Pain and what’s behind it

In the memory of Raizel Rodal O.B.M., a special soul, who was taken from us at a tender, young age; May her family know no more pain, and let them be comforted with the coming of the righteous Moshiach and Tchiyat hamaisim, speedily in our days.
And to G-d we cry: please let this be the final brick that is needed to finish the third and final temple built through the sacrifice of millions through the generations.
When Raizel woke up from her first surgery, she was unable to talk, so she put her feelings on paper: Thank you, G-d, for in my merit there was so much unity and prayer…
As we follow the weekly Torah portions during this time of the year, we read of the Jewish nation’s experiences in the desert. It seems strange: True, G-d had punished the Jews that for forty years they could not enter the holy land. But why did they have to rot away in the boiling desert?
In the answer lies the explanation to our long and bitter exile and to pain in general. And, in essence, the reason that G-d created this world.
G-d desires in growth. When a person utilizes pain and tragedy to better him or herself and to influence others to do so, he or she is fulfilling the purpose of creation. Only through the exile where G-d is hidden can we truly climb the latter of spirituality and reach its peak – the redemption.
So G-d sent the Jews into the barren, desolate desert so that they should turn it into a place of life, a place of spirituality.
When the Jews were in the desert, snakes and scorpions were killed by the clouds. Trees and flowers grew from the well of Miriam. And in the spiritual realm, through the Mishkan (Tabernacle,) G-dliness entered the desert. Wherever the Jews traveled, they elevated their lifeless surroundings.
That is the Jewish response to tragedy and pain (desert) – grow! Shabbat shalom!
May pain be erased forever with the revelation of the Moshiach NOW!

P.S. The rabbi is giving his weekly sermon, and David falls asleep. Suddenly he is rudely awoken by the Gabbai (sexton). David is furious: “What is this? I paid my dues for the month already! Let me sleep in peace; I heard this speech a hundred times!” The Gabbai responds, “I’m sorry sir. It’s just that you’re snoring loudly and you are interrupting the rest of the congregants from their nap…”