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"Sefer Chareidim," written by Rabbi Elazar Azcari, of Blessed Memory.
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Gam Zu L'Tova \ Nachum Ish Gam Zu
Nachum Ish Gam Zu was accustomed to say, “Gam Zu L’Tova,” meaning, “This is also for the good.” Whenever something ostensibly “bad” happened, Nachum Ish Gam Zu would always proclaim, “Gam Zu L’Tova.”
Once, the Sages sent Nachum Ish Gam Zu to deliver a chest of jewels to appease the king of Rome, who acted very harshly with Klal Yisrael. On his way to the palace, he slept overnight in a hostel. A few immoral men were curious regarding the chest that he carried. As Nachum Ish Gam Zu slept, they stole into his quarters and opened the chest. They quickly emptied out the precious gems and replaced them with simple earth.
Upon awakening in the morning, Nachum Ish Gam Zu opened the chest and saw that it was filled with soil. With perfect faith in HaShem, he said, “Gam Zu L’Tova!” He continued to the royal palace and presented the king with the chest of dirt. The king opened the chest and upon seeing the dirt became enraged with Nachum Ish Gam Zu!
One of his servants suggested that there must be some magical power in the soil, for the Jews would not be so foolish as to give the king a chest filled with common earth. They took the earth to the battlefield and threw it at their arch enemies. The dirt transformed into arrows and swords, and they soundly defeated their enemies. The king was overjoyed with the victory! He instructed his servants to fill the chest with precious gems and he gave it to Nachum Ish Gam Zu as a token of his gratitude.
Nachum Ish Gam Zu had absolute trust in HaShem that the earth in the chest was “for the good.”He didn’t just assume that HaShem would turn the “bad” situation into a “good” one. He believed that HaShem arranged for the earth to substituted for the gems because the earth, itself, was supremely good. Although he did not know the purpose of the earth, he believed that HaShem empowered the earth with the ultimate value and benefit!
May we accustom ourselves to say, “Gam Zu L’Tovah” whenever something seemingly negative occurs. At the same time, may we strengthen our hearts with pure faith to trust in HaShem, that the “bad” is actually “good.” Indeed, through Divine intervention, HaShem always sends us the “very best medicine,” that has the power to heal all of our hardships.
