הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ׃
הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה נֹשֵׂא מֶשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע בֹּא־יָבוֹא בְּרִנָּה נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joy. He who goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall surely come back with joy, carrying his sheaves.”
“עִקַּר הַשִּׂמְחָה הוּא מֵהַיְּגִיעָה וְהַטִּרְחָה שֶׁקּוֹדֶמֶת לָהּ”
“The essence of joy comes from the exertion and toil that precede it.”
| Is it indeed… Is it indeed that days will yet come in forgiveness and in kindness, and you will walk in the field, and you will walk in it like the innocent walker, and the exposure of the sole of your foot will be caressed by the leaves of the clover, or the sheaths of the ears of grain will prick you, and their pricking will grow sweet. Or rain will overtake you with the company of its pounding drops upon your shoulders, your chest, your neck, and your refreshed head. And you will walk in the wet field, and the quiet will widen within you like light at the edge of the cloud. And you will breathe the scent of the furrow, breathing and calm, and you will see the sun in the mirror of the golden puddle. And the things will be simple and alive, and it will be permitted to touch them, and it will be permitted, and it will be permitted to love. You will walk in the field. Alone. Not scorched by the heat of the fires on the roads that bristled from terror and from blood. And in straightness of heart you will again be humble and submissive, like one of the grasses, like one human being. Leah Goldberg | האמנם הַאֻמְנָם עוֹד יָבוֹאוּ יָמִים בִּסְלִיחָה וּבְחֶסֶד, וְתֵלְכִי בַּשָּׂדֶה, וְתֵלְכִי בּוֹ כַּהֵלֶךְ הַתָּם, וּמַחְשׂוֹף כַּף רַגְלֵךְ יִלָּטֵף בַּעֲלֵי הָאַסְפֶּסֶת, אוֹ שִׁלְפֵי שִׁבֳּלִים יִדְקְרוּךְ וְתִמְתַּק דְּקִירָתָם. אוֹ מָטָר יַשִּׂיגֵךְ בַּעֲדַת טִפּוֹתָיו הַדּוֹפֶקֶת עַל כְּתֵפַיִךְ חָזֵךְ צַוָּארֵךְ וְרֹאשֵׁךְ רַעֲנָן. וְתֵלְכִי בַּשָּׂדֶה הָרָטֹב וְיִרְחַב בָּךְ הַשֶּׁקֶט כָּאוֹר בְּשׁוּלֵי הֶעָנָן. וְנָשַׁמְתְּ אֶת רֵיחוֹ שֶׁל הַתֶּלֶם נָשׁוֹם וְרָגוֹעַ, וְרָאִית אֶת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּרְאִי הַשְּׁלוּלִית הַזָּהֹב, וּפְשׁוּטִים הַדְּבָרִים וְחַיִּים וּמֻתָּר בָּם לִנְגֹּעַ, וּמֻתָּר וּמֻתָּר לֶאֱהֹב. אַתְּ תֵּלְכִי בַּשָּׂדֶה. לְבַדֵּךְ. לֹא נִצְרֶבֶת בְּלַהַט הַשְּׂרֵפוֹת בַּדְּרָכִים שֶׁסָּמְרוּ מֵאֵימָה וּמִדָּם. וּבְיֹשֶׁר-לֵבָב שׁוּב תִּהְיִי עֲנָוָה וְנִכְנַעַת כְּאַחַד הַדְּשָׁאִים כְּאַחַד הָאָדָם.–לאה גולדברג |
Designed to help learners articulate meaning, challenge assumptions, and relate mystical ideas to their own lives.
1. What is the faith that is needed in our days, that “what we sow in tears we will reap in joy”? Have you had an experience in which times were hard, and in retrospect, you grew from that experience?
2. What is the relationship between effort and joy according to Rebbe Nachman?
3. Leah Goldberg offers another take on what redemption may look like. If Sarah Yehudit’s understanding of messianic days is, “growth through joy” what is Leah Goldberg’s?
Because transformation happens through practice, each activity invites personal and communal action.
Create an opportunity for a ‘celebration circle’. This may be at a communal meal, or as an activity as a part of class or a group of friends. Ask participants to share a past struggle they overcame and name one way in which they grew from it. Offer a “l’chayim!” - a toast - at the end of each share. The group solidarity and encouragement born out of sharing journeys of struggle can be uplifting. While it is not ‘growth through joy’ it can come close.
