When the Fire Fades — What Comes Next?

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Am Yisrael has seen unimaginable highs and devastating lows. In every generation, they rise against us. And yet—we’re still here. Not just surviving… but shining.

It’s one of the greatest miracles in history: a tiny fraction of the global population, contributing more to the world than any other people. Over a quarter of all Nobel Prizes. Leaders in every field. The moral compass of the world. A light unto the nations.

But our real strength isn’t just in our impact—it’s in our resilience.

Hashem gave us a mission, and no matter how many times we’re knocked down, we rise. We carry the flame forward—generation after generation. That’s the story of our people. That’s the story of this week’s parsha.

For seven days, Moshe built and took down the Mishkan. Again and again. But on the eighth day—the yom hashemini—something changed. Aharon and his sons were appointed. The Mishkan remained standing. The avodah passed on. Stronger. The flame continued.

Sheva yipol tzadik v’kam — A tzadik falls seven times, and gets up. But not just to get up. To rise higher. Stronger. Wiser. The fall becomes the fuel for the future.

Today is Yom HaShoah and we remember the six million kedoshim who were murdered for no reason other than being Jews. And next week, on Yom HaZikaron, we remember those who died defending our nation, our home, and our future. Their memory is not lost. Each soul added a spark. A lesson. A piece of the eternal flame that we now carry.

This week’s article is deeply personal. I share about my Zaidy. About loss, and inspiration. About what happens when the fire fades — and how sometimes, that’s where the real growth begins.

And before we dive in—just a quick reminder:

After Pesach, I launched Habitachon — a daily message to help you build the habit of living with bitachon. And baruch Hashem, it’s been growing every day.

Here’s why it matters:

Before Mashiach comes, Chazal say we’ll need to strengthen our emuna and bitachon. But bitachon doesn’t come naturally. It goes against everything we were taught growing up — to rely on ourselves, to control everything, to stress and strategize.

But that’s not real life. That’s olam haSheker — an upside-down world.

True life is lived with bitachon. It’s deeper. Calmer. Stronger. Closer to Hashem.

Habitachon is your chance to step into that life. Whether you’re just starting, reviewing, or looking for a simple daily boost — this is how you build the habit.

🟢 Just 1–2 minutes a day
🟢 Direct to WhatsApp
🟢 Free. Always.

No pressure, no excuses. Just clarity, trust, and a stronger connection to Hashem — one day at a time.

You can join here or reply and I’ll help you get set up.

Now, let’s jump into this week’s message.

Why the Fire Fades — and Why That’s a Gift

Learning to grow when the inspiration disappears

Some moments hit us like lightning.
A loss that cracks us open.
A flash of clarity that lifts the fog.
A spiritual high where everything feels alive — awake — infinite.

And in that moment, we tell ourselves:
“I’ll never go back. This changed me forever.”

But then… we do.
The pain softens. The clarity fades. The fire dies down.
And we’re left wondering:
Was it real? Did I really change? Why does it feel so far away now?

From “Zeh Keili V’anveihu” to… the Golden Calf?

Bnei Yisrael walked through split seas.
They pointed and said, “Zeh Keili v’anveihu” — “This is my G-d, and I will glorify Him.”
Even the simplest person saw more than most of the greatest prophets ever would.

And then they stood at Har Sinai and heard the voice of Hashem directly.
The highest spiritual peak in human history.

So how — how — did these same people end up dancing around a golden calf?

It’s not just their question.
It’s ours.

How do we go from feeling on fire to feeling lost?
From inspired… to indifferent?
From clarity… to confusion?

The answer isn’t a flaw in the system.
It is the system.

If the Fire Never Faded, There’d Be No Free Will

If Hashem kept us in that state of perfect clarity, we’d never fall.
But we also wouldn’t rise.
We’d be angels — programmed to obey. No choice. No growth. No greatness.

But Hashem didn’t create us to be angels.
He created us to choose.

So He steps back.
He hides.
He lets the inspiration fade… just enough to give us the space to decide:
Will you keep going?
Will you hold onto the light, even when you can’t feel its warmth?

That’s the gift of forgetting.
It gives us the chance to grow on purpose.

The Candle That Reignited

When I was 15, I lost one of the most important people in my life — my Zaidy.

He was my teacher. My role model. My best friend.
He taught me how to lain, how to daven, how to live.

And when he passed away, I felt like a part of me had gone out with him.

That first Yom Tov without him, I sat at the table, watching the candles flicker after the meal.
One of them burned down… and went out.

I just stared at it.
It felt like a sign. The flame is gone. The light is over.

And then — somehow — it reignited.
I can’t explain how. Maybe the heat of the other candles.
But in that moment, it didn’t matter.

Hashem was whispering:
The soul doesn’t vanish. The flame doesn’t die. This isn’t the end.

He Was Still Teaching Me

My Zaidy had been teaching me how to lain Megillat Esther.
He passed away in the middle. I thought I’d never finish.

But I had a recording of him — his voice, his trop.
So I kept going. I copied him exactly. Every word. Every note.
Especially the parts he lained differently than anyone else.

Years later, I found out why:
Those were the pesukim where Hashem’s name is hidden in the Megillah.

Even after he was gone…
He was still teaching me.

And now, every time I lain the Megillah, I feel him next to me.
Every time I act on something he taught me, I’m keeping his flame alive.
Even if I don’t feel it every second — it’s there.

Life Isn’t a Flatline

You know what a flatline on a heart monitor means?
Death.

Real life moves.
Up and down. Highs and lows. Joy and pain. Clarity and confusion.
That’s what makes us alive.

Inspiration lifts us. Pain humbles us.
Both are meant to change us — not to stay forever, but to leave something behind.
The question isn’t whether we’ll always feel it.
It’s whether we’ll carry it with us — and live differently because of it.

And more than that — it’s what we do with those ups and downs that defines us.
Hashem gives us tools through every experience:
Pain builds compassion.
Inspiration gives direction.
Loss sharpens our vision.
And forgetting… gives us free will.

We’re not meant to stay in the fire.
We’re meant to carry its light into the rest of our life.

This Week’s Reflection

Think back to a moment that once lit a fire in you.
A high, a breakthrough, a loss, a lesson.
Something that changed you — even if the fire has faded.

What part of it can you still carry with you?
What spark can you reignite today?

Because the fire doesn’t need to burn forever to change your life.
You just need to take its light…
And walk forward with it.

🛠 Practical Tips: Bitachon When the Fire Fades

1. Bitachon Isn’t a Feeling — It’s a Decision
Inspiration lifts us temporarily. Bitachon grounds us consistently. Choose to trust even when the fire has gone dim.

2. Write Down What You Know — Not Just What You Feel
When you’re inspired, write the truths you know in that moment. When you later feel confused or low, read them. Bitachon means trusting the truth even when your emotions shift.

3. Ask: What Is Hashem Giving Me Right Now?
Instead of focusing on what’s missing (the inspiration, the clarity), ask: What tool is Hashem giving me now? Maybe it’s quiet. Maybe it’s struggle. Maybe it’s choice. All of it is from Him.

4. Remember: Hashem Doesn’t Leave — He Steps Back So You Can Step Forward
When the fire fades, Hashem is inviting you to choose Him again. That’s where your bitachon becomes real — not in the high, but in the decision to keep going.

✨ Weekly Challenge: Live Like the Flame Is Still Burning

Pick one inspired moment from your life — a turning point, a powerful tefillah, a burst of clarity, a challenge that woke you up.

Then ask yourself:
“If I still felt that moment as clearly as I did back then — what would I do today?”

Now go do it.
Not because you feel the fire… but because you carry its light.

This is bitachon.
This is real life.
This is where growth happens.

🌟 Join the Mission — Let’s Grow Together

If my content has sparked something in you — a new perspective, a deeper connection, a desire to grow — then let’s take the next step together.

This isn’t just about consuming inspiration. It’s about living it. And helping others do the same.

Here’s how you can be part of it:

✅ Start Your Own Growth Journey

Access simple, soul-stirring tools to strengthen your connection with Hashem, build daily gratitude, and grow into the person you were created to be.

🔥 Keep the Flame Alive

Even when the fire fades, the light can still guide you.
Hold on to the spark, trust Hashem in the quiet, and keep walking forward — one step, one day, one bitachon moment at a time.

Wishing you a week of strength, clarity, and deep connection.
Shabbat Shalom,
Amir