Dear Friends,
What are you thinking when you say “Be’ezrat Hashem” (With G-d’s help, or: G-d willing)?
“Be’ezrat Hashem” is an expression that we find ourselves using many times a day. Hopefully we are thinking of what we are saying, and, if so, what do people mean when they use this expression?
I can only speak for myself: I have come to understand that “Be’ezrat Hashem” has one very simple meaning: Hashem will help; of course He will help; He is always here to help. But – and it’s an important and significant “but” – He will only help. I must do, act – and He will help me, G-d willing.
“Open me an opening the size of the eye of a needle, and I will open for you [an opening] like the opening of a hall.” So said Chazal (Midrash Rabbah, Shir HaShirim 5, 3). The Creator of the World said: “I am willing to open you a way the size of a hall doorway, help you with everything, but it all has to be based on your work. Even if your work will be tiny and narrow, like the eye of a needle – do it, open it – and I will be there and open you an opening the size of a hall.” That is the meaning of “Be’ezrat Hashem.”
Parashat Behaalotcha describes the lighting of the candles of the golden Menorah in the Temple by the Cohen. As with anything else, here too, the Rebbe translates the lighting of the Menorah in the Temple of the past into a personal, practical and actual task. The Menorah is the body of the human being; the candles are the G-dly soul that is in it, and the Cohen Gadol (High Priest) who lights the fire is Hashem, who lights the fire in a person’s soul, as it says in the book of Mishlei (Proverbs), “The candle of Hashem is the soul of man.”
Like the Cohen, Hashem, too, is standing there, ready with the flame, ready to bring it close and light the candle with it. But this all depends on the Menorah and the candle being ready to be lit and to give off light. The Cohen could not bring the light without the Menorah and the candle. Hashem, too, before He brings the light to us, expects us to prepare the Menorah – the body, and the candle – the soul, to be suitable vessels for the fire, the G-dly fire.
In simple terms (and I speak from experience), when we run into some difficulty, or are faced with a challenge that seems to us especially hard, before we throw up our hands and say, “Hashem will help,” we should remember that He will only help. We have to put in some effort and make one more step towards the goal, even a small step, the size of the eye of a needle, and He will help and open a way the size of a hall.
Shabbat Shalom,
Zalmen Wishedski