The great lesson of Donald Trump
Last Month was the second anniversary of President Trump’s miraculous salvation from an assassin’s bullet in Butler PA. Shortly after the event I wrote an essay in which it was expressed that a very central theme of Trump is “destruction for the sake of fixing” or to say it simply to “turn the lemon into lemonade”. Since this essay was written, Trump was reelected as President and is now in the process of destroying the tyrannical regime in Iran in order to God willing help make the world a safer place. A lot more lemons have been turned into lemonade and we are not finished yet. There is a lot we can learn from this and there is much spiritual depth behind this dynamic. Here is the original essay.
The Great Lesson of Donald Trump
Ok. Let’s start with a disclaimer. I have no intention with this article to claim that Donald Trump is a Tzadik. I am aware of his shortcomings and have no intention to white wash them. However, our sages teach us ” Who is a wise man? He who learns from every person.” Moreover, when considering the fact that we are dealing with a person who has already made a major impact on Jewish history (and very well may continue to make even a bigger impact) it is worthwhile to consider what is his underlying theme.
Well, without a doubt the main lesson that we can learn from Donald Trump is from his uncanny ability to, as put colloquially, “turn the lemon into lemonade”. There are much deeper spiritual underpinnings to this dynamic. However, first let us flesh out how this relates to Trump.
With Trump, this dynamic (which in the Sefarim Hakedoshim (the sacred books) is called “Shvira Al Menas Letaken” -“Destruction for the sake of Fixing”) is a theme that runs through his whole life. Trump made his money by taking old dilapidated buildings and transforming them into magnificent hotels. This is “Destruction for the sake of fixing” in the most literal way! Moreover, there were a number of times when Trump declared bankruptcy and yet used it as a catapult to regain millions. He even wrote a book on the topic.
In more recent years, as he entered politics, even his greatest foes will admit that he has been a master of taking a setback and using it as a catapult for much greater success. At the beginning of the winter, when he was indicted by a Georgia court, his intimidating pose for his photo op is what helped him jump high above his other opponents for the Republican nomination. And of course, there is no greater example of this theme as it relates to Trump, than what happened last month in Pennsylvania.
In one of the greatest images in American history, an almost 80 year old former (and hopefully future) president moments after almost being killed rises from the trauma, lifts up his fist while blood is flowing down his face and screams “Fight!!” to the adoring crowd. This was Trump at his best.
Like everything in life, there are profound very relevant lessons that we can learn from this dynamic. Moreover, the underlying dynamic of “Destruction for the sake of Fixing” is the underlying fabric of creation as will be explained.
In the 9th Psalm, the Jewish people are compared to young children in their relationship with Hashem (God). The holy Baal Shem Tov explains this in the following way: When a child is learning to walk, it is normal for him to fall down many times in the process of learning. A wise father recognizes that this is the dynamic of growth and while watching his son, allows him to fall at times so that he can learn to get up and ultimately walk on his own. So, too, the Baal Shem Tov explains, Hashem (God) wants to teach us how to grow and ” walk on our own” -therefore he allows us to fall at times, because within the fall itself lies the catalyst for the future growth. In the same vein, our Sages tell us that a person can never fully understand something unless he struggles with it first. It is not just despite the struggle that he achieves understanding. Rather, it is the struggling itself that leads to future clarity.
This process is also rooted in the fabric of creation. In Genesis, when the Torah (Bible) describes the creation of the world, it says ” And there was darkness, and there was light etc.” The night is always mentioned before the day. And for this reason in Jewish law the day starts at night. However, Rebbe Noson of Nemirov explains that the world was created in this way, with night preceding day, since this is the dynamic of everything that happens in life. The Jewish people had to be slaves in Egypt before they could receive the Torah. And so too we have to go through this long difficult exile which is compared to night, before we can experience the incredible light of Redemption.
In our personal lives as well, we all face enormous challenges regularly. However, the foundation of pure Emuna (faithfulness to God) is that underlying each challenge is an incredible opportunity for personal growth. Moreover, the bigger the challenge is- the bigger is the opportunity for growth. One who has lived their life with this higher awareness will undoubtedly see it clearly expressed in their life story many times.
Of course, we all have free will. However, the opportunity exists in each of our numerous challenges to turn the lemon into lemonade, the darkness into light, the bitterness into sweetness. This is not easy at all. However, with much prayer and effort it can be achieved. For this is the way Hashem ( God) created the world. Darkness must come before light. This is certainly not easy. But this is what Hashem wants from each and every one of us-to transform the darkness into light.
So, as we get closer to the upcoming American elections, let us pray and hope that Mr. Trump will be able to do it again and rebound greatly from the recent resurgence of his newest opponent. Of course, even if he wins, we must continue to pray that he will be a good president who will help the Jewish people and the world. However, let us also stop for a moment and reflect upon this great theme that seems to run through his life and God willing use it to strengthen and inspire our lives as well!
Ariel arielgalian613@gmail.clom
-Ariel Galian
