From Pain to Purpose: My Radical Transformation

Reflecting on the daily miracles and remembering the Exodus inspires us to break free from modern-day struggles. Each step towards positive change, no matter how terrifying, is a testament to Hashem’s presence in our lives. This awareness encourages us to face our challenges with confidence, knowing that we are never alone. 

So that you shall remember the day when you went out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.” (Deuteronomy 16:3) 

Our Sages teach that turning 50 demands a radical transformation in our lives for Hashem. Hashem bestowed upon me a profound blessing. Less than two months after my 50th birthday, I was involved in a car accident. Baruch Hashem, my stay in the hospital was brief, but the pain was excruciating. In those agonizing moments, I felt closer to death than to life. It was terrifying. 

When you lie in pain, you are stripped of power, rendered helpless. There is nothing you can do to alleviate the suffering. It is in that vulnerable state that you grasp the harrowing truth: we are nothing. Hashem wields total control over His world. Far more lies beyond our control than within it. It is all in His hands. 

In such moments, you realize that your sole recourse is to beseech Hashem for healing, and to implore fellow Jews to pray for your recovery. Acknowledging that He is the True Healer and the True Judge, you plead with God for salvation. This plea is accompanied by a pledge to change, a commitment to align your life more closely with His will. 

The Social Media Exodus: My Epic Battle Against Hatred 

What is my biggest enemy? Hatred. Loshon Hara. Viewing my fellow Jew through a lens of negativity. Why do I do these things? Jealousy. 

As I scroll through my LinkedIn feed, all I see are people thriving. Everyone seems to have a better job or is doing something extraordinary. Instead of feeling joy for them, resentment creeps into my heart. 

During the four days I was confined to a bed, I took a hard look at my actions, reflecting deeply on what I was doing wrong and what needed to change for me to have any hope of Hashem allowing me to continue in this world.  

I realized that the root cause of my baseless hatred was my time on social media; I had to disconnect. This was the first significant change. Like quitting drinking, watching television, or even eating pork-fried rice, it won’t be easy. Such a change is far beyond my comfort zone. 

I am gripped by fear on both ends. If I make these changes, what will become of me? If I don’t, what will become of me? 

That’s the blessing! Hashem placed me in a situation where I had no choice but to align with His will. 

War on Wickedness: Radical Purge of My Social Media Sins 

Social media has been the catalyst for these harmful emotions, but it has also given rise to other sins: speaking loshon hara, consuming excessive news, and in turn, absorbing more loshon hara.  

Finding fault in others, rather than judging our brothers and sisters favorably, is a grave misstep. Pirkei Avot (1:6) clearly instructs us to judge every single Jew on the side of merit. 

Eliminating the root cause is just the beginning; the remaining remnants must also be eradicated. These profound, life-altering changes extend far beyond my comfort zone. It feels like leaving Egypt.  

Despite escaping a dire situation for a brighter future, the morning of the 15th of Nissan, we ventured into the unknown: 

• An unknown desert 
• An unknown freedom 
• An unknown leader 
• An unknown way of life 
• An unknown future 

The fear must have been immense.  

Every Pesach, we are instructed to relive the Exodus as if we are leaving Egypt ourselves. This implies that each year, we must undertake uncomfortable changes. We must identify and abandon a bad habit, no matter how comfortable or enjoyable, and face the daunting task of eliminating it. 

We must confront the fear of what life would be like without this seemingly integral part of our existence. Even if a sin feels external, it can become so ingrained that removing it can feel as severe as an amputation. 

Daily Struggles, Divine Support to Break Free from Slavery 

Hashem commands us to remember His Exodus from Egypt every day of our lives. Our task was to leave Egypt, and Hashem cleared the path by bringing the mighty empire to its knees with ten plagues. He guided us through the desert with manna and His clouds of glory, splitting the Red sea and returning it to its natural state just as the entire Egyptian army was caught within. 

Once free from our pursuers, we took our first breath of freedom and received a new life through the Torah at Har Sinai. Every time we break free from the chains of our self-imposed slavery, Hashem blesses us with miracles and wonders along the way. We must always remember that we are never alone in our struggles to overcome what holds us back. 

We can boldly step beyond our comfort zones into our own deserts of uncertainty, confident that He is watching over us and paving the way to our next redemption. 

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David Ben Horin lives in Afula with his family, millions of sunflowers, and Matilda, our local camel. David‘s Israeli startup, 300 Marketing Solutions, is a lean marketing agency for startups and small businesses that creates and promotes SEO-optimized ROI-driven to the right audience on LinkedIn to make your business the star of the show.