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Previously, we began exploring the Torah concepts of seeing and hearing. To briefly review: The spiritual concept of seeing is the idea of observing something as it is, i.e., in a completely static state, lacking any movement. When you see a picture, you grasp the entire image instantaneously. There’s no process of constructing or building the picture in your mind; everything is just there, at once, without any effort.

When Yaakov Avinu is finally reunited with Yosef after 22 years of separation, in what can only be imagined as an intensely emotional scene, Yaakov embraces Yosef, sobbing on his neck (B’reishis 46:29). Rashi, quoting the Midrash, explains that as Yaakov embraced Yosef for the first time in 22 years, he was saying k’rias Sh’ma. What is the meaning of this? Why not wait until after this joyful and emotional reunion with his long-lost son to pray? The answer often given is that Yaakov was overcome by intense emotion and wanted to channel this emotion toward Hashem through reciting k’rias Sh’ma. However, there may be a deeper layer here, as well.

The Midrash explains that, originally, Adam wore kosnos or (spelled with an alef) – garments of light. (See Sh’nei Luchos HaBris: T’tzaveh – Torah Or. See also Torah T’mimah, B’reishis 3:21.) After he sinned, Hashem clothed him in kosnos or (spelled with an ayin) – garments of skin (B’reishis 3:21). When spelled with an alef, or is light; when spelled with an ayin, or is a hide, the skin of an animal. What is the deeper meaning behind this?

Often, when we are in pain – whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual – we beg Hashem every day, with all our heart, to make the pain go away. We imagine how wonderful life will be when the challenge finally passes, and each day we hold on to that image, cherish it, and hope for Hashem to make that day come faster. We cry, we suffer, we push, and just when we think we cannot take it anymore, just when we think we may not make it to another day, when every last ounce of strength and hope has faded, the pain begins to subside.

In our last few articles, we spoke about the empowering nature of challenges, discussing how the purpose of a challenge, as the Ramban explains, is to push us to actualize our latent potential, to transform our koach (potential) into po’al (actual). However, there is one last level of nisayon that requires clarification. To address it, we must ask an important question:

K’vod malchus’cha yomeiru, u’g’vuras’cha y’dabeiru

Of the glory of Your kingdom they will speak, and of Your power they will tell;