Wandering Jews

The Jewish People did not wander in the desert because they got lost!  They wandered because that is how Hashem directed them.  They followed the miraculous Cloud of Glory (which we commemorate by sitting in the Sukkah).  When the cloud lifted they followed.  At times they were in one place for one day and other times, two days, weeks or months and even years.  All in, they traveled 42 times during the 40 years!

It begs the question; the Jewish People were being punished for not wanting to go into the Land of Israel.  The main result of that consequence is that they ought to have spent 40 years in the desert, but why the wandering?  Why did they need the schlepping?

The Baal Shem Tov whose yahrzeit we commemorated on Shavous teaches that everything that happens, even something seemingly insignificant as a leaf falling from a tree, is all Divnely orchestrated and part of G-d’s Masterplan.
Furthermore, “From G-d the footsteps of Man is guided”, wherever a person goes, wherever the wind or circumstances pushes a person, is part of G-d’s Masterplan.

A person may think they are in a particular circumstance because circumstances brought them there; a new job, a relationship, schooling or other opportunity.  In reality, they are brought there because they have something to accomplish there.  Some Divine spark that needs elevating.  It could be an interaction that needs elevating or a physical object that is seeking its fulfillment.

The Jewish People wandered the desert following the cloud, because Hashem was bringing them to all the places in the desert that needed to be elevated. 

The desert represents a place which is filled with dangerous and unpleasant creatures (snakes and scorpions) and is a place which is spiritual void as it is generally uninhabitable (representing that spirituality has a hard time settling there).

In our lives as well we can feel like we are in a desert, removed from positivity, engaged in negativity.  We may experience the challenge and negativity of being quarantined for three months.

Like the Jews in the desert, we can navigate these challenging times by exploring what Divine sparks are waiting in our own homes, in our own relationships, to be elevated.

And once we have completed elevating those sparks, there will be other ones to be elevated somewhere else. Until all the wanderings and quarantines will come to an end with the coming of Moshiach – because our job will have been completed.

Good Shabbos!