By Rabbi David Shasho: From the dawn of our history as a nation, Jews were forced to learn that lasting achievement takes time. You can never get there by the shortest road. The history of all too many nations born after the Second World War and the end of empires shows that you can’t create a democracy by United Nations decree, or freedom by a Universal Declaration. Hashem led the Jewish people out of Egypt through a long roundabout way to train them in this lesson. We were constantly tested and placed in difficult situations that we had to overcome. And each step made us stronger as individuals and as a people.
The Talmud tells the story of R. Yehoshua ben Hananya who asked a young man sitting at a crossroad, “Which is the way to the town?” The young man pointed to one of the paths and said, “This way is short but long. The other way is long but short.†R. Yehoshua set out on the first path, quickly arrived at the town, but found his way blocked by gardens and orchards. He then returned to the young man and said, “Didn’t you tell me that this path was short?” “I did,” said the young man, “but I also warned you that it was long.” Better to take the long road that eventually gets you to your destination than the short one that doesn’t, even though it looks as if it does.
Today’s world is full of books, videos, and programs promising a fast track to almost anything from weight loss to riches to success and fame. The life-changing idea symbolized by the route Hashem led the Jewish people on when they left Egypt is that there are no fast tracks. The long way is short; the short way is long. Better by far to know at the outset that the road is long, the work is hard, and there will be many setbacks and wrong turns. You will need grit, resilience, stamina, and persistence. In place of a pillar of cloud leading the way, you will need the advice of mentors and the encouragement of friends. But the journey is exhilarating, and there is no other way. The harder it gets, the stronger you become.
Shabbat Shalom