Chosen for the Mission: Finding Strength in Hard Times

In these challenging times, as war affects our lives and weighs heavily on our hearts, many of us are facing painful trials. Alongside the fear and uncertainty, we may also be dealing with loneliness, bereavement, illness, struggles in marriage, challenges with our children, health concerns, and financial pressure. Rabbeinu Tam describes this world as an “abode of travails,” a place where hardship is part of the human experience.

Rabbi Azriel Tauber z”l offered a powerful perspective on these struggles. He described the Jewish people asyotzei tzava, those who go out to serve in an army. His words shed light on the difficulties of our generation as a whole, and on each individual’s personal challenges.

Chosen for the Mission

“In the army, when there is an important operation that requires special skill, when a fighter must draw on unique strength or withstand intense pressure, the commander knows exactly which soldier is capable of succeeding,” Rabbi Tauber explained. “Based on that understanding, the soldiers are chosen for the mission.”

He continued with a relatable comparison. In the military, each person is assigned a role based on their abilities. Some become pilots, others serve in tank units, and some are assigned to support roles. Each position reflects a person’s strengths and capacity.

“In the same way,” Rabbi Tauber said, “if Hashem sends us into the most difficult situations, as if placing us in the middle of danger in order to elevate and refine the world, we should understand that this reflects who we are. It means we have a high spiritual profile, a lofty soul that is equipped for these conditions.”

You Were Chosen for This Generation

“If Hashem chose us to live in this difficult generation, to face its tests and to fight the spiritual challenges of our time, this is not by chance,” Rabbi Tauber continued. “Hashem, like a skilled commander, knows His ‘soldiers’ and understands their strengths.”

“And if we were placed in this generation asyotzei tzava, then we have the ability to succeed. We can rise. We must have very elevated souls, capable of holding strong even when surrounded by difficulty.”

A Personal Message of Strength

If Hashem has chosen you to face deep and personal struggles, try to see it through this lens. It is as if the ultimate Commander sees in you the strength of an elite soldier, someone capable of entering the most difficult situations and enduring them.

You have a strong and elevated soul, one that is suited to these conditions.

Be strong and courageous in the daily battles you face.