The Ladybug
“As I was contemplating just how much this little ladybug did not belong on my desk, it suddenly hit me – the ladybug belongs outside, and the Jew belongs in Israel…”
It was turning out to be a really hard day. I was dealing with a gut-wrenching situation that just wasn’t working itself out. I was working so hard to do the right thing, and getting clobbered for it. I called a trusted advisor for advice and guidance, both on the situation and how to strengthen myself in the face of the onslaught. As soon as I put the phone down, I suddenly noticed this tiny ladybug making its way across my desk. It struck me as strange – you don’t normally find ladybugs on the 41st floor of an office building in a bustling city, and certainly not in the dead of winter.
As I was contemplating just how much this little guy did not belong on my desk, it suddenly hit me – I don’t belong at my desk any more than the ladybug does! A Jew doesn’t belong in an office building in America – the Jew belongs in the only land that can feed the soul as much as the body, the land that Hashem promised to us, where the air is conducive to emuna and learning Torah– the Holy Land of Israel. The ladybug belongs in a field of grass, and the Jew belongs in Eretz Yisrael.
The Jewish people are like that little beetle – small, forlorn and helpless, trying to get back home. However, just as that poor ladybug could never get out of the maze that is this building and back into nature without my help, Am Yisrael is also helpless to get out of the maze that is galut (exile) and get back to where we belong – in Israel with our rebuilt Temple – without Hashem’s help.
However, I wasn’t quite satisfied – it still didn’t speak to the issue I was so upset about. So I pulled out my Perek Shirah, a section of the Gemara that lists the verses that different animals say in praise to Hashem, hoping perhaps I could glean the message Hashem was trying to send me. I wasn’t turned away empty handed – the ladybug is classified along with other sharatzim, small creeping creatures. It says:
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker, let Zion rejoice in its King (Tehillim – Psalms – 142)
The ladybug reminds us that just because you’re small doesn’t mean you’re not important – and even more, that you won’t become great. Right now, Am Yisrael is small, like the ladybug. We are so unbelievably low, small in numbers and in strength, and utterly powerless compared to all those who would like us gone – and minuscule when you add in those who wouldn’t put up a peep of protest. However, one day, G-d willing soon, Zion will rejoice in its King – because Hashem has become King of the entire world, not only behind the scenes, but out in the open. Every living being on Earth will recognize Him as G-d, King and the only true Power.
And when that day comes, Israel will rejoice in its Maker, because Am Yisrael won’t be small anymore. We will have fulfilled our mission to be a light unto the nations, and will walk proudly as such. We will be recognized for the latent greatness that has always been there – such as our strength to help those in need even – especially! – in times of trouble, to hold onto our emuna no matter what is thrown at us, to even give up our lives al Kiddush Hashem – for the sanctification of Hashem’s name – as those holy Jews killed in the Mumbai terror attacks recently reminded us. Even though the little ladybug is small and helpless, it reminds us that one day, we will no longer be small and persecuted, but great and respected.
But how do we get there? The ladybug teaches this to us as well, through the same verse. The verse speaks to rejoicing, to simcha. We get to that great day by being happy with our lot in life – not only on that day in the future, but today, and every day. We become great by being filled with gratitude to Hashem, and living with joy every day no matter what that day brings, thus crowning Hashem as King over our lives, and serving Him with our entire being.
I am the last one to tell you that this is easy. Much of the time, it requires a gargantuan effort. However, for those fleeting moments, when through the rubble that is your life and the wasteland that is your heart, your entire being suddenly opens up to the simchah (total joy) of knowing that Hashem loves you, and is with you, cradling you and crying with you, and your spirit soars – that moment is pure gadlus, greatness. It is worth all the emotional sweat and toil to get there – and even though it lasts only a split second, it can hold you for years.
As hard as it is, each one of us must work to be happy with what we do have, and be grateful for it (even as we pray that our lives improve). Ivdu es Hashem b’simchah – we must rejoice in serving Hashem and to live happily by His will, and not ours. We must recognize that Hashem is in fact King over us, and He is a benevolent, all powerful King. He has total power to give us whatever He wants, so obviously, whatever He gives is good for us, even if it doesn’t look or feel good right now.
With that strength behind us, even though we ourselves are so small and vulnerable, we will G-d willing soon, get to the day when the mask will be peeled away. And on that day, not only will we clearly see how everything was always truly for the best – but we ourselves will be recognized as great in accordance with our deeds, both as a nation, and as individuals.
Afterword: Don’t worry – I carefully brought the ladybug downstairs and placed it outside in a spot where no one would (hopefully) step on it.
This article has been lovingly re-published on Breslev Israel in honor of Batya’s 10th anniversary of making Aliyah. Batya wrote to us, commenting that she is only full of gratitude to Hashem for bringing her to Eretz Yisrael, where for the first time in her life, she truly feels at home.
7/23/2009
I’m Home By the way – I am no longer in Chutz LaAretz (Diaspora) – I am now Baruch Hashem in Israel where I belong and I hope you will join me soon!
7/23/2009
By the way – I am no longer in Chutz LaAretz (Diaspora) – I am now Baruch Hashem in Israel where I belong and I hope you will join me soon!