Time of Tzaar

Atah Chonein L’Adam Daas

When we are dealing with times of Tzaar, or constriction, from outside powers, we can follow Yaakov Avinu’s advice to his sons, when there was a famine in Eretz Yisrael and he said: לָמָּה תִּתְרָאוּ, Why be afraid? (Beraishis, 42:1) It is a time to recognize that it comes from Hashem and there is a purpose.  First, start by thanking Him and acknowledging that He does all with a purpose, and communicates with us.  Once we thank Him, we should call out to Him, מִן־הַמֵּצַר קָרָאתִי יָּהּ.  We can use this bracha to first acknowledge that it is with the Grace of Hashem that he allows us to know Him, and then we can ask to seek clarity from Hashem, so we can use the moments of constriction as a moment of expansion by seeking to understand Hashem’s Messages. (Based on Zohar class taught by Harav Simcha L Weinberg, n’’y)