Floating Above Hurricane Michael
It was exactly 50 years ago to this very day, the first day of Chesvan , 1968. The Lubavitcher Rebbe was giving a very special talk on Parshas Noach to a gathered crowd. In the audience was a Shaliach/ Chabad Ambassador, who had gone to a very, very difficult place so that he could bring help to the people there. That was to be his mission. But he experienced tremendous financial challenges, the work was just not going as it should, he couldn’t communicate with the people, everything seemed to be working against him. It was a dangerous Muslim country that didn’t appreciate having a Rabbi lead the few Jews that remained. This young Rabbi struggled but could not bring himself to continue. In the end, he returned to New York, his mission unfulfilled. On that Shabbos, during his farbrengen, the Rebbe talked about Rashi commentary on the words, “Ach Noach.” In the ark Noach was groaning and struggling under the great weight of caring for all the animals, feeding them, cleaning up after them, ensuring their safety as darkness filled the land and the terrifying waters raged around the ark. He was, in effect, “spitting blood” from the severity of the work he was doing and the fatigue that was tearing him down. The Rebbe looked around and, without naming anyone, he said to the assembled crowd, “You are like Noach – the entire world is going through a mabul, a flood, and you are among the very few who merited to be saved on the ark. Despite the fact that you have the merit to be on the boat in the middle of this great flood, you are groaning and complaining.” The Rebbe then said, “You have a headache, take an aspirin.” For the Rebbe, being able to help people was all that mattered. If you encountered difficulties, so you persevered, you carried on, because that is what you should do, because you are fortunate, you are blessed to be able to do this holy, desperately needed work to save the world. Now it is exactly 50 years later to the very day, the parsha of Noach is again be
