Chana Weisberg is host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast and curator of advanced learning experiences on Chabad.org. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.
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To capitalize on the beautiful words of Rav Aharon of Chabad (Loshak):
'Failure Is a Springboard'.
While we obviously should strive to become great, failure through hardships is somewhat expected. However, giving up and laying down after you've fallen from the horse, is not. Doesn't the Talmud write somewhere down the lines that the righteous will fall down many times and still get up every single time, saddle up his horse and continue his way while the wicked lies in complacency on the ground and accepts the status quo and continues to revel in the degeneracy he has brought onto himself (which eventually leads to death)?
Mamesh, that's the point: Reckognizing that a failure or fall that comes through hardship (May it never happen to us) will eventually propel us up and will let us reach new heights. Thank you for this reminder, Mrs. Chana!