“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Acharei Mos
-Kedoshim
-Kedoshim
7 Iyar 5780/May 1, 2020
Avos Perek 3 – 22nd day of the
Omer
Omer
FANLESS BASEBALL
Be
strong all ye loyal, despondent baseball fans! All hope is not lost for the
beleaguered 2020 baseball season.
strong all ye loyal, despondent baseball fans! All hope is not lost for the
beleaguered 2020 baseball season.
While
Major League Baseball is still on hold indefinitely, halfway across the world
the sounds of whizzing baseballs and the crack of the bat can be heard.
Major League Baseball is still on hold indefinitely, halfway across the world
the sounds of whizzing baseballs and the crack of the bat can be heard.
In South
Korea, the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) has begun its preseason, in the
hope that it will be able to begin its regular season in a few weeks.
Korea, the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) has begun its preseason, in the
hope that it will be able to begin its regular season in a few weeks.
But
there will be nothing regular about the regular season. For now, the games will
be played in front of empty seats in an otherwise empty stadium.
there will be nothing regular about the regular season. For now, the games will
be played in front of empty seats in an otherwise empty stadium.
During
the games, the stadium is eerily quiet and boring. Dan Straily, an
American-born pitcher with the Lotte Giants of the KBO, quipped, “I had to ask
people in the front office to get some music between innings, to somehow try to
get a little energy [in the stadium].”
the games, the stadium is eerily quiet and boring. Dan Straily, an
American-born pitcher with the Lotte Giants of the KBO, quipped, “I had to ask
people in the front office to get some music between innings, to somehow try to
get a little energy [in the stadium].”
Straily
noted that without fans it’s much harder to generate energy and motivation.
noted that without fans it’s much harder to generate energy and motivation.
“Even
if you’re on the other side and the fans are yelling at you, you just feel the
energy. Somewhere deep down, it adds adrenaline to you and you feed off of
that.”
if you’re on the other side and the fans are yelling at you, you just feel the
energy. Somewhere deep down, it adds adrenaline to you and you feed off of
that.”
The
KBO’S new Covid-19 rules include players having their temperatures
checked twice a day; everyone not in a baseball uniform, including umpires and
athletic trainers, wearing face masks and gloves; if a player shows symptoms,
he’ll be immediately quarantined and they’ll close the stadium where he played
his most recent game; if he tests positive for the virus, they will
immediately use contact tracing to determine who else needs to be quarantined
for two weeks.
KBO’S new Covid-19 rules include players having their temperatures
checked twice a day; everyone not in a baseball uniform, including umpires and
athletic trainers, wearing face masks and gloves; if a player shows symptoms,
he’ll be immediately quarantined and they’ll close the stadium where he played
his most recent game; if he tests positive for the virus, they will
immediately use contact tracing to determine who else needs to be quarantined
for two weeks.
But
perhaps the most challenging rule for players is that for the time being they
are not allowed to spit! Players chewing and spitting all over the clubhouse
and field at baseball games is as much a pastime as the game itself. Imposed
civility on the field at baseball games? What’s next? Hitters apologizing to
the pitcher if they hit a homerun off them, and pitchers apologizing to hitters
when they strike them out?
perhaps the most challenging rule for players is that for the time being they
are not allowed to spit! Players chewing and spitting all over the clubhouse
and field at baseball games is as much a pastime as the game itself. Imposed
civility on the field at baseball games? What’s next? Hitters apologizing to
the pitcher if they hit a homerun off them, and pitchers apologizing to hitters
when they strike them out?
Truthfully,
my bigger concern, even more than spitless baseball, is if they can really play
a game without people walking around the stands screaming “beyaeh heeyah
(beer here)!”
my bigger concern, even more than spitless baseball, is if they can really play
a game without people walking around the stands screaming “beyaeh heeyah
(beer here)!”
In his
commentary at the conclusion of parshas Bo (Shemos 13:16), Ramban explains that
the ultimate objective of all mitzvos is to help us develop our faith in G-d
and acknowledge that He created us. This is the objective of creation itself.
“For we have no other explanation for the first creation, and the most High has
no desire for the earthbound creatures except this, that man should know and
acknowledge to his G-d that G-d created him.”
commentary at the conclusion of parshas Bo (Shemos 13:16), Ramban explains that
the ultimate objective of all mitzvos is to help us develop our faith in G-d
and acknowledge that He created us. This is the objective of creation itself.
“For we have no other explanation for the first creation, and the most High has
no desire for the earthbound creatures except this, that man should know and
acknowledge to his G-d that G-d created him.”
Ramban
then adds that this is the reason why we have shuls in which we pray together.
“That people have a place where they can gather and acknowledge… where they
can publicize this and declare before Him, “We are your creations!”
then adds that this is the reason why we have shuls in which we pray together.
“That people have a place where they can gather and acknowledge… where they
can publicize this and declare before Him, “We are your creations!”
Prayer
is by definition a medium that helps foster faith and connectivity. The effect
of personal prayer in seclusion is incomparable to prayer with a congregation
in a shul when, in unity, we reinforce within each other our collective mission
to accept G-d’s Will.
is by definition a medium that helps foster faith and connectivity. The effect
of personal prayer in seclusion is incomparable to prayer with a congregation
in a shul when, in unity, we reinforce within each other our collective mission
to accept G-d’s Will.
Sefer
Hachinuch (mitzvah 331) notes that whenever something is performed with multitudes,
it builds momentum and excitement. “For nothing strengthens the hearts of men
as much as the actions of the masses.” Even when a person’s resolve is weak and
flimsy, he can become swept away by the frenzied energy of the masses and that
itself can awaken him from his lethargy and infuse him with energy.
Hachinuch (mitzvah 331) notes that whenever something is performed with multitudes,
it builds momentum and excitement. “For nothing strengthens the hearts of men
as much as the actions of the masses.” Even when a person’s resolve is weak and
flimsy, he can become swept away by the frenzied energy of the masses and that
itself can awaken him from his lethargy and infuse him with energy.
During
these last few weeks, when we have been forced to daven outside of our beloved
shuls and without a minyan, G-d undoubtedly must have tremendous nachas from
the tenacious dedication of His holy people who continue to serve Him and pray
to Him in any way possible. But for us, being unable to daven together is
extremely painful and challenging.
these last few weeks, when we have been forced to daven outside of our beloved
shuls and without a minyan, G-d undoubtedly must have tremendous nachas from
the tenacious dedication of His holy people who continue to serve Him and pray
to Him in any way possible. But for us, being unable to daven together is
extremely painful and challenging.
I must
admit that I never realized how much chizuk one gains just by stepping foot in
a shul, the holy room always waiting for its adherents to begin praying within
it. I never realized the infusion of spiritual energy one feels when davening
together even on a weeknight, and even when it was inconvenient to schlepp out
there. We hope that soon we will be able to return to our shuls and to
participate in communal prayer with renewed appreciation and renewed reverence.
admit that I never realized how much chizuk one gains just by stepping foot in
a shul, the holy room always waiting for its adherents to begin praying within
it. I never realized the infusion of spiritual energy one feels when davening
together even on a weeknight, and even when it was inconvenient to schlepp out
there. We hope that soon we will be able to return to our shuls and to
participate in communal prayer with renewed appreciation and renewed reverence.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum