Amidah-Redemption-See Our Suffering

The 5th of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apt, the Ohev Yisrael. The Apter told the following story: A confirmed sinner died, and his soul came in before the Heavenly Tribunal. When the Satan brought forth the list of his transgressions and asked for conviction, the sinner argued that his many sufferings on earth should entitle him to a suspended sentence.

Satan replied,“has this man ever been prompted to accept his tribulations with calm, assuming that he merits them because of his sins? Since he has never cherished this thought, his excuse is unacceptable.”

The sinner did not receive a pleasant sentence. (P’eir v’Kavod, page 37a)

See our suffering; see how we accept our suffering with pain.

Haggadah: “We cried to God, the Lord of our ancestors.” We used our suffering as an opportunity to pray.