“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Tzav/Shabbos
Hagadol
Hagadol
9 Nissan 5780/April 3, 2020
USELESS OR USEFUL
PLACE
PLACE
A long
time ago – or at least what feels like a long time ago – it was actually a
Friday morning one-month BCE (Before Coronavirus Exploded), I went to the DMV
to get a soon-to-be-required Enhanced License. The lines at the DMV can be
long, so I made sure to be there when they opened at 8:30 am. When I walked in
at 8:32, the large room was mostly full and there was already a long line
growing constantly. I was given a little slip of paper with a few random
numbers and told to have a seat and wait until my number was called.
time ago – or at least what feels like a long time ago – it was actually a
Friday morning one-month BCE (Before Coronavirus Exploded), I went to the DMV
to get a soon-to-be-required Enhanced License. The lines at the DMV can be
long, so I made sure to be there when they opened at 8:30 am. When I walked in
at 8:32, the large room was mostly full and there was already a long line
growing constantly. I was given a little slip of paper with a few random
numbers and told to have a seat and wait until my number was called.
My
number was preceded with the letter U. To my consternation, I quickly realized
that not all the numbers being called began with the letter U. That meant I
would not only have to wait for my number to be called, there was also no recognizable
pattern in knowing when it would be called.
number was preceded with the letter U. To my consternation, I quickly realized
that not all the numbers being called began with the letter U. That meant I
would not only have to wait for my number to be called, there was also no recognizable
pattern in knowing when it would be called.
(I
have never been good with numbers and memorizing things, so I was constantly
taking the slip of paper out of my pocket to check the number. As the time wore
on, I came up with a fictitious story to help me remember my number:
have never been good with numbers and memorizing things, so I was constantly
taking the slip of paper out of my pocket to check the number. As the time wore
on, I came up with a fictitious story to help me remember my number:
One
night there were a bunch of cookies taken from the pantry. The mother called
her sons Juan and Julio and demanded to know who had eaten the missing cookies.
When Juan said that he hadn’t eaten one and only Julio did, Julio stood up and yelled,
“U8121” (You ate one too, Juan). Because of my brilliant story I still remember
my numbers now…)
night there were a bunch of cookies taken from the pantry. The mother called
her sons Juan and Julio and demanded to know who had eaten the missing cookies.
When Juan said that he hadn’t eaten one and only Julio did, Julio stood up and yelled,
“U8121” (You ate one too, Juan). Because of my brilliant story I still remember
my numbers now…)
The
hours ticked away slowly. I finished the parsha, learned Gemara, prepared to
teach my next few classes, and wrote an article.
hours ticked away slowly. I finished the parsha, learned Gemara, prepared to
teach my next few classes, and wrote an article.
I told
all the Jews I met that we should have someone bring wine and challos for us,
because it didn’t look like we were getting out before Shabbos. I nervously
hoped I was joking.
all the Jews I met that we should have someone bring wine and challos for us,
because it didn’t look like we were getting out before Shabbos. I nervously
hoped I was joking.
After
about three hours, I guesstimated that it was almost my turn – which meant
within an hour! But then there was an announcement overhead: “We have just been
informed from the central offices in Albany that their system is down. This is
completely beyond our control. We cannot process any licenses at this time. We
have no idea how long this will last.”
about three hours, I guesstimated that it was almost my turn – which meant
within an hour! But then there was an announcement overhead: “We have just been
informed from the central offices in Albany that their system is down. This is
completely beyond our control. We cannot process any licenses at this time. We
have no idea how long this will last.”
It was
the last thing I wanted to hear. All those hours waiting for nothing. I would
have to start all over again.
the last thing I wanted to hear. All those hours waiting for nothing. I would
have to start all over again.
Thankfully,
a few minutes later, just before I walked out, they announced that anyone who
had their papers in order would receive a pass, that would allow them to return
the following week and bypass the line.
a few minutes later, just before I walked out, they announced that anyone who
had their papers in order would receive a pass, that would allow them to return
the following week and bypass the line.
With
that paper in hand, I indeed returned the following week and was able to bypass
the line. My number was called after only an hour.
that paper in hand, I indeed returned the following week and was able to bypass
the line. My number was called after only an hour.
Then I
stood at the desk opposite the clerk for literally forty-five minutes. I felt
that he was stuck in slow-motion. I have hardly ever witnessed greater
incompetence. But finally, I was given a receipt and told I could expect my
enhanced license to arrive within two weeks.
stood at the desk opposite the clerk for literally forty-five minutes. I felt
that he was stuck in slow-motion. I have hardly ever witnessed greater
incompetence. But finally, I was given a receipt and told I could expect my
enhanced license to arrive within two weeks.
It was
quite an irksome experience. But as I type these words, amid the global
Coronavirus pandemic, I now know that experience was hardly practice for the
patience we all are being forced to exercise during this time.
quite an irksome experience. But as I type these words, amid the global
Coronavirus pandemic, I now know that experience was hardly practice for the
patience we all are being forced to exercise during this time.
In “Oh the places you’ll go”, Dr. Suess wrote
about
about
“A most useless place; The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.”
The
truth is that much of life is spent waiting. On a simple level, (when the world
is functioning normally) we wait on store lines, in traffic, for packages to
arrive, etc. But on a more significant level, wewait for all sorts of salvations
and panaceas. There are people waiting for shidduchim, to have children, for
estranged children to return home, to be able to pay bills, to find a home in a
good neighborhood, for shalom bayis, for emotional stability, and the painful
list goes on and on.
truth is that much of life is spent waiting. On a simple level, (when the world
is functioning normally) we wait on store lines, in traffic, for packages to
arrive, etc. But on a more significant level, wewait for all sorts of salvations
and panaceas. There are people waiting for shidduchim, to have children, for
estranged children to return home, to be able to pay bills, to find a home in a
good neighborhood, for shalom bayis, for emotional stability, and the painful
list goes on and on.
Rabbi
Yisroel Reisman noted that the perspective of a Torah Jew is to always strive
to grow in every situation. The goal is that when the difficult situation ends,
one can look back at that time as a time of growth during the challenge.
Yisroel Reisman noted that the perspective of a Torah Jew is to always strive
to grow in every situation. The goal is that when the difficult situation ends,
one can look back at that time as a time of growth during the challenge.
Sometimes
we hear people reflect upon the most difficult period of their lives as being
the most gratifying, and even the most fulfilling. How is such a dichotomy
possible? Because fulfillment is the result of growth and one who grows during
arduous times sees tangible good that emerged from it.
we hear people reflect upon the most difficult period of their lives as being
the most gratifying, and even the most fulfilling. How is such a dichotomy
possible? Because fulfillment is the result of growth and one who grows during
arduous times sees tangible good that emerged from it.
Rabbi
Reisman noted that “this situation will pass, and it will be a distant memory. After
the infamous September 11th attacks, we thought the world would
never revert to normalcy. Yet, it became a distant memory, and life reverted
back to (a new) normal. Now too, life will return to normal. The question is if
we will be able to look back at this difficult period, as one in which we
accomplished and grew.
Reisman noted that “this situation will pass, and it will be a distant memory. After
the infamous September 11th attacks, we thought the world would
never revert to normalcy. Yet, it became a distant memory, and life reverted
back to (a new) normal. Now too, life will return to normal. The question is if
we will be able to look back at this difficult period, as one in which we
accomplished and grew.
The
memories we can create for our families during this challenging time period
cannot be created under normal circumstances.
memories we can create for our families during this challenging time period
cannot be created under normal circumstances.
We
surely hope and pray that this will all end, all those who are sick will be
healed, all those who have suffered tragic losses be consoled, and all those
who have been severely impacted financially recoup their losses. But until
Hashem does so, we need to do our best during these circumstances.
surely hope and pray that this will all end, all those who are sick will be
healed, all those who have suffered tragic losses be consoled, and all those
who have been severely impacted financially recoup their losses. But until
Hashem does so, we need to do our best during these circumstances.
We have
little control over those times when we find ourselves in The Waiting Place.
But it is our choice whether we allow it to be a most useless place or if we
make into a most productive place.
little control over those times when we find ourselves in The Waiting Place.
But it is our choice whether we allow it to be a most useless place or if we
make into a most productive place.
To do so
is surely no easy feat, but the Jewish people have never shied away from
challenges.
is surely no easy feat, but the Jewish people have never shied away from
challenges.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum