Inner Connections Parshat Pincus
A word on health and balance. A “segula” that I read from Rav Shimshon Pincus z’l and want to share.
Pincus merited “brit shalom”. He merited a pact of peace.
Pincus, are Sages teaches us, is Eliyahu Hanavi. The prophet that lives forever.
Therefore, the segula for longevity and healthy is peace. It makes sense, no? When one’s body isn’t in balance illness sets in. When one’s emotions aren’t balanced illness sets in. When there is illness, we find that something is off, something that maintains balance, homeostasis and harmony within isn’t working.
Pincus, as we see in the past and this week’s parsha did what was within his power to restore peace between Am Yisrael and our Creator. Peace, harmony and balance. The segula for longevity.
But what exactly does this mean we should do?
Take responsibility and do whatever is within your power to do that will foster peace. Act in a way that is conducive to balance and harmony. But what is not within our control (and we see for example that Moshe didn’t do anything here, because he couldn’t and it wasn’t his role) we need to leave it alone. We need to let go and not worry about it or make ourselves sick over it. We need to give it over to Hashem whose name is SHALOM “peace”.
That’s right, give it over to SHALOM to Hashem and let Him be the one to restore balance and harmony. He is the Source of this as well.
Worry and uncertainly and fear are more viral than a virus itself, but peace and connection to Hashem is the number one segula of health and longevity.
***
To want or not to want? That is the question.
I know women who are afraid to want. They say, “What if I want and I don’t get what I want? I’ll be so disappointed and upset.” “What if I want and I get what I want, but it’s not good for me?”
Should one want or not?
And what about those women who don’t even know what they want even if asked, “What is it that you want?” They’re confused and speak in riddles hoping the other person will figure out what they want when they themselves lack clarity.
To want, to have a will, “want”.
In Hebrew the word “ratzon” רצוןis a want. Change the letters and you get “tzinur” צינור, a tube. When we want, when we allow ourselves to want, it opens up a tube of blessing that goes from us to our Creator. It opens up a tube of siyata d’shamaya-Heavenly help. I know it’s scary to want because what if you don’t get what you want? What if you don’t know what you want? What if you don’t have the energy or even feel the desire to want? What should you do?
Take a step backwards.
Ask Hashem to want to want.
Ask Hashem for clarity about what to want.
And what exactly are we wanting????
That… “Hashem Your Will/Desire should be my desire.”
“Hashem, help me to want to want that Your will should be my will.”
“Hashem, I want this, but only if You know that it is good for me and if it’s not, let me to let go of this desire.”
The daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came forward, and his daughters' names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the kohen and before the chieftains and the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, saying, "Our father died in the desert, but he was not in the assembly that banded together against the Lord in Korah's assembly, but he died for his own sin, and he had no sons. Why should our father's name be eliminated from his family because he had no son? Give us a portion along with our father's brothers. (Bamidbar 27 1-4)"
The daughters of Zelophehad were brave and courageous. They took a chance of rejection. They stated their desire clearly and concisely. And how was it decided if they got their want or not?
… Moses brought their case before Hashem (ibid 5).
Whether they got or they didn’t get was in Hashem’s Hands. Everything is in Hashem’s Hands. But we have to want. We have to want to want. To open that channel between us and Hashem, to be willing to take the “No” not as rejection, but as “this isn’t good for you” even if we don’t understand and to want that whatever we get should be for our good and if not then we don’t want it!
Many blessings, Shabbat Shalom,
Elana