With regard to the collapses & crushes, it relates to the execution of skilah—stoning.
(Chazal makes this connection, not me. Also, it's Chazal—particularly the Rambam—who says we should search ourselves in times of disaster & not focus just on natural causes.)
One sin that earns the punishment of skilah is violating Shabbat.
Another is cursing Hashem (as described in Vayikra 24:10-23).
(There are other transgression that bring execution by skilah, but let's just focus on these two for now.)
With this in mind, what can we do practically to sweeten din?
Well, the opposite of cursing Hashem is praising Him.
A lot of us already praise & thank Hashem, but maybe we could do even more (and complain even less—even if life really IS difficult & our hardships are not just our perception).
Rav Avigdor Miller recommends telling Hashem at least once a day: "I love You!"
If you're not doing that already, you can do that.
If you are doing it already, you can decide to say it twice or thrice a day.
You can blow kisses too & give Him a thumbs-up.
Saying to Hashem "I love You!" is very short & easy, yet rife with meaning & sweetness.
Also...avoid reading blasphemy, heresy, and atheism.
Regarding Shabbat:
If you haven't already, you can start making a daily learning of 1 Shabbat Law a day.
Because you started on that path, Heaven gives you tons of credit for it even if you haven't managed to keep Shabbat perfectly.
For more on that idea, please see here: how-the-baby-steps-in-this-world-create-your-future-world-of-beautiful-pulsating-light.html.
And here: crushes-collapses-baby-teshuvah-and-an-update-on-cholim.html
You can also decide to make Shabbat even happier. You can take upon yourself:
For some, the Erev Shabbat preparation could use enhancement, like:
Everyone's situation is different & so each individual enhancement of Shabbat depends very much on each individual's situation & soul needs.
But you can focus on doing something that really speaks to you.
(Chazal makes this connection, not me. Also, it's Chazal—particularly the Rambam—who says we should search ourselves in times of disaster & not focus just on natural causes.)
One sin that earns the punishment of skilah is violating Shabbat.
Another is cursing Hashem (as described in Vayikra 24:10-23).
(There are other transgression that bring execution by skilah, but let's just focus on these two for now.)
With this in mind, what can we do practically to sweeten din?
Well, the opposite of cursing Hashem is praising Him.
A lot of us already praise & thank Hashem, but maybe we could do even more (and complain even less—even if life really IS difficult & our hardships are not just our perception).
Rav Avigdor Miller recommends telling Hashem at least once a day: "I love You!"
If you're not doing that already, you can do that.
If you are doing it already, you can decide to say it twice or thrice a day.
You can blow kisses too & give Him a thumbs-up.
Saying to Hashem "I love You!" is very short & easy, yet rife with meaning & sweetness.
Also...avoid reading blasphemy, heresy, and atheism.
Regarding Shabbat:
If you haven't already, you can start making a daily learning of 1 Shabbat Law a day.
Because you started on that path, Heaven gives you tons of credit for it even if you haven't managed to keep Shabbat perfectly.
For more on that idea, please see here: how-the-baby-steps-in-this-world-create-your-future-world-of-beautiful-pulsating-light.html.
And here: crushes-collapses-baby-teshuvah-and-an-update-on-cholim.html
You can also decide to make Shabbat even happier. You can take upon yourself:
- to sing more
- tell more inspiring stories
- read material that enhances your Shabbat
- take just 1 minute on Shabbat to really feel the special day.
- bring in Shabbat earlier
- bring Shabbat out later
- prepare a special food or salad in honor of Shabbat
For some, the Erev Shabbat preparation could use enhancement, like:
- getting ready more efficiently
- taking care not to yell or get angry or eat foods that make you tired or irritable
- baking challah (which includes the powerful mitzvah of hafrashat challah)
- singing as you work
Everyone's situation is different & so each individual enhancement of Shabbat depends very much on each individual's situation & soul needs.
But you can focus on doing something that really speaks to you.
This idea is not meant to blame the victims because what happens to a group of people is a message for all of us and, among other cheshbonot only known to Hashem, the victims are often the messengers, who may even be better than the people who were spared.
(Everything depends & no situation is exactly the same.)
It's simply an attempt to read these strong, painful hints from Shamayim & prevent tragedies, hopefully helping to make everything better for all Am Yisrael & bring the Geula with compassion.
May Mashiach please come speedily in our days!
(Everything depends & no situation is exactly the same.)
It's simply an attempt to read these strong, painful hints from Shamayim & prevent tragedies, hopefully helping to make everything better for all Am Yisrael & bring the Geula with compassion.
May Mashiach please come speedily in our days!
Yemin Moshe in Yerushalayim (photo lightly doctored to look how it will look after Mashiach comes ;) )
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