I write this message in memory of our heroes, the fallen soldiers who have given up their lives protecting the Jewish people.

One of my favourite quotes of the Talmud is אין הקב”ה בא בטרוניא עם בריותיו – Hashem doesn’t overwhelm his creations (us).

In simple English this means G-d only gives us what we can handle. Whatever we have to deal with in life, is measured and given to us because we can deal with it. We have all it takes, nothing in our experience is too difficult. For if a certain challenge was insurmountable, it wouldn’t have been given to us to deal with in the first place.

The parsha this week, recounts the very route the Jewish people were destined to take out of Egypt. And that route was very precise. A route that they were able to handle, something they could deal with.

“God did not lead them [by] way of the land of the Philistines for it was near, because God said, Perhaps the people would reconsider when they see war and return to Egypt.”

It seems that there were two options, two routes. One that (perhaps) seemed impossible and too overwhelming. And one that was doable.

G-d led us down the path that was doable and within our reach to be successful.

So it is with every turn in life. Every time we go down a path in life we can be assured that this path is chosen for me, because I can handle it. Hashem promises us we can overcome the task at hand.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Zalman and Esty