כל העולם כלו גשר צר מאד והעקר לא לפחד כלל
The whole entire world is a very narrow bridge But the main thing is not to fear at all
During this Coronavirus Pandemic the entire world feels at once both deeply connected and extremely isolated. On the one hand this has reminded us how much we impact one another globally, how we are all connected to each other no matter the distance, the language, or the worldview. On the other hand we are told to stay home and practice social distancing. We are unable to pray together or learn together in person. But at the same time our virtual connections (thank you Zoom) are building bridges to people and places with whom we would not normally interact. We are witnessing incredible acts of bravery, kindness, and gratitude. And at the same time, a simple act like going to the supermarket can bring anxiety and avoidance. There is an aspect to life these days that feels like a גשר, a bridge. And there is an aspect that feels צר, like being closed in in a narrow space.
What does Rebbe Nachman mean when he tells us not to have any fear? How can one not be afraid right now when you see the numbers growing at an alarming rate every day? We wonder how long this will last, when things will get back to normal, whether normal will even be the same as it once was. Will this pass after a few months or will it keep coming back? Will we ever be able to get together with friends and family again? When will we be able to get back to school and work? When will sports resume? When will we be able to hear Kriat HaTorah in a minyan with a Sefer Torah? When life does eventually get “back to normal” will people appreciate and help each other more than they used to, or will we retreat into silos looking out only for our immediate circles?
I wrote about this once before, in one of my 1st ever blog posts, back in 2012, but it bears repeating. Any time I have brought teens on an Israel trip, when we go to the Kotel (especially if it is on a Friday night) I ask them to close their eyes and imagine a bridge going all the way from the spot where they daven in their shul at home to this place and time at the Kotel right now. And I tell them that I want them to really visualize this bridge and feel the power of the moment they are now experiencing, feeling so close to Hashem and seeing so many different types of people all connected to one another. So that the next week, when they are back home, they can close their eyes again and cross this invisible bridge back to the Kotel to feel the same incredible connection and inspiration even from home. To be honest, I do not always remember to close my eyes at Kabbalat Shabbat and visualize this bridge. But whenever I do I always feel that connection and inspiration.
I wonder if maybe the secret to understanding Rebbe Nachman’s teaching about fear, which might help us during these scary times, is to build that invisible bridge. Right now things might feel narrow and scary. But we have to remember that we come from people who have crossed narrow bridges before us and come out on the other side. And we have to remind ourselves that if we put one foot in front of the other, even though this bridge in front of us is narrow, and long, and wobbly, we will eventually get to the other side as well.
So rather than give in to the פחד, the fear and worry, I invite us all to close our eyes and imagine that invisible bridge. Imagine what it will look like on the other side. Will we have grown from this ordeal or stayed the same? Will we be more grateful, more giving, more sensitive to the needs of others? Will we each do our part to make this world a little better? Will we care about what happens to others and not just ourselves? When I close my eyes and cross this bridge I imagine a world that feels more connected and caring, having gone through such an ordeal together.
Tonight is Pesach. While we sit in our homes recounting the exodus of long ago it is not hard to imagine our ancestors having similar conversations. The Hebrew word for Egypt, מצרים, comes from the same shoresh, צר. Our ancestors were also stuck in a narrow place and scared. Until one day Hashem led them out and built an invisible bridge for them across the Red Sea. So even though our Seders this year might have fewer people than usual, in some ways I feel more connected to Klal Yisrael and to the World than ever before. I imagine a bridge from my house to each of yours, until we are all connected like a web. As I sing the songs and taste the Matzah I will picture you doing the same and feel connected. May this Pesach bring us the freedom to break out of our narrow world views and see the bigger picture. May Hashem watch over us and send healing and hope. When we open the door for Eliyahu may he greet us all with a vision of a brighter future. And may our prayer of “Next Year in Jerusalem” herald the coming of Mashiach very very soon. All it takes is for each of us to build that invisible bridge.
