Everything
happens for a reason. If you don’t think so, just ask Solomon
Radasky.
Solomon Radasky is from Warsaw. He is a furrier who made fur coats for
a living. He has strived
to live out his Jewish faith through obedience and heartfelt devotion. When the Warsaw uprising began during
World War Two, Solomon was outside of the city and not allowed to
return. He was shot in the ankle, captured by
the Germans, and taken along with 20,000 other Hebrews by train to
the Treblinka concentration camp.
Here at Treblinka 10,000 Jews could be exterminated in one
day.
Of the
20,000 captured that day Solomon was part of the second 10,000 that
would be killed next. Somehow though, they were spared. This 10,000 would be sent to a work site
where they were all issued striped clothes and wooden shoes. At this work site an older Hebrew man
operated on Solomon’s ankle wound with a rusty old pocketknife. Just the fact that a Jew held hostage
by the Nazis still had a pocketknife was a miracle. This operation of sorts wasn’t safe, but
it was all that could or would be done to the injury. The ex-doctor told Solomon to use his
urination as an anti-biotic to fight against infection. Solomon also had to hide his pain. If the Germans knew he was injured they
would execute him on the spot.
They wanted healthy workers at this fieldwork site. With his injured ankle Solomon and the
others would walk 3 kilometers each day back and forth to work. The Nazis made them take off their shoes
and walk barefoot over briars, glass, and the like.
It came
to pass one day that as Solomon and the others were walking back to
camp one of the Jews lit a cigarette. This infuriated the German overseer who
then said that the guilty smoker would either confess or 10 “dogs”
would die. The Germans
called the Jews “dogs” and of course no one spoke up to claim the
smoke. Solomon was one of the “dogs” who were
chosen to be murdered there on the spot.
Before being executed the ten were brutally beaten and then
prepared to be hung. With
a noose around his neck Solomon prepared to meet his Maker.
The end of the torture had finally come. Death was knocking at his door again.
Then,
all of a sudden the execution was halted as a senior officer claimed
he had to take a large portion of the group to Auschwitz.
He could not take dead Jews to the concentration camp.
So Solomon’s life was spared another time. The train ride to Auschwitz was two long
nights and a day without food or water.
The group arrived at Auschwitz, had a number tattooed on their
arms, and were assigned duties.
Through an odd turn of events Solomon was “privileged” to dig
sand to cover the ashes of the Jews killed in the gas chambers.
Time passed and Solomon was transferred again to another camp,
this time he would be given a pick and told to help repair the damage
done by American airplane bombings.
On May 1, 1945 a miracle took place on a train ride to work in the
city of Tutzing. The
train was stopped by a group of American soldiers. The soldiers brought liberation to Solomon
and the other Jews. After
years of torture they were finally free. Solomon’s parents, brothers,
sister, aunts and uncles all were murdered by the Nazis during the
Holocaust of World War Two.
Out of the 78 people in his entire family he is the sole survivor. Solomon’s story is one of millions who
lost they had and all they knew.
Yet he and others were somehow able to hold on to hope and
live to tell the story. All
of this happened to Solomon for a reason.
It has made him into the person he is today.
(For more on Solomon’s survival and other stories like his
visit www.holocaustsurvivors.org.)
Asking the question, “Why
did Solomon Radasky have to go through the pain and torture of the
Nazi holocaust?” is similar to wondering why Yoseph had to experience
the trials of being sold into slavery and eventually imprisoned for
many years. Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper?
Why must terrible events take place in the world of moral people?
Why? If you have ever asked yourself these
questions then take heart, you are not alone. Everyone wonders these things. During the events of this week’s Torah
parasha, surely Yoseph had to ask himself “why?”
The single
answer to this age-old question is simple.
The answer is “because.”
Everything that happens in your life, from the situations you
find yourself in now to what you will face ten years from tomorrow
happens because. Because
why? Well this is simply
because life on the planet earth operates within the certain undeniable
principle of light and darkness.
The principle
of light and darkness
The purpose
behind the experiences of Solomon Radasky, Yoseph, and yourself are
to expose the light of Yahweh.
Rabbi
Yehuda Berg teaches in his book “The 72 Names of G/d” that “humans
were created with two distinct aspects to their nature – darkness
and light. The darkness
is in the human ego – as in Everybody’s Got One. This is also where the light hides. Light is in the human soul, which is obscured
by the ego. The purpose
of your existence is to allow the full intensity of light to shine
in your life and in this world.
You have two ways to conduct your life:
1) Through your
ego, doubting or oblivious to the truth of the Light, considering
only yourself.
2) Through the
humility of your soul, constantly finding the Light and considering
the needs of others
Your career,
your family, and your friends are here for one purpose – to provide
the opportunity for you to carry out your personal transformation,
they give you the chance to let go of your ego, selfishness, and envy,
and in turn, find the Light.” These two aspects of the human nature
are the flesh and the spirit, the yetzer hara and the yetzer tov. Believers in Messiah are not to live in
darkness but walk in the Light.
“You are all sons of the light and
sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness,”
1 Thessalonians 5:5.
The events
of your life shape your character and personality into what it is
today. "In every sorrow
there is profit," says Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:23. Surely Solomon and Yoseph understood the
principle that Light comes from the darkness.
At the
end
This week’s
parasha is called “miketz” which literally means “at the end.”
This portion begins with the verse that says, “at the end of
two years.” It had been two years since Yoseph had
correctly interpreted a pair of dreams from the chief cupbearer and
the baker. These were
two full years of imprisonment, darkness, and loneliness.
During this time Yoseph learns to control his selfish, sinful
nature and release the Light of Yahweh.
Yoseph discovers that it’s the events of your life that make
you who you are. Yoseph now understands that it is not
anything in him that can interpret the dreams; rather it is the Almighty’s
power working through him.
When Yoseph is brought
out of the pit of prison and before Pharaoh it is like déjà vu all
over again.
Pharaoh reveals his two nightmares
and then says the same exact words the cupbearer and baker used.
Pharaoh said, “no one can interpret” his dreams in Beresheet
41:15. What is amazing about this event is that
though the situation is the same Yoseph responds differently. He does not respond has as he did in the
past. No, Yoseph has
changed. Yoseph has learned to release the Light.
He does not say “relate it to me” like he done so in the past
to the cupbearer and the baker. This time Yoseph tells Pharaoh “Elohim
will answer.” Instead
of hiding the Light with ego and selfish ambition Yoseph points Pharaoh
to the Light.
The Light of Torah
In the
Scriptures, Light is the Hebrew word “ore.”
According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary
“ore” literally means “to be luminous literally and metaphorically:
break of day, glorious, kindle, set on fire, shine.”
The word “ore” appears 5 times on the first day of creation,
representing the 5 books of the Torah that bring Light to the world.
Light is also used as a synonym or Hebrew idiom for the Torah. So when the scriptures speak of Light
they are in fact many times speaking of the Word of Yahweh, the Torah. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light (Torah) unto my path,” says Tehillim (Psalm) 119.
Light
is also symbolic of the Messiah Yahshua.
“When Yahshua spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the
light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life,” Yochannan 8:12. So, light symbolizes Torah and light symbolizes
Yahshua. This makes since
because Yahshua is the living Torah!
In the Sermon on the
Mount Yahshua told his followers to let their light shine.
He was saying to let their Torah observance shine as a witness
to everyone that the Messiah has come. Yahshua was reminding them of the principle
that inside man is the darkness of the flesh yet inside man was ability
to choose Light. “Let
your light (Torah) so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Mattitiyahu 5:16
When Light/Torah/Yahshua penetrates
through the darkness, lives are changed, hurts are healed, and people
understand their purpose in life.
Yoseph went through many trials, which in turn brought forth
much Light. The trials you are going through now are
happening for the same reason.
What happens in your life occurs to bring forth Light. This doesn’t mean Yahweh has caused the
events that are occurring but He has allowed it. It occurs to provide you an opportunity
to grow. Hardships and
suffering fan the flame of Light in the darkness of your world.
How to shine the light
Friend, light and darkness
cannot coexist at the same time.
Remember that in the beginning the Father said “let their be
Light” and from the darkness came Light.
Well, by simply understanding how Light shines you will discover
your destiny as a person and find fulfillment in your life.
How does the Light of Messiah shine?
First of all, when you have a sickness,
hardship, trial, problem, or area of conflict don’t immediately ask
Yahweh to remove it. When
you have a bad day, don’t go into super rebuking mode and cast out
everything including the demon of wrinkled clothes.
Before you pray to the Father to release you from a sickness,
hardship, or circumstance first ask Him what you are supposed to learn
from it. Maybe you are going through something
just to learn a specific lesson in the process. “Trials and difficulties mark the beginnings
of darkness, but there is always the Light of salvation to look forward
to even as the sons of Israel were brought out of Egypt at night in
Devarim 16:1,” wrote Avi Ben Mordechai.
Remember that Yahshua knew about the trials of Kefa (Peter). Yahshua knew in advance that Kefa would
be tempted to deny the Messiah but Yahshua did not pray that the trials
would be removed. Instead
Yahshua prayed that Kefa’s “faith would remain.”
Kefa needed the trials to prove his faith!
Light also comes forth when a person
goes through either a spiritual transformation or suffering. Light is blocked when a person walks in
the flesh and fulfills the lusts of the soul.
Rabbi Berg teaches that, “when we
suffer we experience pain, when we undergo grief and heartache, the
hurting actually purges ego and self-interest from our nature. The soul- our true self – shines brighter
at that moment. This
is why we suddenly feel a sense of love and unity with others when
planes crash into buildings and those buildings collapse on national
television. This is why we feel a shift in our priorities
when the rubble of human remains litters the landscape as a result
of war, terror, or tragic accidents.
Our egos diminish from the emotional pain and our souls suddenly
blossom.” Suffering brings
people to the revelation and understanding that life is not all about
satisfying selfish desires and ambition.
The Almighty uses suffering to call people back to Himself,
to humble people to the realization that life is not all about self.
Pain brings revelation of human nature
but the pain lessons over time.
The pain is forgotten and forsaken for selfishness, sinful
actions and thought. Don’t you know that churches are full
of people when there is a national tragedy?
Many spend time at the altar confessing a “spiritual” renewal
but a few weeks later those same people are nowhere to be found when
the church bell rings. Nothing
lasting has taken place because the truth of the Light, the Torah
is not taught. The light of suffering will
soon diminish and people will return to their old ways.
Suffering is temporary and so the
light of suffering is temporary.
A person stays humble for only so long.
Darkness soon overtakes the light as the pain of tragedy is
forgotten and there is a return to walking in the flesh and looking
out for self.
Let it shine, let is shine,
let it shine
To turn the Light switch
on indefinitely you must experience a spiritual transformation akin
to the caterpillar transforming into the butterfly.
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let
us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Torah/Yahshua).
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and
drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension
and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with Adon Moshiach
Yahshua, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the
sinful nature,” Romans 12:12-13.
Your life must change from going with the flow of the
flesh to submitting to the Torah if you want the Light of Messiah
to shine for good.
To keep the power of the light shinning
you should be like Solomon Radasky and Yoseph – you should learn from
your pain and experience the life-changing presence of the Almighty.
You must
deny yourself and follow the Messiah; follow the Torah; follow the
Light. “This is the
message we have heard from him and declare to you: Yahweh is light;
in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not live by the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua, his Son, purifies
us from all sin,” 1 Yochannan 1:5-7.
Pain is evitable.
The experiences of life cannot be stopped.
What happens to you happens for a reason – so your life can
show forth the Light and glory of Yahweh.
If you don’t believe this just ask Solomon Radasky.
Or ask Yoseph. Or
ask the Messiah. “This is
the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness
instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into
the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that
it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
Yahweh,” Yochannan 3:19-21.
