We learn from our oral tradition, our
Talmud, that stories of suffering lead
us to compassion and healing. Stories
of suffering can lead us to take action
since we need each other to help us
out of our suffering. Here is a story of suffering from our
oral tradition in the Talmud (Berachot 5b):
Rabbi Chiya Bar Abba got sick. Rabbi Yochanan came
to visit him. Rabbi Yochanan said, “Are your sufferings
precious to you?” Rabbi Chiya Bar Abba replied, “I don’t
want them, nor do I want their reward.” That is, I do not
want any character building that suffering may bring.”
Rabbi Yochanan said, “Give me your hand.” He gave him
his hand and Rabbi Yochanan raised him up (out of his
sickness). In other words, Rabbi Yochanan faith-healed
Rabbi Chiya. Then, Rabbi Yochanan got sick. Now the
one who healed is the one who is sick. Rabbi Chanina
came to him.
Rabbi Chanina said to him, “Are your sufferings precious
to you?” A new rabbi comes to him and has the very
same conversation! Rabbi Yochanan replied, “I don’t want
them nor do I want their reward.” Said Rabbi Chanina,
“Give me your hand.” He gave him his hand and Rabbi
Chanina raised him up (out of his sickness). Rabbi
Yochanan, the faith healer, needed Rabbi Chanina to heal
him.
So the Talmud asks - Why so? Rabbi Yochanan should
have raised himself up. That is, if Rabbi Yochanan could
heal Rabbi Chiya, then why couldn’t he just heal himself.
Why do therapists need therapists? Why do doctors need
doctors? Why can we give wise advice to our friend in
need, but when we are suffering we cannot say those
same things to ourselves? And the Talmud answers this
question poetically. They say, “A prisoner cannot get
him/herself out of his/her own shackles.”
Sometimes it feels like there is no escape from our suffering.
We become prisoners to our own illness. So we
need someone to acknowledge our pain and to extend a
helping hand which can lead us down a path to healing,
and allow us to stand on our own two feet again. WE
NEED EACH OTHER! No matter what our suffering is, it
is wrong to suffer alone and as a caring, loving, Jewish
community and family, we must be there for each other.
If anyone knows of someone who is ill or has
passed or is in some other need please call or
email me directly so that I can make contact with
them. My number is 305-338-3029 and my email is
Rabbi Schonblum