“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Bamidbar
Mevorchim Chodesh Sivan
28 Iyar YOM YERUSHALAYIM 5780/May 22, 2020
Avos Perek 6 – 43rd day of the
Omer
Omer
UNDER THE MASK
Those
who live in Eretz Yisroel, (and sefardim even outside Eretz Yisroel), have the
good fortune of being blessed by the kohanim every day. But for ashkenazim
outside of Eretz Yisroel it is a merit we only have on the mornings of the
Yomim Tovim.
who live in Eretz Yisroel, (and sefardim even outside Eretz Yisroel), have the
good fortune of being blessed by the kohanim every day. But for ashkenazim
outside of Eretz Yisroel it is a merit we only have on the mornings of the
Yomim Tovim.
The
custom is that we don’t look at the hands of the kohanim while they are
reciting birchas kohanim. Rambam explains that it is because we don’t want to
be distracted from the beracha being recited. Therefore, the custom is for
married men to pull their tallis over the heads and the front of their bodies.
Younger children in shul are often brought under their father’s tallis as well.
custom is that we don’t look at the hands of the kohanim while they are
reciting birchas kohanim. Rambam explains that it is because we don’t want to
be distracted from the beracha being recited. Therefore, the custom is for
married men to pull their tallis over the heads and the front of their bodies.
Younger children in shul are often brought under their father’s tallis as well.
Until my
bar mitzvah, I would join my father beneath his tallis during birchas kohanim.
Until his bar mitzvah, my older brother would be underneath there as well. I
remember as a child during birchas kohanim feeling very impatient and finding
the ordeal tedious. Aside for the fact that it got hot and stuffy underneath
the tallis, I had to smell the breath of my father who towered above me. I
should add that father is very mindful of his hygiene, and always uses
mouthwash before davening on Shabbos and Yom Tov. But after two hours plus of
the Yom Tov davening, that mouthwash was a forgotten memory.
bar mitzvah, I would join my father beneath his tallis during birchas kohanim.
Until his bar mitzvah, my older brother would be underneath there as well. I
remember as a child during birchas kohanim feeling very impatient and finding
the ordeal tedious. Aside for the fact that it got hot and stuffy underneath
the tallis, I had to smell the breath of my father who towered above me. I
should add that father is very mindful of his hygiene, and always uses
mouthwash before davening on Shabbos and Yom Tov. But after two hours plus of
the Yom Tov davening, that mouthwash was a forgotten memory.
In my
early youth, my father was the Chazzan for mussaf on Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur in the Polisher Shteeble on the Lower East Side. So for Birchas Kohanim,
my older brother and I would go under my grandfather’s tallis. I would give
anything to have that experience again and to spend anytime with my beloved
Sabbah a’h. But at the time I definitely didn’t feel that way when the three of
us were trapped under the stuffy tallis. Still, I never complained or said
anything about it. It was just my personal thought and feeling.
early youth, my father was the Chazzan for mussaf on Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur in the Polisher Shteeble on the Lower East Side. So for Birchas Kohanim,
my older brother and I would go under my grandfather’s tallis. I would give
anything to have that experience again and to spend anytime with my beloved
Sabbah a’h. But at the time I definitely didn’t feel that way when the three of
us were trapped under the stuffy tallis. Still, I never complained or said
anything about it. It was just my personal thought and feeling.
I will
never forget the first time I brought my son under my tallis for Birchas Kohanim.
I don’t remember which Yom Tov it was, but our oldest son, Shalom, must have
then been around six or seven years old. The proud father finally had a son old
enough! When Birchas Kohanim was about to begin I pulled my tallis over my head
and covered Shalom’s head as well. He looked at me strangely, and then tried to
escape. I motioned to him firmly that he had to stay underneath. After about
thirty seconds, Shalom had had enough. He began waving his hand in front of his
face, while grimacing and motioning that it stunk under there.
never forget the first time I brought my son under my tallis for Birchas Kohanim.
I don’t remember which Yom Tov it was, but our oldest son, Shalom, must have
then been around six or seven years old. The proud father finally had a son old
enough! When Birchas Kohanim was about to begin I pulled my tallis over my head
and covered Shalom’s head as well. He looked at me strangely, and then tried to
escape. I motioned to him firmly that he had to stay underneath. After about
thirty seconds, Shalom had had enough. He began waving his hand in front of his
face, while grimacing and motioning that it stunk under there.
Needless
to say, it wasn’t the father-son bonding experience I envisioned. We both
barely made it through. I hope it was a good beracha…
to say, it wasn’t the father-son bonding experience I envisioned. We both
barely made it through. I hope it was a good beracha…
I was
thinking about that experience recently, being that we have currently been mandated
to wear masks in public places, due to the Coronavirus. It’s the first time
that I have had to smell my own breath for an extended period of time. It has
not been fun.
thinking about that experience recently, being that we have currently been mandated
to wear masks in public places, due to the Coronavirus. It’s the first time
that I have had to smell my own breath for an extended period of time. It has
not been fun.
A good
friend related that his daughter was on a shidduch date recently. Despite being
some distance apart, his daughter and her date had to wear masks during their
date in someone else’s backyard. At one point, the young man jumped out of his
seat and ripped off the mask. My friend’s daughter wasn’t sure what happened
until the young man explained that an insect had crawled underneath the mask.
friend related that his daughter was on a shidduch date recently. Despite being
some distance apart, his daughter and her date had to wear masks during their
date in someone else’s backyard. At one point, the young man jumped out of his
seat and ripped off the mask. My friend’s daughter wasn’t sure what happened
until the young man explained that an insect had crawled underneath the mask.
(I told
my friend they should get married just because it’s a great story for Sheva
Berachos.)
my friend they should get married just because it’s a great story for Sheva
Berachos.)
I try to
glean life lessons from everything in my life and the world around me. It’s
quite a poignant sight to see people walking around with masks. When I go
shopping and see people I know, I tell them that I’m wearing a mask to make
sure I remember not to speak loshon hora. I then sardonically add that it’s not
helping.
glean life lessons from everything in my life and the world around me. It’s
quite a poignant sight to see people walking around with masks. When I go
shopping and see people I know, I tell them that I’m wearing a mask to make
sure I remember not to speak loshon hora. I then sardonically add that it’s not
helping.
We all
know about the power of words. From our youth we are taught about the
incredible power of our tefillos, Torah, and the chesed we can do with our
words. Conversely, we are taught about the deleterious effect of loshon hora
and negative speech.
know about the power of words. From our youth we are taught about the
incredible power of our tefillos, Torah, and the chesed we can do with our
words. Conversely, we are taught about the deleterious effect of loshon hora
and negative speech.
Every morning we state ובנו בחרת מכל
עם ולשון – Hashem chose
us from every nation and tongue. Similarly, on Yom Tov we state ורוממתנו
מכל הלשונות – He raised us
above all of the other tongues.
עם ולשון – Hashem chose
us from every nation and tongue. Similarly, on Yom Tov we state ורוממתנו
מכל הלשונות – He raised us
above all of the other tongues.
Hashem chose us because our “tongues” are more elevated
than the rest of the world. We try to be careful with our words and to speak
properly. The world says that “talk is cheap”. The truth is that talk is easy,
but it’s anything but cheap.
than the rest of the world. We try to be careful with our words and to speak
properly. The world says that “talk is cheap”. The truth is that talk is easy,
but it’s anything but cheap.
More
than any other nation, we recognize the power of words, and that is part of the
reason why Hashem chose us to be His people.
than any other nation, we recognize the power of words, and that is part of the
reason why Hashem chose us to be His people.
At the
beginning of davening each morning we state, “the superiority of mankind over
animals is nothing, because it’s all הבל.”
beginning of davening each morning we state, “the superiority of mankind over
animals is nothing, because it’s all הבל.”
The word
הבל is often translated to mean futile. But it also means
“fleeting”. Vapor is also called הבל
because as soon as it leaves one’s mouth it dissipates into the atmosphere.
Something which is fleeting need not be futile. It all depends how it is used.
If one offers another encouraging words, those words are fleeting, but they are
anything but futile. In fact, they can very likely help improve the other
person’s quality of life, if at least temporarily.
הבל is often translated to mean futile. But it also means
“fleeting”. Vapor is also called הבל
because as soon as it leaves one’s mouth it dissipates into the atmosphere.
Something which is fleeting need not be futile. It all depends how it is used.
If one offers another encouraging words, those words are fleeting, but they are
anything but futile. In fact, they can very likely help improve the other
person’s quality of life, if at least temporarily.
While
there may always be times when our breath smells physically, it’s up to us to
determine whether our breath is futile or productive. And while we may not
always receive a beracha from the kohanim, we can ensure that our words are
always a source of blessing and chizuk for others.
there may always be times when our breath smells physically, it’s up to us to
determine whether our breath is futile or productive. And while we may not
always receive a beracha from the kohanim, we can ensure that our words are
always a source of blessing and chizuk for others.
We hope
that soon Hashem will allow us to remove the masks and once again breath freely
even in public. When that happens, we will do our utmost to ensure that we are
not polluting the air with dangerous vapors that spread emotional germs and
spiritual bacteria. Instead, we will spread spirituality, positivity and camaraderie.
that soon Hashem will allow us to remove the masks and once again breath freely
even in public. When that happens, we will do our utmost to ensure that we are
not polluting the air with dangerous vapors that spread emotional germs and
spiritual bacteria. Instead, we will spread spirituality, positivity and camaraderie.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum