And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and HASHEM led the sea with the strong east wind all night, and He made the sea into dry land and the waters split. (Shemos14:21)

The livelihood of a person is (KASHA) difficult as the splitting of the sea. (Pesachim118.)

The matching of someone with a mate is (KASHA) difficult as the splitting of the sea, (Sota 2:)

There is a classic and obvious question here crying out for an answer? “Is anything too wondrous for HASHEM!?” (Breishis 18:14) It’s a rhetorical question. Affirmatively stated, HASHEM can do anything! So, the question about these two statements from the Talmud equating the difficulty of splitting the sea with earning livelihood and finding a marriage partner, What’s so hard? Nothing is hard for HASHEM!

The Sefas Emes points out that there is another KASHA, another difficulty that is associated with HASHEM that nobody asks a KASHA, a question about.

At the very end of Sukkos there is a one-day Yom Tov called Shmini Atzeres. This day is extremely holy and dear to HASHEM. We have just spent an entire month of Elul warming up to and preparing for Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. We heard the blowing of the Shofar and were inwardly responsive in Teshuvah. Having fasted and begged for forgiveness, we enter the Sukkah happily and sit with HASHEM singing and celebrating our renewed relationship. Nothing is more precious to HASHEM than those treasured days. It fulfills the purpose of creation, that HASHEM has a people and place in this lowly world. Then by the very end, there is a big surprise. The Talmud tells us that HASHEM says, “KASHA ALAI PREIDASCHEM” – “Your departure from ME is difficult (KASHA)!” So, we are invited to stay another day, Shmini Atzeres, just as an expression of that closeness and dearness. It’s beautiful and beyond holy. What in the universe can be more glorious than that Divine hug.

This is all evident in human relationships as well. Shakespeare penned, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” You can witness this daily at the airport where people struggle visibly to say “good bye”. Sometimes, not wanting to let go and holding on till, leave, they must. This is a miniature MOSHOL of the AHAVA RABBA AHAVTANU HASHEM ELOCHEINU, the great love that HASHEM has for His people Israel. What’s hard for HASHEM is saying goodbye to US.

Why should HASHEM or why should we ever have to say goodbye?! Again, the examples of human experience are way too many and ubiquitous. We found this out the hard way. Don’t pay a worker the full amount until after he has finished the job. Let’s not be totally cynical, but let’s not be naïve either.

The Torah tells us, “When you eat and are satisfied…” If I will ask most people to finish this verse they will continue with the words that prompt Birkas Hamazon, “and you shall bless HASHEM your G-d”. Few remember that those same words are also found scrolled in the Mezuzah in every doorway in the house, from the second paragraph of SHEMA! When you eat and are satisfied, watch out lest your heart turns astray and you serve other gods…”. WOW! The exact same state of being satiated can deliver two exact opposite reactions. That moment is a great test. Rashi explains this tendency of the human heart, “A person only kicks (rebels) from being satisfied.” Once a person gets what they want, they are at risk of abandoning and even rebelling against the one to whom they are now indebted.

When HASHEM gives us what we want and need most, daily food, financial security, a loving spouse and caring spouse, there is a risk that we will forget about HASHEM and part company. That is HARD for HASHEM. He wants to give us what we need but it may spoil us. So, we DAVEN and we struggle, and we pray, and then when it comes, it feels miraculous and we appreciate it that much more. So, what is the appropriate response? The Sefas Emes says, “AZ YASHIR” – “SHIRA” begin to sing to HASHEM and never stop singing.