Think You Can't? Think Again!

By Y.Y. Hodakov

I have no idea who my grandfather was talking to on the phone that night, or what the topic of conversation was. All that I remember is hearing him say, in his inimitable tone, Vus Heist Du Kenst Nisht? Un Vus Kenstu Yeh? What do you mean you can’t do it? What are you capable of doing? Without G-d’s help, nothing is possible. With G-d’s help, anything is!

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Once, the Baal Shem Tov’s disciples were asked to help pull a wagon out of a ditch. When they said they were incapable of doing it, the coachman retorted, “You can, but you don’t want to!”

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Once, 1^st century sage Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa saw his fellow townsmen going to Jerusalem with various offerings. He wished to do the same, but there was little he could afford. Outside his town, he found a large stone, which he smoothed and polished, but could not possibly move, let alone carry it to Jerusalem. Nor could he afford what average workers would charge to transport it. At some point, five men appeared, and offered to bring the stone to Jerusalem for a nominal fee, as long as he would also put his hand to the stone and help. This he did, and suddenly found himself in Jerusalem. He turned to pay his “helpers”, but they were gone.

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In this week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, we learn that when the work on the Miskhan (sanctuary) in the desert was completed, they brought it to Moshe.

Throughout their 40 years in the desert, a skilled crew of Levites would dismantle the structure when it was time to travel, and swiftly assemble it once again as soon as they arrived at their next camp site. However, when they first inaugurated the Mishkan, G-d had instructed that Moshe himself put it up.

Moshe was daunted by the size and weight of each of the planks that made up the walls, and he asked G-d, “How is it possible for a human being to erect it?”

G-d replied, “You involve yourself with your hand”, put your hand forward to put it up. It appeared as if he had set it up, but it had stood upright on its own.

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life? Are you inundated with seemingly insurmountable tasks?

Do what you can. Put your hand forward. Get involved, and know that G-d will help you succeed beyond what you yourself are capable of.

Shabbat Shalom.

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Related links:

For more about my grandfather, Rabbi C.M.A. Hodakov, click here.

To hear the Rebbe tell the story of the Baal Shem Tov, click here.