Faith Without Boundaries Don’t Let Your Struggles Define You

Every Tuesday night, Chazaq Torah Talks brings conversations that uplift, challenge, and illuminate. In this powerful episode, Rabbi Asher Schreier — the dynamic Rav formerly of the Young Israel of Forest Hills — joined Rabbi Yaniv Meirov to discuss one of life’s most critical lessons: Don’t let your struggles define you.

Rabbi Schreier began by sharing his journey, from his leadership at the Young Israel to his work with Caring Professionals in the home-health field. His passion, he explained, lies in helping people navigate challenges both spiritually and emotionally — “because Torah,” he said, “isn’t a relic of the past; it’s the lens through which we see the world today.”

 

Seeing Ourselves Through the Prism of Torah

The conversation opened with a question about how to move forward after setbacks. Rabbi Schreier pointed to Yosef HaTzaddik’s dramatic revelation to his brothers as the ultimate lesson in consistency and self-growth. Quoting the Beis HaLevi, he explained Yosef’s words — “I am Yosef, is my father still alive?” — as a piercing rebuke: “Now you care about our father’s pain? Where was that concern when you sold me?”

The message, Rabbi Schreier noted, is timeless. “We often say, ‘I don’t have time to learn’ or ‘I’m not spiritual enough to change,’ yet we somehow find hours for business, for sports, for entertainment. Hashem asks us the same question Yosef asked his brothers — if you can invest in everything else, why not in your soul?”

 

Ephraim Before Menashe — Growth Amid Imperfection

Delving deeper, Rabbi Schreier examined Yaakov Avinu’s decision to cross his hands, blessing Ephraim before Menashe. “Menashe,” he explained, “represents forgetting the pain — ‘Ki nashani Elokim’ — while Ephraim symbolizes growth through it — ‘Ki hifrani Elokim’.”

Yosef wanted his father to bless Menashe first — remove the bad, then do good. But Yaakov reversed the order, teaching that we can’t wait until every weakness disappears before we grow. “If you wait for perfect conditions,” Rabbi Schreier said, “you’ll wait forever. Real growth happens while you’re struggling — not after the storm passes.”

 

Effort Counts More Than Outcome

Quoting the Gemara that contrasts Jewish toil in Torah with worldly effort, Rabbi Schreier noted: “They work and get no reward — we work and are rewarded.” Why? Because, he said, “in Hashem’s world, effort is the reward.”

He shared a vivid image from Akeidat Yitzchak: “Avraham didn’t actually sacrifice Yitzchak — but we reference that act for eternity. Why? Because Hashem counts the climb up the mountain, not just the moment on top.”

He emphasized that parents, educators, and mentors should apply the same standard: focus on effort. “If your child tried, if your student gave their best, that’s success,” he said. “Hashem rewards the attempt, even when the outcome falls short.”

 

Defining Ourselves By Growth, Not Guilt

Addressing one of today’s greatest emotional pitfalls, Rabbi Schreier spoke about the danger of self-labeling through failure. “Too many people say, ‘I’m too far gone; I’ve done too much wrong.’ That’s exactly what the yetzer hara wants — to convince you that you’re disqualified from return.”

He shared the profound story of Elisha ben Avuyah, once a towering scholar who strayed and became known as Acher — “the other one.” When his student Rabbi Meir urged him to do teshuvah, Acher replied that he had heard a bas kol declare, ‘Return, wayward sons — except for Acher.’

But as Rabbi Soloveitchik later explained, he misunderstood. The heavenly voice meant: “Return, everyone — except that acher part of you.” Let go of the false identity that says you can’t change. Hashem wanted Elisha back — not the sin that consumed him.

 

Finding Meaning In The Climb

Rabbi Schreier closed with an insight on perseverance. “Look at Moshe Rabbeinu,” he said. “From age 0 to 80, his résumé was good — not great. But from 80 to 120, he became the greatest leader in history. It’s never too late to start your story.”

He encouraged every listener to live with that awareness: “If Hashem gave you another sunrise, it means He hasn’t given up on you. So don’t give up on yourself.”

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Rabbi Yaniv Meirov is the CEO of Chazaq and Rav of Congregation Charm Circle in Kew Gardens Hills. Since 2006, he has helped thousands of Jews reconnect with their faith through community events, lectures, and public school outreach, earning recognition from gedolim, elected officials, and community leaders for its impactful work. As Chazaq Torah Talks recently aired its 214th episode with Manny Behar, Rabbi Meirov continues to bring thoughtful, heartfelt conversations to the Jewish world—bridging tradition with today’s challenges, one episode at a time. The Rav can be reached for comment at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..