Yossi Cohen, the former head of the Mossad, describes in his new book the mindset of an agent going out on their first mission. He writes about the angst, the assumed identity and storyline they must live by, the emergency communication methods they may have to resort to, and the subconscious fear that at any second there could be a knock at the door stating "it's the police".
Yet even as the risks are great and one could go for weeks or months without being in touch with their loved ones and one wrong misstep and the damage can be huge, there is also a deep awareness of the importance of the mission and each individual element of the process, which have ramifications far beyond the agent, as indeed they effect the destiny of the Jewish people of Israel and so much more.
In Jewish Teachings from the Talmud to the Torah & teachings of Kabbalah, the soul is described as a piece of G-d, that is tasked with a special mission before it is sent down to earth. The soul is nervous and doesn't want to go, as it sees the formidable challenges, pain, negativity and the potential to mess up.
The soul is then charged with making an oath that it will do its best to be righteous, to do the right thing, and to live up to its mission as it is powered up with the resources it will need to handle the challenges that come its way and to stay true to its mission, no matter how difficult.
Yet, it still doesn't want to go as it is shown the challenges and pain ahead that seem too great which seem to threaten the very mission. An angel is then brought forward which carries this piece of G-d, the Divine Spark gently but forcefully and places it inside a newborn baby somewhere in the world, in a place where its destiny can be shaped, that will align with its unique mission.
The soul is given a new identity, a physical body where it can then express itself, which at times can also become all consuming. On a conscious level, the happenings of the now, are all that matter, survival, do well, succeed, and so much more. Yet deep down the soul is always yearning and sending signals, sparks of inspiration and craving to stay true to its mission in this world.
At times, the challenges can be great and formidable and even feel like they will completely overrun the person, and seem like that perhaps the dynamics of the challenges are too great to overcome.
It is then, that we need to remind ourselves that even though the soul was told "go", as it enters into the world and it seems like it is alone in its mission, G-d, also tell the soul "come", I am with you and holding your hand through each and every trial, tribulation and challenge.
We are on a mission to do good and to make our lives and the world around us become a beautiful garden for G-d, and at times the challenges seem great and perhaps consuming and overwhelming. Yet we also need to remember that we are never really alone, G-d is there even on the hard days, even in the most painful moments, holding out his "hand" to us and telling us "come", you CAN do this.
We all have our days and our weeks or moments in life, when even the knowledge that we have a mission and job to do in this world, is not enough to give us the push, to navigate the darkness or challenges at hand. It is then that we need to remember, G-d didn't just say "go", G-d also says "come", I am with you right now, we can do this together.
"Bo", "Come" are the words that G-d said to Moses as he prepared to meet the mighty and fearsome Pharoah, not just "go". Moses you are not alone in dealing with this hardship and difficult situation that is causing so much pain and suffering and seems so hopeless, we are going to do this together and we will succeed in making things much better.
The mission is on each of our shoulders as we seek to stay true to our principles and morality and stay the course with actions and good deeds which we must bring to the world.Â
We have been powered up with a resilient Divine soul inside of us, and even if on some days and moments in life and history it seems so hard, let our faith remind us, G-d is holding our hand as we navigate forward and move through and overcome the challenges we face, as individuals, as Jewish people and as humanity.
Bo, come, let's move forward on the mission, as we bring a better world into fruition.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel