Q&A: Do Not Bring Me to a Test
Do Not Bring Me to a Test
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi, in the text of the Morning Blessings there is a prayer that asks, “Do not bring us to a test.” I couldn’t understand why we should not come to a test—isn’t that our role in the world? Ramchal says: “Man was created only … to stand in a test.” That also seems obvious, no?
Answer
You’re reminding me of a difficulty raised by the Rebbe of Gur, brought in Kli Chemdah: why are we happy on Hanukkah? After all, we could have died for sanctifying God’s name, and we were spared that—so we missed the commandment. That’s a nice vort for Hasidim. Or alternatively, Nachmanides on Joseph, who acted in order to fulfill his dreams (and that is why he did not send any sign of life to his father). If the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to put us to a test, He will do so. But I don’t need to go looking for tests by force, and if I can avoid them, I will do so. Likewise, a person is not supposed to put himself into tests proactively. (Though I seem to recall from commentators on Maimonides’ laws of repentance that a penitent is supposed to return to the same situation in which he failed, and some explain that he should actually do so in practice. I think I saw this in the book For the Repentance of the Year.) Do you think a person is not supposed to ask that he not be put into a situation where he will have to die for sanctifying God’s name?
Discussion on Answer
To tell the truth, I once asked someone this question and that was how he explained it to me, and I wondered how Rabbi Michi, who does not believe in individual providence and in a direct connection nowadays between what happens to us and the Holy One, blessed be He, would answer this question.
Let me explain myself. Your answer comes from the assumption that although our role is, among other things, to stand up to tests, we should not go looking for them; we should leave that to the Holy One, blessed be He. Meaning, we are not supposed to run off to the deserts to get away from gossip, as you wrote to me, but rather in our current situation—since we believe that the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged it that way—let’s deal with it and try to keep our distance as long as we are more or less in the environment we are in. (Not move to live in Las Vegas, and not run away to live alone.) But if the place where I live, or anything else that might damage my relationship with the Holy One, blessed be He, came about randomly, and not because the Holy One is watching over me and arranged it that way, then the question is difficult. I’m not suggesting trying to reach a state of dying for sanctifying God’s name, but why remain in the current situation?
I’d be glad if you’d correct me if I misunderstood the answer.
Mr. Dot, according to the view of someone who prays and seriously intends to ask the Holy One, blessed be He, not to bring him to a test, the answer given was that it makes sense to ask this, just as one would ask to avoid any risk (it’s scary to violate seclusion with a forbidden woman), and if the Holy One, blessed be He, wants something else, of course no one can prevent Him.
Exactly. The discussion was conducted according to the view of those who think the Holy One, blessed be He, is involved in the world. The very request, whether reasonable or not, assumes involvement.
I couldn’t understand. According to your view, the request is not relevant today, so I’m not asking from the text. But what is the correct path? As said above, you probably would not recommend that I move to the deserts, nor to a worse place than where I am now, but why remain in my current situation if it has no real meaning? When there is no involvement, one has to find a different solution.
This confused discussion is going nowhere. In my opinion there is no divine involvement. Above I answered you according to your view, that there is. What are you asking now? Why do you assume that my situation has no meaning? What does “remain in my situation” mean? Are you suggesting that I commit suicide? If you don’t decide what you are asking, it will be impossible to discuss it.
I didn’t mean to say that there is a contradiction in your words. I’m just trying to understand how, in your opinion, one is supposed to conduct oneself in life. In my view, a test is a good thing, and it is what brings us closer and helps us progress. It is not wise to try to get oneself into a test, because we can’t rely on ourselves to pass it, but there is a conflict here: can I remain in my current situation and in the day-to-day tests? Maybe even in that I won’t succeed, so how can I rely on myself? For someone who believes in providence, it can be explained as you explained it, but according to your view, how are we supposed to conduct ourselves?
And if according to what we think is likely we will succeed, is it right to get into a situation of dying for sanctifying God’s name if I believe that I will stand up to it?
In my view, one is supposed to observe Torah and commandments, be a good person, and realize one’s values and goals. If tests come our way, one should try to withstand them. But one need not go looking for tests. Certainly not look for situations that require dying for sanctifying God’s name.
It seems to me that we’ve completely exhausted this.
Okay, thank you very much. Sorry if I was a bother.
Rabbi, if you so badly want to avoid tests of dying for sanctifying God’s name, it sounds to me like not a bad option for you.
The wording, “If the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to put us to a test, He will do so” is a bit difficult, since the Rabbi does not espouse constant intervention.