On the verse "I am black, but I am pleasant" (Song of Songs, 1:5), Rashi explains as follows: I am black due to my misdeeds, but I am pleasant due to the deeds of my forefathers. And even in my deeds there are also pleasant ones to be found.
This attitude of sifting out and identifying the good/pleasant from among the bad/black is of paramount importance. Indeed this is the key to Jewish survival and salvation - both nationally and personally.
It is a tendency of human nature that a person tends to focus on his setbacks and failures. The outcome of this is depression and melancholy, which leave a person stiff and heavy, being unable to do even the minimum good which could have been done. And even if a person tries to by-pass this condition with all types of "quick-fixes", in the long-run they don't help.
So, what to do?
Rebbe Nachman teaches that a person must look for, pinpoint, find and connect to the good points in himself. Even if the good seems to be outnumbered by the bad, and more than this - the good itself seems to be very blemished and defective - nevertheless he must connect to and identify with the pure good point found within whatever he finds. Doing so enables a person to overcome his depression and melancholy.
Even if this does not seem rational, still the power of focusing on and looking for the good has its benefits and reward. This is so, since the pure good point found is essentially a part of Hashem Himself. And once a person can connect to Hashem, he has everything made!
Theoretically this may sound fine and dandy, but practically it proves very difficult to do, since the black/bad endlessly tries to cover-up the little drop of good found.
So, what to do?
This is what Rashi hints to (above) when he explains: "I am black due to my misdeeds, but I am pleasant due to the deeds of my forefathers". "Forefathers" is also a reference to the Tzaddikim who are also called fathers as in when Elisha cried out to Eliyahu when he ascended to Heaven: "My father, my father, O chariot of Israel".
In other words, I am black due to my misdeeds, since all alone the blackness tends to re-cover-up the little drop of good that I find within myself. However, I am pleasant due to the deeds of my forefathers/the Tzaddikim, since they help me to solidly stand by and hold on to the little drop of good that I find within myself.
May we merit coming closer to and finding the true leaders - the Tzaddikim - who have the power and ability to shine us with the awareness and value of our own personal good. And may this in turn lead towards the revelation of the collective good found within everyone, which shall lead to the coming of Mashiach and the building of the Third Temple, speedily in our days, Amen.
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As Pesach approaches, so do the special holiday expenses. Please be considerate and help support needy large families here in Jerusalem.
To contribute please follow this paypal link: PESACH SUPPORT
As a token of appreciation for your support, please include your Hebrew name and mother's Hebrew name (if applicable) in the description box on the left side of the paypal page. I will bli neder add your name to my 40-day davening list which also includes sporadic praying at the holy sites here in Eretz Yisrael.
Thank you, be well, and have a Happy and Kosher Pesach experience
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