Henny Youngman said: You know why Jews don't drink? It interferes with their suffering.
In the Torah’s description of the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt (which we begin to read this week during the weekly readings of the Torah), Moses confronts G-d with the age old question - “Why do bad things happen to good people?!” Or in the words of Moses “Why have You harmed this people? Why have You sent me?” (Exodus 5:22).
The work that the Jewish people were required to do in Egypt is described as “Avodat Perach”. Generally translated as “back breaking labor”, the Talmud says that this means unnatural labor. Work that is typically for men was forced onto women and vice versa.
The Torah is a guide book for life, hence the name Torah - from the word ho’ra’ah - which means teaching or instruction. In the Torah, specific details of events are taught and many others are left without mention. And all the stories and topics included in the Torah are there for the lesson contained within.
According to the explanation sited above, a beautiful insight can be gleaned: It’s not necessarily the amount that you accomplish, rather it’s the growth that is important. Our “work” must be “unnatural” and only then is it valuable.
Those things in life that come easy, naturally, with minimal effort - as important and succesfull as they are, are not “work”. Real work is pushing ourselves beyond our (perceived) limitations. Getting out of our box and pushing beyond the limit. That’s called real work.
For this type of “suffering” we need real focus and that’s why we don’t drink.
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