Achieving the Impossible | Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm

Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 3,337 years ago, our Zeydes came to Har Sinai. The next day, the Ribono shel Olam sends a message to Klal Yisroel, If you accept my Torah, you will be my עם סגולה, my most beloved treasure. The Master of the world, Creator of everything that ever was and will be, declares that we will be His treasure. And Klal Yisroel agreed. Everything that Hashem says we will do. We want to be His treasure. So Hashem tells Moshe, and Klal Yisroel will hear בדברי עמך, as I speak to you. Wow. We will hear, for the first time in history, an entire nation will hear as Hashem speaks to Moshe. But the Yidden were not satisfied with that. We want to hear and see Hashem directly. And Hashem agreed. The question is If that was always an option, that Klal Yisroel should hear and see Hashem directly, why wasn't that offered in the first place? And the answer is Because it was impossible. A person cannot see the Ribono shel Olam and live. So Hashem did not offer them that choice. But they argued, and Hashem acquiesced. He will allow it, just this once. What changed? Wasn't it impossible? And the answer is When it comes to being an Oved Hashem, and there is a burning desire to get even closer to Hashem, then even the impossible can happen. Originally, Hashem did not offer this choice, because it was impossible. However, with determination and persistence, even the impossible can happen. With this Ratzon and determination is how Rashi and the Rambam became Rashi and the Rambam, is how R’ Elyashiv, R’ Moshe and the Chofetz Chaim became R’ Elyashiv, R’ Moshe and the Chofetz Chaim, is how our parents and grandparents built an entire nation, after it was nearly decimated 80 years ago. And it is with this Ratzon and determination how we live our lives. You see, it's not only our Gedolim. How often do we face a task that seems impossible? It seems so difficult to do, and then we do it. Because we want to, and we have the help of the Ribono shel Olam. More than a century ago, the Chofetz Chaim said that the דור before Moshiach will have the Yetzer Hara at their fingertips. How prophetic and true. The Ribono shel Olam chose us, this last דור before Moshiach, to face challenges and Nisyonos that no דור has seen before. It's the Yetzer Hara’s last gasp. No one is spared. The Nisyonos are everywhere. And when we do pass the test, how truly rewarding. We've achieved the unachievable. Yes, sometimes it's difficult. Very difficult. Maybe even impossible. We think we can't, and it's true, we truly can't. But we could.