Are You Finding G-d in the Storm?

A small child walked to and from school every day. One morning, the weather looked uncertain. Dark clouds were forming, yet the child still made the daily trip.

As the day went on, the winds grew stronger, and thunder and lightning filled the sky.

The mother became worried. She feared her child would be frightened walking home from school, and she also worried that the storm itself might cause harm.

After another roar of thunder and a flash of lightning cutting through the sky like a flaming sword, the concerned mother got into her car and drove toward the school.

Soon she saw her child walking home.

But something unusual was happening.

Every time lightning flashed, the child would stop, look up at the sky… and smile.

Another flash, another stop, and another smile.

Finally, the mother called out, “What are you doing?”

The child answered:

“I’m smiling for G-d. He keeps taking pictures of me.”

Instead of fear, the child saw a moment with G-d.

The Message of the Cloud

This idea connects beautifully with this week’s Torah reading.

This Shabbat, we read the double portion Vayakhel–Pekudei, concluding the second book of the Torah, Book of Exodus. When we finish the book we proclaim:

“Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek!” — Strength, strength, and may we be strengthened.

This Shabbat, we also read Parshat HaChodesh, announcing the arrival of the month of Nissan, the month of redemption and miracles for the Jewish people.

The Torah concludes with a powerful image:

“The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of G-d filled the Mishkan.”

Why a cloud?

Because a cloud represents darkness that hides the sun. Yet the Torah teaches that even within the cloud, the Divine Presence can dwell.

The Jewish people looked into the darkness—and discovered G-d within it.

If clouds ever appear over your life, do not despair.

Above every cloud, the sun still shines.

And sometimes, within the cloud itself, we encounter G-d.

The Power of a Question

Elie Wiesel once told a story about a young Chassid who devoted his life to studying Torah.

One night, he suddenly closed his book, ran into the town square, and cried out:

“I cannot go on studying until I know one thing: What is the meaning of life?”

People tried to calm him, but nothing worked. Finally, they sent him to the Rebbe.

When he asked the Rebbe the question, the Rebbe stood up and gave him a gentle slap.

“Rebbe, why did you slap me?”

The Rebbe answered:

“You fool! You have such a good question—why exchange it for an answer?
It is the answers that separate people. The questions unite them.”

Sometimes the question itself is part of the journey through the cloud.

Courage in Our Time

Thinking about courage reminds me of the remarkable story of Catherine Perez-Shakdam, a Jewish woman who reportedly infiltrated the inner circles of Iran.

Born in France to a Jewish family, she eventually gained access to powerful political and military figures by presenting herself as a sympathetic journalist.

Through intelligence she allegedly gathered, critical information reached Israeli intelligence services, helping expose dangerous threats.

Eventually, Iranian authorities realized they had been infiltrated—but by then she had vanished.

To many observers, it reads like a spy novel. Yet the deeper lesson is clear:

When a person knows their mission, they can walk fearlessly even into darkness.

The Power of One Mitzvah

Not all of us are spies or heroes.

But every one of us can bring light into the world.

A musician in upstate New York was performing in a bar in Poughkeepsie when news broke that Israel had begun striking Iranian nuclear facilities.

Even though no one in the audience looked Jewish, he paused the show and asked everyone to pray for peace and commit to one act of kindness.

Then he played “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem” and explained its meaning.

That night, he had a dream that the Rebbe thanked him. The Rebbe told him that his words inspired a Jewish woman in the audience to light Shabbat candles for the first time in fifty years.

The next morning, he dismissed the dream.

But on Sunday, he received a message from a woman in the audience.

She wrote that his words had inspired her to light Shabbat candles that Friday night for the first time since her Bat Mitzvah.

He concluded:

“We should always speak positively in public, because we never know who might be listening.”

Smiling Through the Storm

The lesson is powerful.

A child looks at lightning and smiles.

The Jewish people look at clouds and discover G-d’s presence.

One brave woman walks into darkness with courage.

One musician inspires a mitzvah that lights up the world.

Life will always have storms.

But if we look upward, even in the lightning, we may discover something amazing.

Perhaps, just perhaps,

G-d is taking a picture.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,

Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky