Question: Life has been so tough. I feel like I want to find peace by asking G-D to take me. I try so hard to make it, bit maybe I am just destined to lose. I also feel we, my wife and I, are giving, loving, caring, people. We have no Mazel (good fortune). We help others, especially older people. We entertain them with song and comedy. I am feeling so alone and no one is listening. I am very Jewish and proud. Could you say a prayer for us?

Answer: Of course we will pray for you. You should know that you are not alone. If you are willing, I know someone in your area who may be a source of comfort to you.

In the meantime, there are 3 principles that every Jew must know:

1. Everything comes from God. Even the challenges. And everything that God gives us is for our own good. Therefore, even though the challenges are sometimes soooooo challenging, we must know and believe that they are for a reason and for our own good.

2. The key to happiness, whether in wealth or poverty, health or sickness, is to focus on what I have and not on what I lack. I know wealthy, healthy people who are unhappy because they focus on what they lack. I also know poor, unhealthy people who are quite happy. But it’s a daily choice how you’re going to focus.

3. Ultimately, the reason God gives us anything, be it a blessing or a curse, is to get us to pray better. When it feels good, we should say, “Thank you!” and when it hurts, we should say, “Please help me!” In other words, I will indeed pray for you, but your own prayers are 1000x’s more important.

Hope that’s helpful! Feel free to write again, as often as you’d like.

Rabbi Seinfeld
http://rabbiseinfeld.blogspot.com