Hashem Has Helped You Before

Q: Is remembering the past part of the avodah of Rosh Hashanah?

A: David Hamelech was beset sometimes by worries. He had plenty of things to worry about. His life was in constant danger, for instance, when he was pursued by Shaul. When he felt beset by worries, he said a pasuk that’s good for all of us to say and keep in mind. Everybody has moments of anxiety, sometimes even moments of despair. Keep this pasuk always before you. Here’s what he said: “Shuvi nafshi limnuchaychi — Return, O my soul, to your composure” (Tehillim 116:7). He spoke to himself. “Ki Hashem gamal alaychi — Because Hashem has bestowed kindliness on you.”

Is this your first time dealing with Hashem? He never helped you before? He most certainly did! The most dangerous moments in your life were the three minutes before you were born! Do you know how many babies didn’t make it? Do you know how easy it is for the cord to slip around a baby’s neck just before it’s born? Many babies die in those three minutes. Or something happens that causes them to become crippled. But not you. Who stood by you at that moment if not Hashem? And from then on, Hashem has been at your side all these years. Hashem Melech — He is always in control and always looking out for you, and that’s why you’re still around.

So David Hamelech said to himself, “Why should you have any worries? Don’t you know, ki Hashem gamal alaychi? All these years Hashem has bestowed endless benefits upon you.”

David also said, “Darashti es Hashem v’anani — I sought out Hashem (when I was in trouble), and He answered me” (Tehillim 34:5). He’s saying that now amid his troubles, when his life is in danger. “What reason is there to worry? Don’t you know that you sought out Hashem again and again, and each time He answered you?” “Umikol m’gurosai hitzilani — And from all of my fears He rescued me.”

Compared to David Hamelech, you never had worries. You never had an army chasing you, arrows whistling all around you, falling to your right and your left. You young people have never experienced war. There were a lot of people who did, and made it home, and should have remembered everything Hashem did for them, but they didn’t.

So we have to remember, as well. This attitude of looking back and remembering is our big job — for the Jewish nation and for our individual histories. If a person thinks that way, if he remembers all the things that happened, he’ll see very good results. Besides the result that he’s living — and living as a Jew should live — he will never fall into despair. Such a person can’t fall into despair because he remembers what happened in the past, and the past is a model for the future. Whenever his mind is beset by some worry, he says, “Shuvi nafshi limnuchaychi — Return, my soul, to your composure, ki Hashem gamal alaychi.” I’ve had troubles in the past, too, and Hashem has always helped me.

Some people never remember, or they try to erase the past from their minds. To these people, every new little crisis is insolvable, impossible, and they become overwhelmed. Here’s a young woman, newly married. Something happened in the house. Let’s say the pipe broke and water cascaded down onto her new furniture. This is the end! she thinks. But years later, she looks back and laughs. Now she has beautiful, expensive furniture, and she laughs that she was upset when that cheap stuff was ruined by the upstairs pipe.

When people don’t keep pictures of the past in their mind, the present is the greatest of tragedies. That’s why an older person is mellowed. When you’re old and experienced, you can look back and not become overly distressed by crises. You look back and remember how Hashem always stood by you. That’s why we say, “Elokeinu vEilokei avoseinu.” He’s not only “our G-d” but He’s also “the G-d of our forefathers.” When a Jew knows his past and the past of his nation, he’s optimistic. He’s full of confidence. That’s a by-product of serving Hashem in gratitude.

Yeshayah Hanavi foretold, “Ki haharim yamushu — The mountains will move from their place, v’hagva’os t’mutenah — and all the high hills will fall down, v’chasdi me’itach lo yamush — but My kindliness will never depart from you” (Yeshayah 54:10). The Jew who knows his history is convinced of these words. We’ve been threatened by so many things and yet we’re still around. Such a Jew knows we’re going to be around forever. He remembers the past and says, “Shuvi nafshi limnuchaychi — Come back to your composure, ki Hashem gamal alaychi.”

That’s one of the things to do on the last day of the year. Look back and remember that Hashem is the Melech not only on Rosh Hashanah but also on every other day in the year. He’s in charge of the world, and He’s been in charge from the beginning. He’s stood by you, and He’s going to stand by us until the end — not only of our days, but until the end of time.