PARSHAS CHUKAS 5772

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Chukas Pirkei Avos, perek 5
10 Tamuz 5772/June 30, 2012
It seems like a favorite pastime for people to talk about their former teachers and their unique idiosyncrasies, as well as the antics students pulled in class. Undoubtedly, one
of my most unique teachers was ‘Rich’ (as he liked to be called). Rich
was very into poetry – not the rhyming kind, but the kind you read as a
high school student,
and think
that it’s complete gibberish, and laugh when the teacher is annoyed at
you for not comprehending the deep meaning of the poem.
On one occasion Rich gave us a paper which
had only three words on it. On top in big bold letters it said ‘HERE’.
Towards the bottom right corner of the page it said in small letters ‘we
are’.
He was extremely frustrated when we all looked at each other blankly with snickers on our faces. “Gentlemen, I’ve been called a genius for this and you have no clue what it’s about!” He finally explained that his point was that very often we are not where we say/think
we are. We like to believe that we have achieved certain things in our
lives and have matured to certain levels, but frequently
it is just not true.
I would like to piggy back on Rich’s point, albeit with one twist. I would spell the first word HAIR. In other words, sometimes one’s hair is no longer where it once was, as the hair line of youth recedes and thins. [I of course speak from observing others. Personally, I know nothing about this.] An older friend related that when he goes to the barber and asks for a haircut, the barber asks him which hair.
But here’s my observation: The halacha is that when a man dons his tefillin shel rosh each morning, the front of the shel rosh must be positioned at the place where one’s hair line was in his youth. Even if one’s hairline recedes, the positioning of his tefillin shel rosh remains in that original place.
In the physical world, as well as in society, the lines of acceptability and societal norms constantly shift with the times. What was once taboo may be completely acceptable today, and what was once innovative may now be completely passé. But in the spiritual world, the lines never change. Our barometer of morality and acceptability, have not altered one iota throughout – and despite – millennia in exile.
No matter how much the hairline moves, the tefillin remain where that line once was. Even if the physical hair is gone, the spiritual hairline never shifts!
              Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
                R’ Dani and Chani Staum
720 Union Road • New Hempstead, NY 10977 • (845) 362-2425

Sign Up For Our Email List

More Posts

Yom Kippur 5785

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh – Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5785/ October 11, 2024 OH DEER For those living in New York City, it’s quite rare to see deer. But for those of us who live on the other side of the Hudson River it is quite common. In fact, recently the number of deer has grown exponentially. It is not unusual for a family of deer to sprint across our yard, or even be grazing calmly in our yard. (So far, my effort to get them to pay for their usurped meals haven’t been successful…) Often,

Read More »

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Netzovim-Vayelech 23 Elul 5784/ September 27, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 5-6 KUGEL JUICE It’s been said that more people become religious because of the Rebbetzin’s kugel than because of the Rabbi’s sermon. This past Friday I couldn’t stop thinking about my wife’s kugel all morning. While she does make a mean potato kugel (that’s a big compliment for those who don’t know), that’s not why I thought about it all morning. During a game played at last year’s Chanukah mesiba in my home for my students, one student won a

Read More »

Parshas Ki Savo 5784

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo 17 Elul 5784/ September 20, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 3-4 UNAPOLOGETIC PRIDE Each year before Tisha b’Av I spend a considerable amount of time working with the learning director of Camp Dora Golding, my rebbe, Rabbi Noach Sauber, to develop a program for our campers that will be engaging, inspiring and meaningful. That includes asking our talented rebbeim in camp to introduce each of the kinnos recited. On Tisha b’Av this summer, my friend and summer colleague, Rabbi Mayer Erps, shared the following personal anecdote[1]: “On occasion I’ve

Read More »
Scroll to Top