Troubles. Tzores. (Hebrew). Problems. Issues. Many words have been used over the years to describe human suffering. Tonight at sundown marks the beginning of a nine-day stretch of enforced mourning  (no eating meat, no swimming for many, no music, or weddings) by the Jewish people for the 2nd Temple, which was destroyed 1,932 years go by the Romans. The Jewish people pray every day for the coming of the Messiah (Moshiach), when suffering will end, and the Holy Temple will be rebuilt.

In the meantime, how do we deal? (a new phrase I’ve picked up…). How do we cope with our suffering? Well, this week I took a drive to the Pacific Ocean with my family – about 12 miles from my home, and we watched the waves in the late afternoon before sundown. We breathed in the ocean air.

Seeing is believing – and as I saw the surfers literally ride the waves, I gained a strong perspective of dealing with our troubles.

As I watched them, I couldn’t resist forming a metaphor in my mind. (well okay, I didn’t create that metaphor! I’m just using it for this post!)

When anyone has tzores, the first reaction is to fight it, to resist the issue or problem. But I’ve learned over the years, that dealing with a problem, riding on top of the problem and actually attacking it that way – is the better way to face the difficulty and perhaps solve it.

Maybe that picture of the surfers is so imprinted in my mind because of my admiration for the many people I know who manage to cope with so many challenges in their lives. They are my inspiration, they lead their lives with courage and determination. With their faith in G-d, they tackle their problems day by day and make this world a better place, just by their example.  It is not easy for them, but they do it anyway.  They did not choose to have the waves be so high in their faces, but they rise above them nevertheless. And their example is something to emulate.