Hester Panim

your difficulties to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

That's called Hester, that's called Hester Panim.

We always have difficulty in knowing when we are living through Hester Panim and when

something else is happening.

Hasuk.

But if you look at the word choices, what are the...

the names that we've been primed by the previous Pasuk and its reference to the Hester Panim, the first time that hiding one's face is presented here in the Torah.

Who are the people here who are being referenced? You can shout it out if you're picking up on it here in this Pasuk.

that there's this parallel between Kayin and Hevel, and right before that we see that there is Chara, that there is anger, similar to Kas.

The I will hide is no longer just an expression of distance, but another painful and sensitive form of connection and the aspiration for connection.

The Midrash gives us an opportunity to see the one who hides, the one whose face is hidden, the holy blessed one in Hester Panim.

The Talmudic readings in the Sifri Dvarim and Chagigah reflect a three-fold distance created as a result of hiding of the face, Hester Panim.

Simple distance, distance that creates a void into which various dangers can enter, and and the withdrawal of the Holy Blessed One to the side, to a secret place, mistarim, where God weeps over the distance, reflecting that hiding of the face is actually an experience of deep solitude.

These diverse interpretations of Hesterpanim map the complex topography of human and divine relationships in moments experienced and perceived as profound distance and abandonment.

In this week's parashah, and there are two, in Vayelech, there is a turn of phrase which is a pretty popular turn of phrase.

It is a theological condition, and it's called Hester Panim, where God, for lack of a better term right now, I'll say He hides His face.

So if we were to look specifically, we'd actually see the term is used twice in two verses.

In the first source in Pesach Yud Zayin, it's Perik Lamed Aleph Yud Zayin, from that day God's anger is going to burn.

I don't feel God at all.

No, that's exactly the point.

That is the punishment of Hester Panim.

The situation whereby a person does not feel God in some kind of sense of immediacy in their life, that is Hester Panim.

this

idea of Hester Panim, of the hiding of the divine face and what causes the distance, Hashem warning us here about what causes it if we feel that Hashem is hiding His face.

There's a promise here.

In the midst of all of this is a beautiful promise.

I find it to be shocking.

Admittedly, I think a party has to go and say, "We trust in Hakadosh Baruch Hu, but we're gonna make plans as if Hakadosh Baruch Hu's gonna be working with Hester Panim." Nevertheless, let's acknowledge the miraculous way that the Israeli economy has grown over these years.

Or as Ben-Gurion said, uh, "In our neck of the woods, um, believing in miracles makes one a realist."

Absolutely.