“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Naso
11 Sivan 5779/June 14, 2019
Avos perek 1
I don’t know if this happens in anyone else’s home, but often
when I ask one of my near-perfect children to do something, they will reply “I
don’t want to.” A wise friend noted that when his children say that to him, instead
of snapping back angrily, or giving a harangue about chutzpah, he simply shrugs
and says, “that’s fine; you don’t have to want to do it. Do it anyway!”
when I ask one of my near-perfect children to do something, they will reply “I
don’t want to.” A wise friend noted that when his children say that to him, instead
of snapping back angrily, or giving a harangue about chutzpah, he simply shrugs
and says, “that’s fine; you don’t have to want to do it. Do it anyway!”
The truth is that it’s not just a good parenting technique,
it’s also an important idea to remember regarding the responsibilities of life.
it’s also an important idea to remember regarding the responsibilities of life.
The following story was related by Rabbi
Binny Freedman – Isralight – Bo 5779:
Binny Freedman – Isralight – Bo 5779:
“Wake up an Israeli tank commander
in the middle of the night and flash a picture of a BMP-1 APC (Armored
Personnel Carrier) at a distance of 5 kilometers, when it appears to be little
more than a speck in the distance, and he will instantly recognize it as a
Soviet-made troop carrier that fires armor-piercing Sagger anti-tank missiles.
He will also be able to rattle off to you their effective range, and threat
capacity (the amount of time it takes to aim and fire, as well as which Israeli
tanks will effectively pierce). He will also know instantly that this carrier
is most likely to be seen in the Syrian theater of war.
in the middle of the night and flash a picture of a BMP-1 APC (Armored
Personnel Carrier) at a distance of 5 kilometers, when it appears to be little
more than a speck in the distance, and he will instantly recognize it as a
Soviet-made troop carrier that fires armor-piercing Sagger anti-tank missiles.
He will also be able to rattle off to you their effective range, and threat
capacity (the amount of time it takes to aim and fire, as well as which Israeli
tanks will effectively pierce). He will also know instantly that this carrier
is most likely to be seen in the Syrian theater of war.
“The Israeli army takes the topic of
enemy weaponry very seriously and has a variety of often-sadistic methods for
ensuring that its commanders become extremely proficient in this particular
expertise. I remember vividly the oft-repeated ritual of testing on this topic
that took place every Friday morning during Tank Officer’s Course, particularly
as we were about to leave the base for our eagerly awaited weekend pass.
enemy weaponry very seriously and has a variety of often-sadistic methods for
ensuring that its commanders become extremely proficient in this particular
expertise. I remember vividly the oft-repeated ritual of testing on this topic
that took place every Friday morning during Tank Officer’s Course, particularly
as we were about to leave the base for our eagerly awaited weekend pass.
“They would line us up for
inspection in our dress uniforms, with our gear packed and the bus waiting to
take us back to civilization, sometimes even letting the bus engines rev up so
we could practically smell freedom, and then herd us into a side room for the
dreaded exam.
inspection in our dress uniforms, with our gear packed and the bus waiting to
take us back to civilization, sometimes even letting the bus engines rev up so
we could practically smell freedom, and then herd us into a side room for the
dreaded exam.
“Anyone not scoring a near-perfect
score would be forced to stay behind to re-take the exam on Sunday morning. It
is hard to describe the horrible depression that would descend on any cadet who
failed this rigorous exam, as he was forced to watch everyone else board the
bus for freedom while he stayed behind for a weekend of guard duty and kitchen
detail. But it was hard to argue with the necessity for the perfection that was
demanded; if you are in combat and the speck of a helicopter rises above a
distant hilltop, you only have seconds to decide whether it is an Israeli
Cobra, or a Syrian Gazelle (tank-killer), and mistakes or even hesitation in
such a situation is what gets men killed.
score would be forced to stay behind to re-take the exam on Sunday morning. It
is hard to describe the horrible depression that would descend on any cadet who
failed this rigorous exam, as he was forced to watch everyone else board the
bus for freedom while he stayed behind for a weekend of guard duty and kitchen
detail. But it was hard to argue with the necessity for the perfection that was
demanded; if you are in combat and the speck of a helicopter rises above a
distant hilltop, you only have seconds to decide whether it is an Israeli
Cobra, or a Syrian Gazelle (tank-killer), and mistakes or even hesitation in
such a situation is what gets men killed.
“A case in point was the terrible
story of the tanks and men of Tank Officer’s Course who served together as an
armored battalion in the Lebanon war: seeing an approaching column of enemy
tanks advancing through the dust clouds of the tank treads, the leading company
commander opened fire and a pitched tank battle ensued.
story of the tanks and men of Tank Officer’s Course who served together as an
armored battalion in the Lebanon war: seeing an approaching column of enemy
tanks advancing through the dust clouds of the tank treads, the leading company
commander opened fire and a pitched tank battle ensued.
“Amidst the screams of the dying,
one of the officers realized that both units were actually Israeli, and, unable
to contact the unit opposite while ordering his own tanks to cease fire, he
watched helplessly as his comrades continued to fire on his own men. Finally,
one of the men disconnected his radio helmet, threw down his gun and ran, under
fire, to the opposite leading tank.
one of the officers realized that both units were actually Israeli, and, unable
to contact the unit opposite while ordering his own tanks to cease fire, he
watched helplessly as his comrades continued to fire on his own men. Finally,
one of the men disconnected his radio helmet, threw down his gun and ran, under
fire, to the opposite leading tank.
“Jumping up on top of the tank he
grabbed the radio-helmet off the head of the startled tank commander and
screamed into the other unit’s frequency:
grabbed the radio-helmet off the head of the startled tank commander and
screamed into the other unit’s frequency:
“Chadal! Atem horgim otanu’!” “Cease
fire! You’re killing us!”
fire! You’re killing us!”
Years later, I met one of the men
from this infamous tank battle, who still carried the scars of that terrible
afternoon.”
from this infamous tank battle, who still carried the scars of that terrible
afternoon.”
In spring 2018, Rav Aharon Lopiansky
addressed the talmidim of our yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah. At that time, he was
asked what should someone do, if he’s not in the mood of davening?
addressed the talmidim of our yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah. At that time, he was
asked what should someone do, if he’s not in the mood of davening?
Rav Lopiansky replied that sometimes a young
man may have no feeling for davening, and he will ‘sleep his way’ through it
for many years. Finally, at some point, inspiration sets in and he wants to
become more serious about Avodas Hashem. If he never davened it will be very
challenging for him to start getting into the habit of doing so. If a person
goes through the motions however, even without feeling it, when the inspiration
eventually sets in, it will be far easier for him to become a serious Ben
Torah.
man may have no feeling for davening, and he will ‘sleep his way’ through it
for many years. Finally, at some point, inspiration sets in and he wants to
become more serious about Avodas Hashem. If he never davened it will be very
challenging for him to start getting into the habit of doing so. If a person
goes through the motions however, even without feeling it, when the inspiration
eventually sets in, it will be far easier for him to become a serious Ben
Torah.
A soldier needs to know his equipment and everything about his enemies without
hesitation, so he can fight properly. In a similar vein, we have to go through
the motions and do what’s right, even if we don’t feel inspired doing so. When
the time comes, the inspiration will be there.
hesitation, so he can fight properly. In a similar vein, we have to go through
the motions and do what’s right, even if we don’t feel inspired doing so. When
the time comes, the inspiration will be there.
Kavana (concentration) is like the fire on a torch. Without kavana, one
is holding an empty torch that doesn’t give much light. But as soon as he
ignites the fire, the light will radiate light and warmth in all directions.
But if one doesn’t have the torch, even when he has the match to light the fire,
he won’t have any fuel to keep the fire going and will first have to find the
fuel.
is holding an empty torch that doesn’t give much light. But as soon as he
ignites the fire, the light will radiate light and warmth in all directions.
But if one doesn’t have the torch, even when he has the match to light the fire,
he won’t have any fuel to keep the fire going and will first have to find the
fuel.
The Kotzker Rebbe noted that in Shema we state: “And these words that I
command you today shall be upon your heart.” Why do we say that the words of
Torah should be upon our heart, and not in our heart? The Rebbe explained that
sometimes a person just ‘doesn’t feel it’. He tries to daven and learn but he
doesn’t feel any inspiration or elevation from it. He should keep doing it
anyway, and rest assured the inspiration will come. Pile it up upon the heart,
eventually it will break through and become ‘in your heart’.
command you today shall be upon your heart.” Why do we say that the words of
Torah should be upon our heart, and not in our heart? The Rebbe explained that
sometimes a person just ‘doesn’t feel it’. He tries to daven and learn but he
doesn’t feel any inspiration or elevation from it. He should keep doing it
anyway, and rest assured the inspiration will come. Pile it up upon the heart,
eventually it will break through and become ‘in your heart’.
As in everything in life, the greatest production comes from one who acts
with passion and emotion. But when one sets out in his way, he cannot wait for passion;
he has to jump in and start. Truthfully, even when he discovers an emotional
connection with what he is doing, he will invariably have off-days when he just
doesn’t feel it. At those times, he has to push himself to go through the
motions and continue doing what he knows is his responsibility. More often than
not, the passion returns fairly quickly.
with passion and emotion. But when one sets out in his way, he cannot wait for passion;
he has to jump in and start. Truthfully, even when he discovers an emotional
connection with what he is doing, he will invariably have off-days when he just
doesn’t feel it. At those times, he has to push himself to go through the
motions and continue doing what he knows is his responsibility. More often than
not, the passion returns fairly quickly.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum