“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Tazria-Metzora –Avos Perek 2
Parshas Tazria-Metzora –Avos Perek 2
5 Iyar 5778/April 20,
2018
2018
When I was a kid (wow, I’ve reached that age…), before
Pesach I would bring home a nice Pesach booklet that contained many Divrei Torah.
Today, each of our children brings home a complete professional-looking
Haggadah, which include personalized pictures, numerous explanations, and a
plethora of Divrei Torah.
Pesach I would bring home a nice Pesach booklet that contained many Divrei Torah.
Today, each of our children brings home a complete professional-looking
Haggadah, which include personalized pictures, numerous explanations, and a
plethora of Divrei Torah.
It is a true fulfillment of the mitzvah of “and you shall
tell your father on that night.”
tell your father on that night.”
During the years when I was an elementary school rebbe, I too
invested much time and effort to produce such a Haggadah. Each rebbe and Morah
should be commended for the efforts they invest into producing the haggdos our
children bring home.
invested much time and effort to produce such a Haggadah. Each rebbe and Morah
should be commended for the efforts they invest into producing the haggdos our
children bring home.
I was thinking that perhaps all these Herculean efforts are
not necessary. All the learning about Pesach takes away from the main subjects
our children are learning. I propose that teachers continue teaching their
usual subject matter up until the last day before the Pesach break. Then, that
last day, they can have a matzah and grape juice party, as well as a carnival
with different booths that connect to each of the ten Makkos. Maybe they can
also make a small project about Egyptian culture and topography to help
everyone get in the mood.
not necessary. All the learning about Pesach takes away from the main subjects
our children are learning. I propose that teachers continue teaching their
usual subject matter up until the last day before the Pesach break. Then, that
last day, they can have a matzah and grape juice party, as well as a carnival
with different booths that connect to each of the ten Makkos. Maybe they can
also make a small project about Egyptian culture and topography to help
everyone get in the mood.
The Yom Tov of Pesach is so profoundly deep, and we all
understand that in order to gain an appreciation for the numerous profound
lessons of the holiday we need to invest in its study. The excitement that
fills the halls of our Yeshivos as students learn about Pesach is palpable. It
is that excitement which enables each rebbe and Morah to produce such beautiful
booklets in honor of Pesach and each upcoming holiday.
understand that in order to gain an appreciation for the numerous profound
lessons of the holiday we need to invest in its study. The excitement that
fills the halls of our Yeshivos as students learn about Pesach is palpable. It
is that excitement which enables each rebbe and Morah to produce such beautiful
booklets in honor of Pesach and each upcoming holiday.
This is part of the reason I feel frustrated around Yom Ha’atzmaut
and Yom Yerushalayim. To begin with, it’s difficult to appreciate the
significance of these days while living outside Eretz Yisroel. But that’s all
the reason why we need to work harder in that regard.
and Yom Yerushalayim. To begin with, it’s difficult to appreciate the
significance of these days while living outside Eretz Yisroel. But that’s all
the reason why we need to work harder in that regard.
In regards to Avodas Hashem generally, there is no room for
half-hearted observance. In the words of Rav Hunter zt’l “there’s no
Switzerland in the neshama; there’s no neutrality!” Whatever we do as part of
Judaism needs to serve as a means that draws us closer to Hashem. That point is
at the root of being Torah-observant.
half-hearted observance. In the words of Rav Hunter zt’l “there’s no
Switzerland in the neshama; there’s no neutrality!” Whatever we do as part of
Judaism needs to serve as a means that draws us closer to Hashem. That point is
at the root of being Torah-observant.
The yeshivos I attended in my youth did not observe these
holidays, or mark them in any way. Therefore, it is only in recent years that I
learned about their significance. That of course includes the endemic halachic
discussions and political controversies surrounding their observance.
holidays, or mark them in any way. Therefore, it is only in recent years that I
learned about their significance. That of course includes the endemic halachic
discussions and political controversies surrounding their observance.
Among those who observe the day as a celebration and holiday,
I was mostly disappointed by what I found to be observance that was dry and
lacking meaning. The day seemed to be little more than flag-raising, and a
falafel party and carnival with themes connected to Israel. Due to the
phenomena that outside of Israel no one can seem to produce a quality falafel
like in Israel, that seemed to only make matters worse. Our schools do their
best to foster exciting and enjoyable programs with Eretz Yisroel based themes.
But there seems to be a very unemotional attitude towards these days in the
general community. I doubt Pesach would be as meaningful if it was only about
listening to a few lectures, no matter how inspiring they would be.
I was mostly disappointed by what I found to be observance that was dry and
lacking meaning. The day seemed to be little more than flag-raising, and a
falafel party and carnival with themes connected to Israel. Due to the
phenomena that outside of Israel no one can seem to produce a quality falafel
like in Israel, that seemed to only make matters worse. Our schools do their
best to foster exciting and enjoyable programs with Eretz Yisroel based themes.
But there seems to be a very unemotional attitude towards these days in the
general community. I doubt Pesach would be as meaningful if it was only about
listening to a few lectures, no matter how inspiring they would be.
What an opportunity the day presents to educate our children,
and to remind ourselves, about Kedushas ha’aretz, mitzvos ha’aertz, and why we
pined for so long to return there. No other nation has ever returned home after
being forcibly and brutally expelled for any length of time. Not recounting the
miracles Hashem performed during the UN vote on November 29, 1948, and during
the War of Independence, or the fact that today the center of Torah study in
the world has again shifted back to Eretz Yisroel, is like observing Pesach
without relating the Haggadah. (The comparison is obviously faulty because we
have a mitzvah to recite the Haggadah. I only mention the comparison to bring
out the point.)
and to remind ourselves, about Kedushas ha’aretz, mitzvos ha’aertz, and why we
pined for so long to return there. No other nation has ever returned home after
being forcibly and brutally expelled for any length of time. Not recounting the
miracles Hashem performed during the UN vote on November 29, 1948, and during
the War of Independence, or the fact that today the center of Torah study in
the world has again shifted back to Eretz Yisroel, is like observing Pesach
without relating the Haggadah. (The comparison is obviously faulty because we
have a mitzvah to recite the Haggadah. I only mention the comparison to bring
out the point.)
A colleague in a different Yeshiva related to me that on Yom
Hashoah last week, a student asked him if they were reciting Hallel that day.
That’s a pretty strong indication that we are coming up short in our conveying
the meaning of these days.
Hashoah last week, a student asked him if they were reciting Hallel that day.
That’s a pretty strong indication that we are coming up short in our conveying
the meaning of these days.
Perhaps we need to approach these days as we do other
holidays, beginning to explain our spiritual perspective towards these days a
few days prior – why they mean so much to us, and how we can draw closer to
Hashem through their observance.
holidays, beginning to explain our spiritual perspective towards these days a
few days prior – why they mean so much to us, and how we can draw closer to
Hashem through their observance.
For those communities who don’t observe these days, my
personal opinion (which no one asked for) is that they too need to educate
their students about a proper perspective of how to view contemporary events in
Eretz Yisroel. They too need a framework to understand how to view the
miraculous events of the past seventy plus years.
personal opinion (which no one asked for) is that they too need to educate
their students about a proper perspective of how to view contemporary events in
Eretz Yisroel. They too need a framework to understand how to view the
miraculous events of the past seventy plus years.
Regardless of what hashkafic perspective one has about the
state, what has and continue to occur needs to be addressed. Hashem has wrought
incredible and previously unimaginable events to occur. This includes the
recapture of Yerushalayim in 1967 and all the miracles of the Six-day war, the
Entebbe Raid, Operation Desert Storm ending on Purim, and in fact the country’s
daily survival. Ignorance is surely not the answer, though it seems that most
are woefully ignorant of the events and a perspective about them.
state, what has and continue to occur needs to be addressed. Hashem has wrought
incredible and previously unimaginable events to occur. This includes the
recapture of Yerushalayim in 1967 and all the miracles of the Six-day war, the
Entebbe Raid, Operation Desert Storm ending on Purim, and in fact the country’s
daily survival. Ignorance is surely not the answer, though it seems that most
are woefully ignorant of the events and a perspective about them.
In a religion that encourages questions and pondering of
everything, how can such significant events merely be breezed over?
everything, how can such significant events merely be breezed over?
Last week, my younger brother Yaakov, who was visiting for
Pesach, headed home with his family to their home in Nachlaot, Yerushalayim. He
sent a picture of his ElAl plane from Kennedy airport with the caption “almost
home”.
Pesach, headed home with his family to their home in Nachlaot, Yerushalayim. He
sent a picture of his ElAl plane from Kennedy airport with the caption “almost
home”.
It struck me afterwards how incredible that statement is.
They had packed, made it to the airport, and went through security, so all they
needed to do was board the plane. He was almost home despite the fact that he
was over seven thousand miles away.
They had packed, made it to the airport, and went through security, so all they
needed to do was board the plane. He was almost home despite the fact that he
was over seven thousand miles away.
What a world we live in. We can be in New York, or any other
part of the world and yet be “almost home”; just a flight away.
part of the world and yet be “almost home”; just a flight away.
When I was a high school student in Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, we
didn’t recite Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut. The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Berel Wein (who
said Hallel with his shul next door) would remind us that, more important than
whether you recite Hallel or not, is the feeling of gratitude to Hashem for the
incredible events He has allowed us to witness, and that we not lose our sense
of amazement and wonder for the gift of Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalayim.
didn’t recite Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut. The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Berel Wein (who
said Hallel with his shul next door) would remind us that, more important than
whether you recite Hallel or not, is the feeling of gratitude to Hashem for the
incredible events He has allowed us to witness, and that we not lose our sense
of amazement and wonder for the gift of Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalayim.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum