth Social in December 2024. “Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”
However, Trump later acknowledged that the issue isn’t as simple as it seems. In an interview earlier this year, he admitted that public opinion is split. “This should be the easiest one of all, but it’s a 50-50 issue. If something’s a 50-50 issue, it’s hard to get excited. I assume people would like to have more light later, but some people want to have more light earlier, because they don’t want to take their kids to school in the dark,” Trump said in March, according to Reuters. “A lot of people like it one way, a lot of people like it the other way, it’s very even.”
His comments echoed remarks he made years earlier, when he encouraged lawmakers in both chambers of Congress to consider extending evening daylight permanently. As the clocks prepare to roll back again, it seems the debate over whether to keep or scrap the practice will keep circling — much like time itself.
{Matzav.com}
During an appearance on Miranda Devine’s Pod Force One this week, Vice President JD Vance spoke candidly about his curiosity regarding UFOs and his belief that there are mysterious, unseen forces at play in the world around us.
The conversation took a lighter, more spiritual turn when Devine described herself as a “mad UFO-lunatic.” Vance laughed in response, saying, “Me too.” From there, the discussion delved into what he called the “spiritual forces working on the physical world.”
Vance shared that he’s long been fascinated by unexplained phenomena and even discussed the topic with Secretary of State Marco Rubio back when both served in the Senate. Rubio, he noted, “is really into” UFOs. The senator appears in the trailer for Age of Disclosure, a documentary that includes testimony from top government officials who suggest there may be “other worldly things” beyond our understanding.
The topic of extraterrestrial life led Devine to mention Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, another member of the Trump administration who has publicly acknowledged the possibility of life beyond Earth.
“It’s interesting,” Vance said thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t say that I do or don’t believe it.” He continued, “I’m a big believer that there are things out there that we can’t explain. And so, if another person sees an alien, maybe I see an angel or a demon.”
He expanded on that idea: “So I’m a big believer that there are, like, spiritual forces working on the physical world that a lot of us don’t see and a lot of us don’t understand and a lot of us don’t appreciate.”
Though Vance said he hasn’t yet had the opportunity to explore the topic deeply, the fascination remains. “There’s an interest there, an intrigue, but I haven’t really had the time to dig in,” he admitted. With a laugh, he added, “There’s this crazy person inside me, and I’ll put the tinfoil hat on from time to time.” Still, he said that despite his schedule, he plans to “get to the bottom of this.”
Public fascination with UFOs has surged in recent months, fueled in part by new policies under the Trump administration. In June, the White House announced an initiative to “restore American airspace sovereignty,” aimed at strengthening control over U.S. skies amid growing concerns about unidentified and unmanned aerial systems.
The new task force seeks to tighten security around critical infrastructure and advance drone detection technology. According to the National UFO Reporting Center, reports of unusual aerial sightings have risen dramatically—more than 2,000 incidents were logged in just the first six months of 2025.
{Matzav.com}
Republican leaders control both chambers of Congress but still face a procedural roadblock in the Senate: the so-called “filibuster” — the rule that effectively requires 60 votes to pass most measures. With a 53-47 Republican edge in the Senate and a 219-213 margin in the House, party control has not translated into easy legislative wins.
The standoff has had tangible economic consequences. The partial government closure entered its 30th day Thursday, and analysts warn the halt in federal spending could shave as much as 2% off fourth-quarter GDP — a hit the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office pegs at between $7 billion and $14 billion.
President Donald Trump pushed a drastic remedy on Thursday, urging Republicans to eliminate the Senate’s obstructionary practice immediately. “It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He expanded on that message later in a lengthy Truth Social post late Thursday night, arguing that recent foreign visits and domestic politics shaped his view:
“I just got back from Asia where I met the Leaders of many Countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and others. It was a Great Honor to meet them but, more particularly, to see that America is respected again — RESPECTED LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Great Trade Deals were made, Long Term relationships now exist, and money is pouring into our Country because of Tariffs and, frankly, the Landslide Results of the 2024 Presidential Election. The one question that kept coming up, however, was how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America, and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it? The fact is, in flying back, I thought a great deal about that question, WHY?
Majority Leader John Thune, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, are doing a GREAT job, but the Democrats are Crazed Lunatics that have lost all sense of WISDOM and REALITY. It is a sick form of the now “legendary” Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) that only comes from losing too much. They want Trillions of Dollars to be taken from our Healthcare System and given to others, who are not deserving — People who have come into our Country illegally, many from prisons and mental institutions. This will hurt American citizens, and Republicans will not let it happen. It is now time for the Republicans to play their “TRUMP CARD,” and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW! Just a short while ago, the Democrats, while in power, fought for three years to do this, but were unable to pull it off because of Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Never have the Democrats fought so hard to do something because they knew the tremendous strength that terminating the Filibuster would give them. They want to substantially expand (PACK!) the United States Supreme Court, make Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico States (Thereby automatically picking up 4 Senate seats, many House seats, and at least 8 Electoral Votes!), and many other highly destructive things. Well, now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying “SHUT DOWN.” If the Democrats ever came back into power, which would be made easier for them if the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it. In addition to all of the other things we would get, such as the best Judges, the best U.S. Attorneys, the best of everything, this was a concept from years ago of then President Barack Hussein Obama and former Majority Leader Harry Reid in order to take advantage of the Republicans. Now I want to do it in order to take advantage of the Democrats. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD “CRAZY,” THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE “NUCLEAR OPTION,” GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli authorities released new information Thursday evening about the tragic December 8, 2023, rescue mission that ended in the death of hostage Sachar Baruch, just as his body was being brought back to Israel under the latest agreement with Hamas.
The failed operation took place deep inside the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where an elite Sayeret Matkal commando team stormed a building in a daring attempt to free Baruch. The mission quickly escalated into a fierce gun battle with Hamas terrorists. Amid the heavy exchange of fire, Baruch lost his life.
The day after the operation, Hamas announced that Baruch had been killed, a statement later confirmed by the IDF, which publicly acknowledged both the attempted rescue and its devastating result.
An internal military inquiry was immediately launched to determine the exact cause of Baruch’s death. Investigators have yet to establish whether he was fatally struck by Hamas gunfire or inadvertently caught in IDF crossfire during the intense battle.
Seeking to preserve their son’s memory, the Baruch family formally petitioned the IDF to declare that Sahar was murdered while being held captive.
On Thursday evening, Baruch’s remains were handed over to Israel as part of the ongoing hostage deal with Hamas. His body was transferred to the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine, where experts are conducting tests that may shed light on how he died.
Baruch, 25, had been abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 massacre. He and his brother Idan tried desperately to flee their burning home after it was set ablaze by Hamas terrorists. Only Idan survived.
{Matzav.com}
By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
There are words we use so often that, over time, they begin to lose their meaning. They become part of our vocabulary, but not our consciousness. One such word is nisayon.
We hear it frequently. When someone faces a difficult period — illness, financial strain, emotional pain, or disappointment — we nod and say, “It’s a nisayon.” The word rolls easily off our tongues. It comforts, in a way, because it reminds us that Hakadosh Boruch Hu is involved. But do we truly understand what a nisayon is?
Most of us assume that a nisayon means a test, that Hashem is testing us to see how we’ll respond. Will we overcome the challenge or succumb to it? Will we pass or fail?
But a nisayon is far more than a test. It is a window into the very purpose of life itself.
The concept of nisayon first appears at the beginning of this week’s parsha. Hashem tells Avrohom Avinu, “Lech lecha mei’artzecha umimoladetecha umibais avicha — Go for yourself, from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s home, to the land that I will show you.”
This command marks the beginning of Avrohom’s lifelong journey and is one of his ten nisyonos. Since we were children, we were taught that Hashem tested Avrohom ten times and he passed them all. Because of this, he became the father of Yahadus and the paradigm of spiritual greatness.
It sounds straightforward: Hashem gave him tests, he passed, and he earned the title of tzaddik. Like a student earning a degree, he met each challenge and received his diploma in righteousness.
But that understanding misses something essential.
The Ramban (Bereishis 22:1), in discussing the Akeidah, teaches that a nisayon is not a test in the way we usually think of tests. Hashem, after all, already knows whether a person will succeed or fail. The nisayon is not for Hashem to learn something about us. It is for us to learn something about ourselves and to raise ourselves. It is an opportunity to be rewarded for righteous actions and not merely have the reward of having good intentions.
The Ramban explains that through a nisayon, Hashem brings forth a person’s hidden potential. A nisayon is an opportunity to translate good intentions into good actions. It takes what is dormant inside us, the strengths we may not even realize we possess, and brings them to life. A nisayon is an opportunity for growth. A person grows by maintaining his faith and determination as he acts and reacts properly even in difficult situations.
Hashem gives nisyonos only to the righteous, writes the Ramban, because He knows that they will rise to the occasion. The wicked, who would crumble under the weight of challenge, are spared. For the tzaddik, the nisayon is a gift, a catalyst for spiritual growth.
In this light, a nisayon is not a punishment, not a trap, and not a test of loyalty. It is a Divine expression of confidence. Hashem, Who knows us better than we know ourselves, hands us a situation and says, “You can do this. I placed within you the strength to shine. And I will reward you for it.”
The Meshech Chochmah explains that Hashem’s words to Avrohom, “Lech lecha el ha’aretz asher areka — Go to the land that I will show you,” can also be understood allegorically. The “land” represents the inner landscape of a person’s soul. Hashem was telling Avrohom: “Go and I will show you who you are. Go forth from the comfort of the familiar and you will discover the untapped greatness that lies within you.”
Each nisayon is a journey into our own undiscovered aretz asher areka, the place within us that we only see when we walk with faith into the unknown.
Every generation has its own nisyonos. In ours, the nature of the challenges has shifted, but the essence remains the same. People struggle with anxiety, family discord, confusion, loss, and feelings of inadequacy. Some attribute their struggles to past trauma or external forces, feeling trapped in cycles they cannot control.
There are also the unique situations that people face, such as the inability to earn enough to survive in our expensive world, being confronted with the pain of betrayal, the sting of duplicity, loneliness, and a host of prevalent social and financial issues.
But a person of emunah understands differently. He recognizes that nothing is random. Every difficulty is placed before us for a reason. Every moment of pain is part of a larger, loving plan designed by Hashem Himself.
When a person experiences suffering, he can choose one of two paths. He can view himself as a victim, chained to circumstances and wounded by others, or he can see himself as a beloved child of Hashem, entrusted with a personal nisayon crafted for his growth.
The first path leads to bitterness. The second leads to greatness, a good life strengthened.
We see this again later in the parsha at the Bris Bein Habesorim. Hashem revealed to Avrohom that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land, enslaved and afflicted for four hundred years. Naturally, Avrohom was gripped by dread: “Vehinei eimah chasheicha gedolah nofeles olov.” The future of his children was dark and painful.
Yet, astonishingly, Avrohom found comfort. How could he be comforted by the knowledge of suffering? Because Hashem also told him that the exile would end with redemption: “V’acharei chein yeitzu b’rechush gadol.” There was meaning. There was purpose. There was a plan.
Although Hashem told him that his children would be oppressed for four hundred years, Avrohom was comforted because he was told that it was part of a greater plan. Four hundred years of enslavement should be crushing. The revelation that his people would be subject to such confinement and abuse should have caused Avrohom more pain. But he accepted it, for he knew that it was the will of Hashem and not something caused by happenstance. Although he was promised Eretz Yisroel, Avrohom was comforted, as he knew that there were many Divine calculations that determined the length of the exile. It wasn’t how he had envisioned it, and there would be many years of pain and deprivation, but he was happy, for he now knew that there were more factors involved in Hashem’s plan than he could fathom.
It wasn’t the ending Avrohom had imagined. It was slower, harder, and filled with tears. But because it was Hashem’s will, it was good. That realization was enough to bring him peace.
Many of our modern disappointments stem from misplaced expectations. We assume that life is supposed to be smooth, and that if we do what’s right, we deserve comfort, success, and happiness. People are sad and feel unfulfilled because they think that they are entitled to the perfect job, family, children, neighborhood and life.
And when life doesn’t follow that script, we feel cheated.
But that’s not the Torah’s definition of a “happy ending.” A happy ending is not one without pain. It’s one with purpose.
We find joy when we stop fighting Hashem’s plan and start embracing it. When we understand that the perfect life is not the one without challenges, but the one that uses those challenges as steps toward growth. We find happiness when we stop comparing our journey to others and realize that each person’s nisayon is tailored for him by the One Who knows us best. When we realize that a perfect life is one that embraces the challenges that it confronts, we can begin to anticipate achieving joy and inner peace.
Before World War II, one of the most dreaded pieces of mail a young man in Eastern Europe could receive was a draft notice from the Russian army. Once drafted, a Jew faced years of deprivation and danger, physically and spiritually.
A group of bochurim who had received draft notices traveled to the Chofetz Chaim for a brocha. The saintly gaon assured them that they would all be spared. But then he took one young man aside and said to him, “Es iz nisht geferlach if you are drafted. A person can be mekadeish Sheim Shomayim wherever he is. And while there, he can help others keep mitzvos.”
As it turned out, every one of those bochurim was spared, except that one. He was drafted into the army, where hunger, cold, and loneliness became his constant companions. One day, while stationed near a small town with a Jewish community, he shared his pain with the local rov, telling him about his loneliness and difficulty being a shomer Torah umitzvos. The rov was moved and decided to help. Through much effort, he and several askonim succeeded in persuading the authorities to permit kosher food for Jewish soldiers.
In time, the bochur convinced over forty Jewish boys to begin eating kosher.
The Chofetz Chaim’s words had come true. Hashem had a shlichus for him — to sanctify His Name in a place of darkness. His nisayon was his mission. His hardship was his opportunity. If you are destined to be in the army and can be mekadeish Hashem and encourage people to do mitzvos during your period there, then you have passed your test and fulfilled your responsibly and obligation.
We sometimes wonder how we can celebrate Purim with unbridled joy when we know the end of Esther Hamalkah’s personal story. The salvation of Klal Yisroel came at tremendous cost. Esther remained bound to Achashveirosh for the rest of her life. How can such an ending be happy?
Perhaps the answer lies in understanding nisayon. Esther’s joy was not in her comfort, but in her clarity. She knew that she was precisely where Hashem wanted her to be. Her shlichus was to serve as the queen, even at personal sacrifice. Knowing that, she could live with serenity and meaning. That knowledge itself was her happiness.
The Chovos Halevavos teaches that the person who has proper bitachon is the most joyous of all. Why? Because he lives with the confidence that everything that happens is orchestrated by Hashem for his good. The one who trusts doesn’t need to control the story. He just needs to play his role faithfully.
Rav Nissim Karelitz once recalled an unforgettable experience that occurred when he went to visit his uncle, the Chazon Ish, whose yahrtzeit falls this week. The Chazon Ish, frail and weak, expressed a desire to visit his sister and brother-in-law, Rav Nochum Meir, who lived far from him in Bnei Brak, a long, difficult walk for a man in his condition.
Despite his weakness, they set out together. After a few minutes, the Chazon Ish needed to rest. They found a fallen log and he sat down to regain his strength. Then he rose and walked a bit further, until he again had to stop and rest. This happened several times. Slowly, painfully, but persistently, they made their way across town.
When they finally arrived, the Chazon Ish turned to his nephew and smiled. “Do you see that?” he said. “We made it. Az men geit, kumt men un. When you go, you arrive.”
Then he added, “If I had stayed home, I might have sat there for twenty more years. But because I began to go, I arrived. Maybe slowly, maybe with rests along the way, but I arrived. The main thing is to begin.”
That line — “Az men geit, kumt men un” — carries a world of meaning. In life, there are days when everything feels heavy, when learning doesn’t flow, when the work doesn’t succeed, and when the heart feels drained. But the difference between those who reach greatness and those who remain stagnant is not that the great never feel weak. It’s that they go anyway.
The Chazon Ish, always weak and often bedridden, never viewed his frailty as an obstacle. He saw it as his nisayon. He didn’t bemoan his limitations. He used them as tools for ascent. Through perseverance, he became the spiritual father of a generation — not because his path was smooth, but because he kept walking.
Avrohom Avinu implanted this strength into the spiritual DNA of Klal Yisroel. The ability to withstand trial, to persevere, to believe in purpose even in the midst of pain — it all comes from him. Every Jew carries that inner spark, that inherited courage.
Our nisyonos are not interruptions to life. They are the very reason we are here. Hashem places us in specific circumstances to bring out our best — to reveal the aretz asher areka within each of us.
The Mesilas Yeshorim (Perek 1) writes that a person was created “to be mekayeim the mitzvos, serve Hashem, and withstand the nisyonos that he faces…” He says that every situation in life is a nisayon given to us to overcome. This is true regarding things that are good and things that aren’t. Whether a person is poor or rich, peaceful or troubled, everything in life is a nisayon, an invitation to choose faith, to choose action, to choose growth.
If, in a time of nisayon, we follow the yeitzer hara and focus on what’s missing, we will fall into despair and not accomplish much. But when we look at life through the lens of Hashgocha Protis, seeing every moment as a personal message from Hashem, we can handle whatever comes our way. We can live with meaning, strength, and joy.
The Torah’s lessons in Bereishis are not theoretical. They are blueprints for living. Avrohom’s journey began with two simple words: “Lech lecha — Go forth.” Every Jew has his own lech lecha, his own journey toward purpose. The path is usually not easy, but it is always meaningful.
When we meet hardship with emunah, we reveal who we are. When we accept our nisyonos as Divine gifts, we uncover reserves of courage and faith we never knew we possessed. And when we take that first step forward — even slowly, even trembling — we honor Avrohom’s legacy and fulfill our own.
May we all merit to learn the lessons of our forefather Avrohom, to see Hashem’s hand in every nisayon, and to walk our paths with strength, serenity, and joy, confident that every step we take brings us closer to the destination He has prepared for us.
Az men geit, kumt men un. When you go, you arrive.
May we all merit lives of happiness and fulfillment and be zocheh to welcome Moshiach.
{Matzav.com}
