Something To Think About
October 31, 2019
Q: What is the most important function of the sun?
A: R’ Simcha Wasserman brings a proof from a Rashi in Bereishis. Rashi says that Hashem created the sun to rise and set to give a time. Also, says Rashi, it gifts us with light and warmth. I would think the main purpose is the later but no, Rashi says that the time aspect, maybe even just the awareness of the passing day is more vital. The Satmer Rebbe explains that this is a reason we have a Minhag to give the Chasan a gold watch. Why a watch? The message is clear. Time in invaluable!
When R’ Yaakov Kamenetzky was living in Europe his family lived in the standard poverty prevalent then and there. When his son became Bar Mitzvah he couldn’t afford to buy him a suit. Instead he folded up the sleeves and pant legs of his old one. Nevertheless he bought the Bar Mitzvah boy a watch. The value of time is actually immeasurable. More so than the value of warmth and light! May we live our lives to the absolute fullest and reach our unique potential.
October 31, 2019
Q: How do those Teimani Esrogim get so big?
A: I heard R’ Aryeh Leibowitz say in a Shiur that Esrogim are the only fruit that as long as you don’t cut it off it will keep on growing the more you water it. That is an incredible fact! Now let’s try to apply that to what the Esrog represents. It can’t be a coincident that the citron has this character trait. The Esrog represent the heart. It’s actually kind of shaped like one (granted with a bit of imagination) and we hold it opposite our heart when we shake the Daled Minim. Our heart, our feelings, our emotions, are fueled by the Torah we learn. Chazal tell us that Ain Mayim Elah Torah. When you water your Neshama it will only grow and grow to unbelievable greatness. That is of course until it’s pruned from it’s tree, the Eitz Hachayim. May we continue to feed our spiritual selves with the God given life source of Torah and remain attached to the Eitz Chayim our entire lives.
October 23, 2019
Q: Why do we circle around the Bimah on Hoshana Rabba and again at Simchas Torah?
A: So while it’s commemorative of the circling done by Yehoshua to break the walls of Yericho when he destroyed the ministering angels of the seven nations he was about to conquer, and of the circling done around the Mizbeach in the Beis Hamikdash, I still wonder why the circling. Rabbi Breitowitz told me a wonderful explanation. He said that encircling something estranges it from it’s surroundings and hereby cut it off siege like. That’s how Yehoshua removed the city from it’s spiritual life source. When a Kallah walks around her Chosson under the Chuppah she is breaking down the emotional walls that differentiate a man from a woman. The walls we build can keep out the outside forces and can also keep us in together with what we are encircling. When we walk around the Sefer Torah on Hoshana Raba we take the Mitzvah of Lulav and Esrog to show that it is with the Mitzvah actions that we do that connects us to the Torah. We then take it to the next level on Simchas Torah and take the Torah itself and walk around the Bimah. The place where we read the Torah from, where we invite Shabbos into our week is the Makom Hashchina. We thereby symbolize that our medium to connect to Hashem Himself is through His Torah.
May we be Zocheh to live in Hashem’s house all our lives or at least be Mevakesh to do so.
October 16, 2019
Q: Why do we sit in the Succah? Simple enough. What’s with the hut?
A: There are 2 reasons brought down. Both are Zecher Leyetzias Mitzraim. 1-to remember the Ananei Hakavod and 2-to remember the huts, the Succos, that we built in the Midbar. The question is what’s the Machlokes?Everyone agrees that we built the huts and everyone agrees that we had the Ananei Hakavod!
We can answer based in The Kedushas Levi who says that every Yom Tov has 2 names, one for us to Hashem and one from Hashem to us (we’ll expand on that another time BE”ZH). The Zecher of the Ananei Hakavod is thanking Hashem for the clouds of protection he supplied for us when we were in a barren desert. The remembrance of the Succos that we built is the Zecher of the expression of devotion we displayed to Hashem by walking into that desert with no destination, entirely relying on Hashem’s help. We hereby remember our devotion to Hashem and Hashem’s to us.
October 7, 2019
Q: Why is there a Minhag Yisrael to yell the part of Selichos when we say Vaya’avor Hashem Al Panav Vayikra?
A: While you can answer that it’s just to psych you up for the 13 Middos Harachmim, understanding this Pasuk according to the Maharal makes it much clearer. The Maharal in Be’er Hagolah brings the Gemarah that says what transpired when Hashem taught Moshe the secret of the Yud Gimmel Middos. As we know, Hashem promises with a Bris that whoever says the Yud Gimmel Middos will not walk away empty handed! That being said, when Moshe came to Daven for Klal Yisrael to be saved after Chet Ha’Eigel, there was a point when he was about to give up on Klal Yisroel. They seemed to be a lost cause. Then Hashem put Moshe into a crevice between rocks, He donned a Tallis, and taught Moshe this secret.
The Maharal explains the meaning of Hashem wearing a Tallis. First of all, he says, Hashem is as close to a person commensurate to how close he is to Hashem. What is Atifas Tallis, wrapping in a Tallis? Someone who doesn’t wear a Tallis can also wrap him/herself up. The Maharal MiPrague says it’s the focusing of nothing on either side of you but the Tefilla. That’s the concept of a Tallis, but it can definitely be accomplished without the garment itself. When a person realizes with a complete heart that he has nothing without Hashem, he is nothing without Hashem, and that being alive the next moment is entirely dependent on the Ratzon Hashem, then he can’t possibly think of anything else! That’s a true Atifah! Hashem told Moshe this is the trick. Focus yourself entirely on me, on the Tefillah, on Selichos, on Hisbodedus, on any way you’re communicating with me and then I will automatically respond and come to you. That’s why you cant walk away empty handed! If you push to get closer to Hashem, Hashem promises to pull you the rest of the way. He will meet you in the middle. Just make a definite, focused move.
October 4, 2019
Q: We often find ourselves Davening with nothing more than lip service. How are we supposed to view that? How can we not get despondent by that realization?
A: The truth is, we actually Daven every day, 3 times, for this exact issue. We say Shma Koleinu in Shemoneh Esrei. Even wonder why would ask “listen to our voice” and not listen to our Tefilla, our requests, our pleading? We specifically ask to hear our voice because no matter what we say or how we say it, aka the thoughts we put in, we ask Hashem to hear the voice with which we say it. Please hear that we want to be Davening with all our hearts and paying attention to every word we say. He knows that and we ask Him to pay heed to the actual voice.
I think this may also be what we mean when we say in Shir Hamaalos, Tehilim 130, Hashem Shima Bikoli- Listen into my voice. How can you listen into a voice? Listen between the lines to the heart behind the words, to the pleading tone. Listen to the Kol Tchanunos, the intonations of our essence. May Hashem answer all of our Tefillos and may we be Zocheh to Daven to him with all our heart and soul.
Q: We spend a large portion of our Yomim Noraim Tefillos asking for Chayim, for life. What exactly are we asking for?
A:Let’s begin by searching for a deeper understanding for the word Chayim. It’s simply translated as life. However a quick look at the word will soon reveal to you that it is actually in the plural form. Chai is life while Chayim should translate as lives! Now what does that mean? Good question.
One answer I heard is that we, the Jewish people are not shallow. We don’t perceive this world as a means unto itself. We are looking to accomplish here for the end goal, the end game in the next world. The Tefilla we are presenting before Hashem is that we be granted lives. Life in this world but even more importantly, in the next. We’re not asking for a happy new year. We’re begging for an eternal relationship with Hashem, a high place in the eternal Oilam Haba.
Another explanation is offered by R’ Shlomo Wolbe Z”L. He says the word Chayim is plural because life itself is meant to be shared with others. I believe this can be plugged in to our Davening. When we ask for Chayim, Chayim Toivim, we are asking for a life of healthy social activity. To be able to share our lives, our experiences, the highs and lows, with the special people in our lives and the new ones we’re going to make be”zh this coming year.
May all of our Tefilos be accepted by Hashem Letovah and may we all be Zocheh to Teshuva Sheleima these Yomim Noarim!
September 23, 2019
Q: Is it enough to stop the bad we’ve been doing or should we focus as much or more on accomplishing proactive good?
A: The story goes of a Maggid who would go from town to town saying his fiery Divrey Mussar awakening in the townspeople a anew desire to come close to Hashem. He arrived in a town and began to interview the citizens to find out what they could use some Chizuk in. The first man said we’re really doing okay. We don’t talk Lashon Hara, we don’t fight with each other, we really are in a good state. The second man answered in the same vein. The Maggid couldn’t believe his ears. The entire town was complacent with the mediocrity they were enveloped in. With his back to the wall he did what any one of us would do; he killed a horse.
The Maggid then called together the people to gather in the town square .Before them lied the silhouette of a man covered in burial garb preparing for his final descent into the ground. The Maggid began the funeral. We are gathered here today to pay respects to an unnoticed member of your community! He walked your streets and spend years in your company. When Chazal say that nobody can go a lifetime without speaking Avak Lashon Hara, he was the exception. Not a bad word was ever uttered from his lips! Not a word of hate, of distrust, resentment or argument.
The community was by now at edge. How could we not have known him? A member of the 39 Tzaddikim no doubt! The Maggid continued. I have seen his patience with my own eyes. You beat him with a whip and stick and not only did he take the beating, the pain, without response, he continued to do good by you! He helped you when you did not say a word of thanks. He continued until the community was sufficiently broken and in awe by the loss of such a great member of the their Tzubbur. He finally walked over and pulled back the sheet revealing the head of a giant dead horse.
RABOISAI! You can spend you life avoiding sin, you can be a Sur Mirah every awaking moment in this world and you can still be a FERD! There is more than just not being a bad guy to being a good one.
September 14, 2019
Q: How can we understand the Pasuk that says that if we do Teshuva Hashem will?
A: The Rupshitzer says that if a man stands before his creator and does a serious Cheshbon Hanefesh saying “why did I ever give into my Yetzer Hara?” Hashem responds by regretting His creation of the Yetzer Hara! Imagine that! You can make Hashem have Charata on the making of the Yetzer Hara, the evil inclination. Nu, so what does that do for me? When the creator of your enemy regrets its existence you’ve already weakened the nemesis. May we all come to Teshuva Sheleima with all our hearts and see the day when the Yetzer Hara will be slaughtered before all, very soon in our lifetime.
September 14, 2019
Q: What can we learn from seeing the way Hashem created the moon to be this shadowy glow at night and a fiery sun by day?
A:I heard a wonderful idea from one of the holy Jews living in Ramat Bet Shemesh. He prefaced by challenging all sitting at the table to understand why people would consider worshiping the sun. We are gifted, even in our generation, to have tremendous Tzadikim and Gedolim in our midst to cling to, to learn from, and to simply watch. There is a possibility, a concern, that someone devoted to his Rebbe, to that light, would forget where that light is sourced. Hashem gives us a moon every night and says take a look. Its beautiful and even powerful. The moon’s gravitational force pulls on water in the oceans and causes bulges that create high tide. But pay head and realize that it’s shine is nothing more that a glow, a shadow of the sun, the Shemesh. You should be asking now, but the sun has an even greater concern of worship, no? Absolutely, We’re therefore giving the message of the moon to ponder and we call the sun Shemesh, the Shamash of Hashem. That’s all it is. The sidekick assistant helper of the Boreh Oilam. May we be Zocheh to cling to the lights in this world and connect ultimately to The Ultimate Source
September 6, 2019
Q: Where can we find references to Rosh Hashana already in Parshas Shoftim?
A: R’ Shragi Kallus told his kollel that he found a reference in the first few topics mentioned in the parsha. Beginning with judges and supreme commanders and then following into kingship, the Torah is clearly alluding to the idea of a superior leadership, or royalty . To understand Rosh Hashana, the coronation day approaching, we need to understand whom we are coronating, but more importantly, what is a “coronation”! It’s a lovely word and sounds real important but what exactly is it? We live in a world totally void of any sense of respect let alone the respect and awe that is due to royalty! So here comes the parsha, a month in advance, and says you have 30 days to figure it out, because you don’t want to be the guy in the royal garden blowing his nose in poison ivy. When entering Buckingham Palace, Rabbi Kallus says they enter to the sounding of trumpet blasts; clearly our shofar is that royal announcement. Something to think about tomorrow morning before LeDavid. There are also rooms and entrances in the palace for royalty, and royalty alone. Know when you pass that chamber or corridor that there is someone bigger, better, and more important than you whom you are in the presence of. BE AWARE! There is something special happening. You are in the presence of something great.
The Chasam Sofer offers an elucidation of the Torah’s commandment to appoint judges. He says that the judge, the Rav, the mentor, of whom you will be asking your question to must be able to answer with proper taste, in a way that you will be able to accept and imbibe the rulings he lays before you. How so? The Shofar is blown in 3 different intonations. There’s the Tekiah, a soft, even soothing sound, the Shevarim a broken cry from a broken soul, and a Teruah, a whimpering jolt of uncontrollable pleading. Just like every Shofar sound is blown with a preceding Tekiah and a concluding one, a teacher’s response must be given with a sweet palatable call, before and after the harsh Mussar (the important part undoubtedly, where the individual is given the opportunity to grow, to be bigger than his current self). Without this tactic, the rebuke won’t have any effect on the recipient, as he will likely brush it off as it comes out of the teachers mouth. It won’t even have made it into his ear for it to come out the other! This is the good old sandwich move. Whenever someone needs to hear something and you happen to be the one best suited to teach it to them, prepare thoughtfully, to sandwich the harsh truth with a beautiful sandwich of love and compliments. Even if he knows exactly what you’re doing, the spoonful sugar of will help the medicine go down .
July 22, 2019
Q: What is Tefilla supposed to be?
R’ Shlomo Freifeld said over a story that encapsulates the proper mindset for Tefila. There was a big Rav in Europe who heard of the legendary Divrei Chaim, the Sanzer Rebbe. His congregants told him of the thousands of Teshuvos he’s written and the tremendous Middos Tovos that he displayed. This was someone he had to meet. Finally one day he couldn’t contain himself anymore and he booked a train ticket to the famed city of Sanz. He arrived late at night, booked himself into an inn with the intent of meeting the holy Rebbe the next morning. When he came to Shul early the next morning he sat down to learn before davening and noticed a man sitting on a bench smoking a big pipe (as was the custom of many of the European Rebbes of old). He watched as this man sat there in a trance, puffing of the pipe. When davening began, the Yid was still puffing. No sign of the Rebbe. After davening, he returned to his inn, had a little breakfast and came back to the Shul to learn some more. He now noticed the man putting on his Tallis and Tefilin and davening fervently. Interesting! But after a while, and time is precious, he tapped the Yid on the shoulder and asked “Where can I find the Sanzer Rebbe?” As I’m sure you guessed, he pointed right at the pipe smoking Yid on the bench-still sitting there from that morning! Flabbergasted, the Rav approached the Rebbe and with the greatest of respect and said “Torah Hi Velilmod Ani Tzarich, I had a wonderful seder before davening, I davened with the tzibur, I even got a seder in after. How come Rebbe’s been here with the pipe this whole time!?”
The Rebbe answered, “Don’t be embarrassed, I’ll explain. I woke up this morning and said ‘Modeh Ani‘ and I thought: Who am I? Little me. I became conscious of my insignificance. ‘Lifanecha‘. Before You. Who are You? When I thought of the Gadlus Haboreh and the omnipotence of my Creator I was frozen in awe for hours! Who am I to be talking to You!?!?!?!? This Rebbe had a broken foot and when he shukeled during davening his cast would knock against his other leg, making it bleed, sometimes to the point that he would pass out! This was a recurring happening. One day his Rebbetzin said, “You have a broken leg and a healthy leg. Why don’t you Shukel with your healthy leg?!” He told her “If I was conscious when I’m Davening I would!”
R” Shlomo Freifeld explains when telling over this story, that there are channels that need to be opened to allow the connection to the Borei Oilam. Success in Tefilah is attained when you Daven Mimaamakim!
July 21, 2019
Q: What is the purpose of a Jewish fast day?
A: I saw the Peleh Yoetz write regarding fasts that a guy who doesn’t eat but also doesn’t do any Teshuva during the Taanis is like he was Toiveled with a Sheretz in his hand, or like someone who is planting a tree while chopping it down from the other end- aka-pointless. However, he brings a proof from the Gemaraj in KEdushin that says that if a man says to a woman “you’re betrothed to me if I’m a Tzadik Gamur”, then even if he a renowned Rasha Gamur, it’s a valid Kidushin. Why you ask? The Gemara says because perhaps he had a though, a moment of Teshuva. On that premise, we Paskin Halacha LEmaaseh that they are fully engaged and their children are not Mamzeirim because his Hirhur Teshuva makes him an actual Tzadik Gamur!
So even if we’re not the fast all year type, and we’re not all built to do Teshuva all day, we can have at least a moment or two where we connect to Hashem and reach out to get a little closer to him. Maybe we can find a quiet moment to introspect and do a little Cheshbon Hanefesh of what good we have done and what little good we can do from now on.
Remeber, says the Peleh Yoetz, the Taanis is not for the past; it’s for the future. What will we do better tomorrow.
Have a meaningful and successful fast.
July 21, 2019
Q: Why would we say Modeh Ani, literally translated as “Grateful am I”, as opposed to saying Ani Modeh-“I am grateful”? That would seem to be the grammatically correct way to start our day, no?
A: If we would say “Ani Modeh“, the first word on our lips when we wake up would be “I”. A Jew does not awaken with himself in mind. The first thing you think about shouldn’t be yourself! However, in the way we do say it, the first word uttered is “Modeh“-GRATITUDE!!! The first word we say is thank you! Thank you Hashem for granting me another day, bringing me back to life, and trusting me to do good by your neshama. I always thought that was a wonderful and powerful message. No?