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Why Does G‑d Test Us?

A Taste of Text—Va’eira

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Why Does G-d Test Us?: A Taste of Text—Va’eira

Times of extraordinary illumination from above are preceded by periods of profound darkness.

Handouts:	Va'eira
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Pain, Suffering & Tragedy, Va'eira

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By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.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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11 Comments

Anonymous Austell January 12, 2016

Vaeira Thank you for your discussion.I agree truth is consistent and doesn't change despite the circumstances. The test that Hashem has given me is for my good. I realize also that my decisions can also bring bad things into my life. So i must work more now on not bringing bad upon myself. Reply

Anonymous Hollywood January 10, 2015

gifted faith so how do we explain the existence of atheist jews? Reply

Beatriz December 27, 2013

Thank you for a beautiful lesson.
Could you please spell Hashem"s name as He revealed it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
Thanks again. Reply

Stan Shur Brooklyn, NY January 21, 2012

Thanks Thank you for that very uplifting lesson Reply

Kameo-nl January 19, 2012

hardships Hi! Nice to watch this video!,
personally i have never thought that it was G-d who gave me hardships but that it was the stupidness of people of systems of dummness and cruealty etc etc that has made me gone through hardships.

That's how i got through it by KNOWING that it is not of G-d, this cruelty is not part of G-d.

But since i am also limited in percieving G-d off course, but knowing that cruelty is not of G-d, so also not a test or given to me or whatever, i could survive, knowing that this pain hardship has NOTHING to do with G-d. Reply

Anonymous Bro, Sweden January 18, 2012

thank you for talking so good this was what I neded to hear because life is not easy, and thank you for the consolation it gave me ,my gratitude to you. Reply

miriam kiryat tivon, Israel January 18, 2012

va'eira Thank you for this study , i got so much out of it.. Reply

Anonymous brooklyn, n.y January 18, 2012

Why does G-D test us? Thank you Mrs. Weisberg,
This lecture was very profound and deep,
I really needed to hear this just as so many others do I'm sure. Thank you for your other inspiring columns and lectures
as well. May Hashem bless you and yours
in every way and may we merit to see our
personal and collective redemptions very
soon. Reply

Ray Schmitz Lompoc, Cal January 15, 2012

Parshat Vaeira Thank you

Testing is like this.

G-D Can you here me

us No....I dont know....

G-D A bit louder asks again Do you hear Me?

Finally we hear
That is the hope anf the treasure. Reply

Anonymous Mesa, Arizona, USA January 15, 2012

Why Does G-d Test Us? This is a beautiful way to teach about the love of G-d. I really appreciate it very much Chana Weisberg. You seem to be full of the Ruach of Hashem. As I study this part of Torah with you and the rest at the table, relating to the study of understanding the things that happens to us... This is the part that I do not see like everybody else does. I do not know why, but I do not see the difficult times I am going through personally as Hashem's testing me. For what I see is the behavior of certain people around me. We as individual, have choices to make. As I try to take responsibility for my actions, I believe that others need to do the same. I do not know if I am hard on myself or others. My experience is with humans being. I cannot blame G-d for the difficult situations I am going through now and have gone through in my past. Sometimes, yes, maybe G-d test us. But not all the time. Like in the case of Abraham and Isaac. as an example. We bring upon ourselves and others evil. Reply

mitch gold Toronto, Ontario January 15, 2012

measuring the change brought by light greetings:

if you are interested, i am aware of tools that might be used to measure the effect of light - on oxygen - and using an oxygen formation that is 15 million years old. you may be familiar with the notion expressed in Jurasic Park - I actually have an amber piece that we are sheltering from light in order to keep the process of change from accelerating. this may seem obtuse - but IMHO I believe we may be able to grow spiritual understanding by measuring the effect. Reply

A Taste of Text

Each 20-minute video class uses a text from the weekly Torah portion to convey a contemporary insight on leading a more enriched life. Source sheets are included to help students follow along and gain a "taste" of the actual texts studied.

Why Does G-d Test Us?: A Taste of Text—Va’eira

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