CTeenConnection

By Quincy Barrett, CTeen Manchester, UK

Like many students in the UK, I have just finished my High School Exams (GCSEs). Many of us, regardless of where we are from, know that feeling, just before an exam where you instantly think— you’re going to fail. Well, one of my friends was doing his pre-university exams in the same room as me. I never thought of him as particularly religious but, to my surprise, before every exam he listened to some Jewish music, as if it were a prayer, his way of saying, Hashem please help me.

In this week’s parasha, Beha’alote’cha, Miriam, Moshe’s sister, gossips about Moshe’s wife. As a result, Hashem makes her ill and gives her a disease. Moshe then turns around and says the shortest prayer in the entire Torah:

קל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ

Please G-d heal her please.

What’s interesting is, in this section, the Torah describes Moshe as Humble ( ענו, pronounced a עָנָ֣יו in Hebrew).

This implies one of two things.

1. He is so humble that the gossip did not affect him or/and

2. The prayer he then makes shows that this action is a sign of being humble and is an act of total humility.

This teaches me a strong message. Just as my friend will have done all his revision and put every effort into learning, he still feels the need to make the smallest of prayers before his exam. In a sign of humility and belief in the ultimate control of Hashem, both Moshe and the actions of my friend,  teach that when we hit a hard time or reach a barrier in the road, just looking up and asking for Hashem’s help, even the smallest sentence, not only shows belief but is an expression of humility.

I wish to end by saying that remember Hashem is always there, and even a small act of humility can help you.

Good look and I hope you get the results you wish for.