“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Ki Savo
Parshas Ki Savo
17 Elul 5777/ September 8,
2017 – Avos Perek 3-4
2017 – Avos Perek 3-4
This past Wednesday, parents in the Tri-state area gleefully celebrated
the return of their children to school. No doubt they are thrilled that their
children will be learning Torah and broadening the horizons of their mind
again. But on a more practical level, after a couple of weeks of “Ma, I’m
soooooo bored”, mothers were more than willing to wake up early to help send
their children off to school. Now, they have a few weeks reprieve before the
Chol Hamoed morning pestering begins: “Ma, where are we goooooooing today?”
the return of their children to school. No doubt they are thrilled that their
children will be learning Torah and broadening the horizons of their mind
again. But on a more practical level, after a couple of weeks of “Ma, I’m
soooooo bored”, mothers were more than willing to wake up early to help send
their children off to school. Now, they have a few weeks reprieve before the
Chol Hamoed morning pestering begins: “Ma, where are we goooooooing today?”
On Tuesday evening, as she was going to sleep, I was talking
to our daughter Chayala about beginning second grade. I told Chalaya that I
remember vividly my first day in second grade. Our family had just moved to
Monsey from the Lower East Side during the previous summer. For me, it wasn’t
just a different school, it was a different world.
to our daughter Chayala about beginning second grade. I told Chalaya that I
remember vividly my first day in second grade. Our family had just moved to
Monsey from the Lower East Side during the previous summer. For me, it wasn’t
just a different school, it was a different world.
As I sat down in my seat in Yeshiva of Spring Valley that
first day, I vainly tried to restrain my tears. My rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Trenk, immediately
noticed my discomfort, and told me he had special medicine for someone in my
situation, and he proceeded to pour a few candies into my hand. Aside for being
a great rebbe, I remember the warmth and care he displayed during those first
few challenging days. Within a week, coming to school became part of my routine,
and those initial pangs of anxiety and discomfort dissipated.
first day, I vainly tried to restrain my tears. My rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Trenk, immediately
noticed my discomfort, and told me he had special medicine for someone in my
situation, and he proceeded to pour a few candies into my hand. Aside for being
a great rebbe, I remember the warmth and care he displayed during those first
few challenging days. Within a week, coming to school became part of my routine,
and those initial pangs of anxiety and discomfort dissipated.
Despite being settled in Monsey and in the yeshiva for a few
years, at the beginning of every school year, I would still feel some anxiety
on the first day. Truthfully, even now as a rebbe, those same feelings still crop
up each year. I am confident that most students and teachers feel the same way.
years, at the beginning of every school year, I would still feel some anxiety
on the first day. Truthfully, even now as a rebbe, those same feelings still crop
up each year. I am confident that most students and teachers feel the same way.
Unfamiliarity always breeds anxiety and discomfort. It’s all
the more so, when that unease is combined with expectations and fear of not
living up to those expectations.
the more so, when that unease is combined with expectations and fear of not
living up to those expectations.
Last week, our oldest son Shalom began High School in Yeshiva
Shaarei Torah, my alma mater. At the same time, I began a new position in
Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah, a prominent High School in Teaneck, New Jersey, as a
rebbe and Guidance Counselor. I felt like a yeshiva bochur again when people
asked Shalom when he was starting, and then asked me when I was starting.
Shaarei Torah, my alma mater. At the same time, I began a new position in
Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah, a prominent High School in Teaneck, New Jersey, as a
rebbe and Guidance Counselor. I felt like a yeshiva bochur again when people
asked Shalom when he was starting, and then asked me when I was starting.
New beginnings are exciting, but they are never easy. Accepting
a new position entails learning the culture of the environment, figuring out
expectations, and getting to know new personalities.
a new position entails learning the culture of the environment, figuring out
expectations, and getting to know new personalities.
During these first few days of school I have also seen a lot
of new shoes. Wearing new shoes is exciting but it’s also uncomfortable. It’s
only when the shoes adapt to the wearer’s foot, that they become truly
comfortable.
of new shoes. Wearing new shoes is exciting but it’s also uncomfortable. It’s
only when the shoes adapt to the wearer’s foot, that they become truly
comfortable.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we begin to think about areas
of our life and personality that we would like to improve upon. To do so
requires change, and even minute changes make us feel uncomfortable. It helps
to bear in mind that the discomfort is only temporary, because with time the
change we work so hard to create, becomes part of our routine, and eventually
part of our identity
of our life and personality that we would like to improve upon. To do so
requires change, and even minute changes make us feel uncomfortable. It helps
to bear in mind that the discomfort is only temporary, because with time the
change we work so hard to create, becomes part of our routine, and eventually
part of our identity
So
the question is are we willing to bear that temporary discomfort to experience
the changes we want for ourselves[DS1] [DS2] ?
the question is are we willing to bear that temporary discomfort to experience
the changes we want for ourselves[DS1] [DS2] ?
The
answer depends on just how badly we want it!
answer depends on just how badly we want it!
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum