Imagine a world without any fear.
A world with no stress.
A world without sadness.
I had a glimpse into such a world this past Sunday. In fact, I step into this world almost every week when I visit my son’s yeshiva in upstate New York.
It’s a yeshiva where 55 boys study Torah day and night. They have no smartphones, no television, no radio. They are completely disconnected from the outside world. What they do have is lots of Torah, some basketball, some swimming, and no stress—it’s a blissful utopia.
It’s a world I’m envious of. This is how I lived my life as a student, and I often wish I could go back and recapture the experience.
I spent two hours there this week, studying Torah with my son. It’s so refreshing to disconnect from the world, delve into the intricacies of the Talmud, connect to what’s true, and forget about everything that’s wrong with the world for a few hours.
For these boys, this is how they live their lives until they grow older and are ready to “take on the world.” Their learning fortifies them, sharpens their minds, and gives them the strength to withstand all the challenges that this world has to offer.
When the world frightens us into thinking, “What will be? How will Jews survive with so many enemies and the growing antisemitism all over the world?” it’s those years of Torah study that fortify us. We know the answer: G-d is the one Who saved us time and again—like Esther and Mordechai in the Purim story—and G-d is the one Who will continue to save us.
When we wake up with the weight of the world on our shoulders—worried about work, bills, and all sorts of other problems—we can tap into the knowledge that everything that happens is directed by G-d and shrug off the stress.
When the world tells us to be sad because there is so much pain and suffering, we tell the world, “That’s true, but we’re commanded to be happy during the month of Adar. G-d is in control and has a master plan, so relax, be happy.”
“But I didn’t go to yeshiva,” you might say. “I didn’t fortify myself.”
Well, good news—it’s not too late.
Start your day with a little bit of Torah. Study it. Learn it. Absorb it. Until it becomes with you—part of who you are and how you think.
Turn off your phone and your devices for Shabbat. Disconnect from the world for 25 hours and connect to G-d, your family, and your community.
Create that stress-free environment for yourself. Lean into the belief that G-d is in control, and you won’t believe how much easier life gets.