Turning Suffering into a Growing Experience

Rebbetzin Jungreis is a survivor of the Holocaust, the most recent episode of suffering for the Jewish People. It would have made "sense" to loose faith in G-d and Judaism, like many did. Instead, the Rebbetzin speaks of G-d, His Greatness and surprisingly, His Kindness. She is a living lesson of turning a time period of suffering into a growing experience. She took all the years at Auschwitz, the screams, the fire, and the pain, and used it to become the incredible Rebbetzin.

(See Video Below:)

We all have suffering, personal and communal. Pain is inevitable, however, suffering is a choice. We cannot control the challenges that Hashem sends in our lives; we can control how we respond. This idea is best conveyed in an excerpt from an article by the Rebbetzin in the Jewish Journal:

"Undoubtedly, we are living in the midst of terrible crises - global terror and personal tragedy have visited many of us. How do we understand it all? How do we respond to such calamities? Our Torah, as well as the Holy Tongue in which it was written, provide us with insights.In Hebrew, the word for crisis is mashbair," which in Torah language also means "birthing stone." This teaches us that crises can also be an opportunity for birth, for new life.

"This concept is especially pertinent to our generation, for we are the generation that is living in the period of Chevlei Moshiach(birthpangs of Messiah), and birthpangs can be very painful, especially when the contractions come hard and fast. However, every mother who undergoes that experience is able to accept her pain because she knows that she will soon hold new life in her arms and that makes it all worthwhile.

"Indeed, on Tisha B'Av, the most tragic day in the Jewish calendar year, when we mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and our holy Temple, it is exactly this concept that we express in our Kinnos (Lamentations): "Eli Tzion..." "Weep for Zion and her cities like you would weep for a woman in labor." So, instead of allowing these tragedies to sap you of hope and heart, they should spur you on to greater commitment an devotion in your service of HaShem, for that is the only way to respond to suffering, to neutralize the angel of death, and to hasten our redemption, the coming of Messiah".

Understanding suffering is the first step. Growing and utilizing suffering is the most important step:

"Remember the teaching of our Torah in regard to Lot's wife. Despite the warning of the angels, she looked back and as a result, turned into a pillar of salt. There is an allegorical meaning to this. If you live in the past, you become atrophied, you cannot go forward. "Ma d'hava, hava" ?"What was, was," is the teaching of our sages. You must learn from the past, but at the same time, not be paralyzed by it.

"Move on, for that is the only was in which you can hope to have a better today and tomorrow. If you want to live a meaningful life, if you want your children to remember you with love and respect, then remember that G-d re-creates the world every day, and if you will it, He will re-create you as well".

Once again, her wisdom enlightens our path...