BEFORE I BEGIN THIS WEEK’S DIVREI SIMCHA, AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS SATURDAY, AMERICAN EXPRESS IS HAVING SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. IF YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD AND SPEND $25 ON A SMALL BUSINESS, AMERICAN EXPRESS WILL REIMBURSE $25 TO YOUR CARD. MANY JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ARE CONSIDERED SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THIS PROMOTION. THEREFORE, IF YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD, YOU CAN GIVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS A DONATION WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY AT ALL – AS AMERICAN EXPRESS WILL GIVE YOU A $25 CREDIT ON YOUR STATEMENT. YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS ONCE WITH EACH CARD YOU HAVE. DO NOT WASTE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY. PERSONALLY, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 EXCELLENT INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PART IN THIS PROMOTION AND I’M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE. IF YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EASY CHESED. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE TO SIGN UP BUT THE REWARDS FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TREMENDOUS. (if you would like the list of the organizations I know taking part in this promotion, please email me at [email protected]. Thanks!)

“She then went to inquire of Hashem” (Bereshis 25:22)

– to tell her what would happen in the end (RASHI)

Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt, Rosh Yeshiva of Chofetz Chaim in Queens, once related about a play he saw at a camp. For some reason, a man once started receiving a newspaper every morning, but this newspaper was different than the one he usually received. It was the next day’s paper. He read all of the stocks that would do well during the current day and all of the sport scores from that night. He took advantage of this and starting using his money wisely. He made a few good moves and suddenly, he became the wealthiest person in the city. He was extremely happy until one day when he received the next day’s newspaper and the headline read that this wealthy man died. He became upset and started yelling. He picked up the phone to call the newspaper to ask them why they were printing this article – then he realized the newspaper didn’t even know about the article as it didn’t happen yet. He became more angry and had a heart attack. He died with the newspaper in his hand.

Although this is not a true story, it has an amazing lesson: worrying about future events can literally kill us. The man was so worried that he was going to die that he worried himself to death. He gave himself a heart attack.

We no longer have prophets, but we still do have a great resource which we should use when we are concerned about the future. It is our Rabbanim.

In this week’s parsha, Rivka has a problem. After being barren for twenty years, she finally becomes pregnant, but she is concerned about her child. Whenever she passes a shul, the child kicks, but the child also kicks whenever she passes a house of idols. What is going on with this child inside her? She does not understand why her child has the same excitement for Torah and idols. She is worried about this child, so she decided to go to the only place where she could get an answer – she went to the yeshiva to ask the Rav. The Rav calmed her fears and explained she had two children inside of her and that is why there is kicking when she walks by both of these places. The Rav was able to solve her worries.

Eleven years ago, I sat with my Rav stating how the job I had was not working out. I told him that I was very worried about this job and was thinking of quitting. My Rav gently spoke with me and removed my stress. He was able to get me to focus on things I did not previously think about. Well, now 11 years later, I am still with the same job and very happy with it.

We can get stressed out about what will happen in the future or we can seek advice from the experts. My recommendation is to speak with a Rav about your worries – they have a special talent to make our concerns disappear.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
please send any comments or questions to: [email protected]
to see previous Divrei Simcha on the Parsha, please go to www.divreisimcha.com OR www.chesedclub.com > Torah Study