PARSHAS MISHPATIM 5776

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Mishpatim
Shabbos Mevorchim
Chodesh Adar I
26 Shevat 5776/ February
5, 2016
There were many special highlights and memorable moments
during my recent trip to Eretz Yisroel with my son Shalom, in honor of his bar
mitzvah. We had the zechus of receiving berachos from many gedolim, we davened
at the kevarim of tzaddikim who lived throughout the generations, we visited
family who live there, and we saw a sampling of some of the wonders and majestic
beauty of the Land.
I would like to share what I felt was one of the most moving
moments of our trip:
The day before we returned home, my brother Yaakov’s
father-in-law, R’ Moshe Primishleanu, drove us on an incredible one day tiyul
up north. We left from Yerushalayim and headed north via the Jordan Valley
all the way to Teveriah (kevarim of Rabbi Meir Ba’al Hanes, Rabbi Akiva,
Ramchal, Rambam, and Shelah). We saw the place where the Kineret begins to flow
into the Jordan River, and some time later we saw where the opposite side where
the northern section of the Jordan
flows into the top of the Kineret. We headed all the way to the northern
border, to the summit of a mountain called BenTal, where there was snow on the
ground. At its peak there was a patrol of four UN soldiers (Danish, Austrian,
Indian, and Pakistan).
From there we could see the nearby snow-capped Har Chermon, and had a clear
view well into Syria.
We then drove back down through the norther city of Kiryat Shmoneh, and down through the Galil,
from which the Lebanese border was visible.
We davened in Amuka at the kever of Rabbi Yonasan Ben Uziel,
and then headed up towards Tzefas.
I had read that Abayei and Rava were buried in the vicinity
of Tzefas, but that it was a bit off the road and somewhat challenging to find.
In yeshiva Shalom was learning the beginning of the fifth
perek of Bava Kamma, which discusses the halacha in an unusual case where a
pregnant cow gored an ox. There is a classic machlokes (dispute) between Abayei
and Rava regarding the details of the scenario which the Mishna discusses.
As we had just reviewed that Gemara that morning I asked R’
Moshe if we could visit the graves of Abayei and Rava.
Despite the challenge in getting there, R’ Moshe was more
than willing to oblige. With just minutes to sunset, we drove to the end of the
road and onto a bumpy unsettled path heading up a steep hill. Somehow the car
made it up. At the end of the path we had to walk to the top of the mountain,
from where there was a breathtaking view of the entire area. At the top was a
now dark and cold cave into which we descended. At the end was the simple
graves of the two holy Amoraim simply marked with their names.
Shalom and I stood in front of the two timeless Talmudic
personalities whose name grace numerous pages of the Talmud, and orally
reviewed the gemara’s discussion, particularly the dispute. For me it was an
extremely emotional moment. A Torah dispute between two sages that transpired
and was recorded close to two thousand years ago being vividly and excitedly
recounted by a father and his son who is celebrating his bar mitzvah. There we
recounted the timeless words about a pregnant cow goring an ox.
We then continued on to Tzefas and then Meron, before heading
back to yerushalayim via Acco, Chaifa, and Tel Aviv.
However, the experience of reviewing Torah taught centuries
ago  in front of the graves of such familiar personalities, as their lips
moved along with us before us, was humbling and awe-inspiring. The words of the
Gemara took on new meaning.
It was a timeless experience in a timeless land. It’s part of
the privilege we have being members of a timeless people!
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