He Makes Peace- Part IV Hester panim countermeasure

 

עֹשֶׂ֥ה שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו

Hashem Makes peace in the heavens.

Q: Why are the heavens created from opposites (fire and water) to then require another step of “shalom” to exist?  Why not just create the heavens in a way that naturally works?

Revealing Hashem’s Hashagacha  

The Alshich Hakadosh offers an added perspective on this topic.^[1]

He uses the construct of the heavens as a teaching and strategy not to fall into the trap of Chas V’shalom of aberrant thinking the constellations have dominion and rule over us.  This type of thinking commonly occurs when one sees how good people suffer and evil people seemingly succeed in this world, and sees a world that seems to have no mishpat, or justice.  One can easily fall into the trap of thinking they are at mercy of the mazalot, the stars;  thinking  one is subject to destiny controlled by the stars.   One hears often the phrase “It was meant to be” as if their circumstances are destiny, without seeking what it is Hashem Wants.   Sometimes people are content by saying a difficult situation is “Hashem’s Will, without seeking and pursuing the messages of Hashem which seems to fall short of our obligation to get answers from Torah.   But, the Alshich says, when one looks at the construct of the very nature of the heavens, made of fire and water, two polar opposites and yet combined and continues to exist this way, it becomes apparent that such a possibility is not “teva”, not the way of “nature”.  It was only possible because of Hashem’s Hashgacha , His direct involvement.

“The shalom Hashem Makes in the heavens, 

is a testimony of Hashem’s direct involvement aka His Hashgacha,

and that all that happens is His Will.”

Hashem made the heavens  in a way that is clearly not within the confines of natural law, however this construct is His Will.   Therefore it would be inconceivable to think that such a creation then controls the “nature” of the world.   Therefore it must be the Being Who created the heavens in opposites as His Will to be the only One who is the master of the ‘mishpat’ (justice) in this world as well.

It seems to me that the Alshich’s approach of searching to reconcile “opposites” is an act of seeking and pursuing shalom.  When one sees something that is completely opposite to the order of things we know it is a perfect opportunity to reveal Hashem’s Hashgacha and a que to be a seeker and pursuer of shalom.  If one asks a ‘shaylah’ when one has confusion, or is dealing with a conflict it is a seeking of shalom.  When one finds unity in the Torah, it brings a sense of shalom. When one asks questions and seeks the answers  when learning Torah, or approaching the challenges of this world, the things that don’t make sense, within the rubric of  Torah (meaning seeking and pursuing the path of Torah^[2]) , it is the fulfillment of the directive of our master and Rebbie, Dovid Hamelech, to seek and pursue shalom^[3].

When one seeks “shalom” it actually  leads to finding and increasing Hashem’s Hashgacha, direct involvement, or a tool for revealing Hashem’s presence and direct involvement in our lives.  This is the  “anti – hester panim, hiding His face “.

Ramchal in the opening statements of  Daas Tevunos tells us to seek and pursue our questions, the things that seem to not make sense, and  is our obligation based on the pasuk in Torah of וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֮ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֒ךָ֒.

“Said the Soul – My desire and will is to become settled regarding some items from among those about which it is said:

 (Deuteronomy 4:39) “.וְיָדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֮ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֒ךָ֒ כִּ֤י ה׳ ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹקים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת אֵ֖ין עֽוֹד.

Behold they are among the essentials of our faith

 that every man must seek after knowing them,

 to the degree that he can grasp!” (Ramchal, Daas Tevunos)

Therefore, the more we can seek and pursue shalom, the more we are empowering  Hashem’s Hashgacha and it brings about the recognition of Hashem being the Only Power.

“  כִּ֤י ה׳ ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹקים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת אֵ֖ין עֽוֹד”- Know therefore this day and keep in mind that Hashem alone is The source of all powers in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.

 

“May we all become pursuers of shalom

to bring about the redemption,

to reveal Hashem’s existence,

and to recognize and know

He is the Only Power and no other,

“b’mhaira b’yameinu, Amen.”

 

 

 

^[1] Iyov, 25:2, הַמְשֵׁ֣ל וָפַ֣חַד עִמּ֑וֹ עֹשֶׂ֥ה שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו (Alshich)

דע כי אין השמים מושלים בטבע כי הלא אפי’ מציאותם שלא בטבע כי הלא השמים מאש ומים שהם נגדיים ואיך מתקיים אם לא בהשגחה שהוא יתברך עושה שלום במרומיו וא”כ איך ישפטו שלא כרצונו

^[2] דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹ֑עַם וְֽכׇל־נְתִ֖יבֹותֶ֣יהָ שָׁלֹֽום (Proverbs- 3:17)

^[3] ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ (Tehillim, 34:15)