“Hashem, How Many Are My Foes

170 – “Hashem, How Many Are My Foes...” (Psalms 3:2) “Hashem, how many are my foes, many rise up against me” (Psalms 3:2). Each person, according to their soul and service, has their own suffering. One suffers from his children, father, or neighbor. Another—on a higher level—suffers from more distant neighbors. One greater still suffers from the entire city. And someone even greater suffers from the entire world. And each person, through these sufferings, bears those who afflict him. For when he has suffering from them, he carries them upon himself. But how can flesh bear so many people? It is because suffering subdues the body. All suffering is called tzarot (“troubles”), from the root meaning to constrict or oppress the body. When the material is subdued by suffering, then the soul— tzurah (“form”)—shines and expands. As the Zohar (Shelach 168a) says: “A vessel into which fire does not rise is struck; a body into which the light of the soul does not rise...” Therefore, the word tzarah (trouble) also implies tzurah (form). Through trouble, the body is humbled, and the soul shines. As a result, the soul is able to carry and uplift many people. This is the meaning of: “Hashem, how many are my foes, many rise against me”—because through these foes and their troubles, I uplift and raise many to their spiritual root.