The angels envy you as you wrestle with the darkness.
They have light, but you, in that struggle, come face to face with the very core of life.
Grapple darkness, squeeze out its light, and you touch G‑d Himself.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.
More in this section
Join the Discussion
Adele
July 4, 2018
Does it not seem sometimes that the greater our struggles, the closer we are to G-D? Reply
Eleanor Skibo
Pennsylvania, USA
June 20, 2018
Struggling through the darkness can be overwhelming or enlightening, depending upon how you accept it. If life was easy it would be boring it’s the challenge of reaching far above and beyond that makes life worth living. To wake up everyday with a new song in your heart and a new beat in your step just knowing today will bring about another new and exciting adventure. Another chance to reach out and bring a little more light into the world and your life is like reaching out somewhat further to touch the hand of G d. Reply
Anonymous
Waltham
June 20, 2018
The angels are jealous of us and we are jealous of them or at least I have been jealous of them because I am not sure how close I am to G-d but it seems that they are very close to him. Reply
Ernesto
USA
August 28, 2013
All that I read is hard for me to understand
Having a limited education, The only thing, I reason, I can do is to Pray that G-D will open my mind that His Will, Will be done in my life. As nothing happens by chance, There is a Reason for everything that happens in all our lives, G-D
Loves us, We must put all our Faith,Trust and Love in Him. He will not lead us astray nor forsake us.
Reply
Anonymous
Mercersburg, PA
February 4, 2013
Angels Thank you - this is a very profound statement. I've been thinking about it a lot since I read it. The angels can see everything, and they can see us scrabbling about in the darkness, having to do things without the benefit of the light that illumines everything they do. They see us suffering in ways that they cannot suffer. They must not only be jealous of us but (at least those who did not turn from God) admire us also. I feel closer to the angels since reading this. Reply
Anonymous
Guilford, Connecticut
January 28, 2013
Thank you so much Rabbi Freeman Thank you Rabbi. Thank you so much. Reply
Brenda
Toronto, Canada
January 26, 2013
Re: The Real Battle Against Evil Beautifully expressed with heart and mind unified! Reply
Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami
January 24, 2013
The Real Battle Against Evil
I have met the enemy
and discovered he is me
live in a balanced universe
which can't seem to see
Know all that is evil
comes from a place inside
no external demon to fight
cannot run away and hide
Life is not very difficult
and solution simple to find
when want to find victory
must unify heart and mind
_____________________________
"How could Avraham fight against an entire world of idol worshippers? He realized that G-d was one, he was one with Him!"
B"H"
Dr. Harry
Reply
Najat Elena Elamin
Romania
September 8, 2024
in response to Dr. Harry Hamburger:
Wow. That is one great poetry. I loved this poetry so much. Reply
Brenda
Toronto, Canada
January 24, 2013
Transforming the Angel of Death into a Holy Angel
Everything is a FORCE clothed in matter. Our task is to transform our Pharaoh - (the 'Angel of Death' or the 'evil inclination' which comprises 613 desires to take advantage of G_d's benevolence) into a 'Holy Angel' - the force by which we reciprocate G_d's giving to us. We learn through the stage of this world to understand the depth of the force of love by first revealing the evil inclination towards each other.
To keep us on track we experience suffering which compels us to recognize the need for His help, His Light/Force that reforms the evil, until we acquire complete correction. Then the separation and concealment is not necessary. His Light can only enter our vessels in gradual stages as we consciously perform this transformation to build the one soul.
Reply
Anonymous
Guilford, Connecticut
January 24, 2013
Todah Rabah
Thank you so much. How true, how true, how true and how it helps to understand what light and darkness really is: a most important opportunity to do the right thing.
I am so grateful and proud that H' blessed us with His Blessings of Torah and our Faith.
Reply
gigi
September 8, 2010
struggle
In the struggle (darkness) we find God, because we see nothing else but God IF we see. When we do begin to see in the darkness we begin the change to the 'light', and the change is what is relevant.
We can exist in the darkness and see, the angels cannot do this... they are stuck with God, but not knowing darkness, and the angels in the darkness know nothing of the light??
Reply
Anonymous
portsmouth, oh
September 7, 2010
having? having what??
if the angel perceives that it lacks "something," perhaps a "something" it perceives man "having," e.g. free will, has it ceased to "be" an angel; and do we or the angels "have" anything, as all is in constant renewal from G-d? "The soul You have given me is pure...." We have been "given" souls, but do we "have" them?
Of what, then, could there be for which to be jealous?
Reply
Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami, Florida
September 6, 2010
Good or not good Thank you Rabbi for your kind reply. Again "good" is a subjective term that we use. G-d indeed appears in many roles, and with many names depending on what role is He is playing in the world at a particular time: ie. Merciful, a Judge, Firm, etc. which correlates with our emotion/midot. In regards to evil in the world, G-d creates that too, which is also good. For He created a world in which His creations could play a part by choosing to make the world a better place where He may dwell. So, in answer to your question, "Why does G-d create or allow evil in the world?" He does it so that we can turn it into good. Evil can be an opportunity, rather than a curse, for us to change it into something good. When one really, really sees the world as it truly is for just an instant, if you are so blessed, you will see not good or bad, but a world that simply is, and that is one with Him. To us G-d is good, from His perspective He is that He is, and is one! Reply
Anonymous
North Las Vegas, United States
September 6, 2010
The Angels Suck! I have yet to receive help from an angel. If I have then I certainly don't know about it. Do they only "supposedly" help when they feel it is appropriate? Or do they help at our beckoned call? Who made them a judge of actions? To say that they are jealous of one who struggles in darkness can only mean one thing to me: The one who struggles in darkness have a choice and the angels DON'T. If that's the case, then they aren't simply jealous of humans, but they are jealous because we have a choice (but we just happen to be struggling in darkness). .. hope that make sense. None of it makes sense to me. I wish I had a genie who could grand my wishes. Oh I wish!!!! Reply
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
September 6, 2010
Good or not good?
Dear Dr. Harry,
G-d is good. He is the essence of good and only good comes from Him. That is the foundation of our faith: He is good and there is only one of Him.
Now you will have a question, "If G-d is good, then why do I see so much evil in His world?"
Yes, that is the question. If you don't have that question, you haven't understood a thing. If you have the question and it burns inside you, then you have grasped the essence of what we believe.
Indeed, Judaism is more about getting the question than it is about getting an answer.
All that's left now is to go out and create a world in which the question can no longer be asked. And for that, you need to study.
Reply
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
September 5, 2010
What is "essence"?
G-d has many names, modalities, forms by which He is revealed to us and to beings much higher than us--such as angels. None of that is His essence.
What is His essence? That cannot be said. It is not light, it is not darkness. But it is touched by the one who struggles to convert darkness into light.
Reply
Gigi of Amarillo, Tx.
Amarillo, Tx.US.
September 5, 2010
struggle Struggle IS important. It may not be all warm and fuzzy but, nonetheless G-d has chosen struggle (darkness) as the place to be if you want to find Him. We never turn to Father when we are in the light...most of us don't rather...however, when in the dark we want to see...we can with Father...the angels don't have that 'choice'. Reply
Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami, Florida
September 5, 2010
G-d inherently bad?
G-d simply is, and is not good or bad. As His energy enters our world,and animates all things and beings, we can choose whether to use it for good or bad, based upon our free choice.
So when someone asks, "why does G-d cause bad things to happen to good people...the answer is, "He doesn't". Our choices do, and will either increase the goodness in the world, or increase the dark side; which can enhance other's lives, or harm them. Even our speech when incorrect can create bad energy that may attach to others and cause depression, sadness, and illness. At this auspicious time of introspection, let us study ourselves, and choose better during the upcoming New Year. Shana Tova!
Reply
Anonymous
portsmouth, oh
September 3, 2010
is there anything G-dly that is inherently bad?? more explanation, please. Gute Shabbos!!! gotta go!!!! Reply
What a beautiful and profound thought. Thanks Rabbi Freeman.