למען ענתך לנסתך לדעת את אשר בלבבך התשמר מצותיו ... (ז-ב)
In 2014 three Jewish families in Israel were subjected to one of the most unimaginable torments known to man – the loss of their sons, who were found brutally murdered after days of anguished searching. The reactions of those bereaved parents to their ordeal was perhaps the quintessential kiddush Hashem, an idea perhaps best encapsulated by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s words in his eulogy for the boys: “The nation understood immediately the depth of the roots and your strength of spirit. You taught us all a full lesson that we will not forget. A lesson in faith and determination; in unity and sensitivity; in Judaism and humanity.”
In general, the essence of a Jewish person is largely concealed from the rest of the world. The Jewish heart harbors powerful forces: incredible depths of love and fear of Hashem, rock-solid faith and burning devotion. Often, a person’s actions do not fully reveal what is in his heart, and so the kiddush Hashem that results from his actions are often limited. It is difficult to tell if his deeds stem from a genuine drive to do what is right, or if he is simply putting on a show.
The Kli Yakar provides us with an incredible insight: One of the reasons that Hashem afflicts us with painful tribulations is to bring to light the true greatness that lies within us, to show the world the levels of greatness that Klal Yisroel is capable of attaining. Thus, the Torah states that Hashem led us into the desert and brought tribulations upon us “in order to afflict you and to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you will observe His mitzvos or not.” This posuk tells us that the purpose of those trials was "לנסתך" - “to test you,” a term that is derived from the word "נס" - “banner,” which would cause the entire world “to know” what lies within a Jewish heart. (When the Torah says that the purpose of the trials was “to know what is in your heart,” it does not mean that the intent was for Hashem to know, but rather for the world to know.) Thus, Hashem’s goal with the affliction was to demonstrate Klal Yisroel’s true essence to the entire world, like a banner that is raised for everyone to see.
(MS)
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