“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vaera-
Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat
Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat
27 Teves 5780/January 24, 2020
STEALING SIGNS
Busted!
It has now been verified that the Houston Astros cheated in the post-season on
their way to winning the World Series in 2017. Yankees and Dodgers fans are
particularly enraged and are calling for the Astros to be stripped of their
championship rings.
It has now been verified that the Houston Astros cheated in the post-season on
their way to winning the World Series in 2017. Yankees and Dodgers fans are
particularly enraged and are calling for the Astros to be stripped of their
championship rings.
There is
an old saying in baseball that good pitching stops good hitting. What defines a
good pitcher is his having a repertoire of good pitches that he can use at
will, plus strong command of those pitches so that he can use to use them
effectively. Then it becomes a guessing game for the hitter to try to be ready
for anything. When a pitch is coming at a hitter 80-95 mph, he only has a
couple of seconds to decide when and how to swing. An effective pitcher uses
the element of surprise to try to blow the ball past the hitter and to get him
to not be able to make solid contact.
an old saying in baseball that good pitching stops good hitting. What defines a
good pitcher is his having a repertoire of good pitches that he can use at
will, plus strong command of those pitches so that he can use to use them
effectively. Then it becomes a guessing game for the hitter to try to be ready
for anything. When a pitch is coming at a hitter 80-95 mph, he only has a
couple of seconds to decide when and how to swing. An effective pitcher uses
the element of surprise to try to blow the ball past the hitter and to get him
to not be able to make solid contact.
The
catcher has secret signals through which he suggests to the pitcher what kind
of pitch he should throw. The pitcher then nods whether he agrees or not. This
way the catcher can be ready to catch the incoming pitch, so that the ball
doesn’t go past him.
catcher has secret signals through which he suggests to the pitcher what kind
of pitch he should throw. The pitcher then nods whether he agrees or not. This
way the catcher can be ready to catch the incoming pitch, so that the ball
doesn’t go past him.
During
Astros’ home games, a camera was set up in center field that was fixated and
zoomed in on the catcher. There was television monitor affixed to the wall of a
hallway leading from the home-team’s dugout to the clubhouse. Team players and
employees would analyze the catcher signs of the opposing team until they broke
the code and were able to decipher what kind of pitch the pitcher was about to
throw.
Astros’ home games, a camera was set up in center field that was fixated and
zoomed in on the catcher. There was television monitor affixed to the wall of a
hallway leading from the home-team’s dugout to the clubhouse. Team players and
employees would analyze the catcher signs of the opposing team until they broke
the code and were able to decipher what kind of pitch the pitcher was about to
throw.
They
would then bang on a trash can to alert their batter as to what kind of pitch
was coming. All the Astros players were in on the scheme and knew what each
bang on the trash can represented.
would then bang on a trash can to alert their batter as to what kind of pitch
was coming. All the Astros players were in on the scheme and knew what each
bang on the trash can represented.
When the
scandal broke, it had far reaching effects. The Astros immediately fired their
general manager and manger. That was quickly followed with the Boston Red Sox
firing their manager who had led them to a World Series victory because he was
a former employee of the Astros. Finally, the New York Mets fired their newly
hired manager, who was also a member of that team.
scandal broke, it had far reaching effects. The Astros immediately fired their
general manager and manger. That was quickly followed with the Boston Red Sox
firing their manager who had led them to a World Series victory because he was
a former employee of the Astros. Finally, the New York Mets fired their newly
hired manager, who was also a member of that team.
We live
our lives engaged in an epic struggle to maintain our integrity and to live
according to the dictates and expectations of halacha. That battle is fought
mostly within ourselves, against our internal evil inclination.
our lives engaged in an epic struggle to maintain our integrity and to live
according to the dictates and expectations of halacha. That battle is fought
mostly within ourselves, against our internal evil inclination.
Ramchal
explains that, originally, the yetzer hara was external and spoke to Adam in
second person, “you should eat from the forbidden fruit”. Once Adam consumed
the forbidden fruit however, the evil inclination entered his body and his
psyche and became part of him. Forevermore it speaks to Adam and his descendant
from within, “I want to do this act even though it is sinful and immoral.”
explains that, originally, the yetzer hara was external and spoke to Adam in
second person, “you should eat from the forbidden fruit”. Once Adam consumed
the forbidden fruit however, the evil inclination entered his body and his
psyche and became part of him. Forevermore it speaks to Adam and his descendant
from within, “I want to do this act even though it is sinful and immoral.”
Warring
countries always seek to plant spies behind enemy lines to infiltrate their
ranks in order to find out their military secrets. The greatest advantage in
war is the element of surprise. When one side is aware of their rival’s next
move, they can be ready for them.
countries always seek to plant spies behind enemy lines to infiltrate their
ranks in order to find out their military secrets. The greatest advantage in
war is the element of surprise. When one side is aware of their rival’s next
move, they can be ready for them.
Regarding our personal ongoing internal battle, we are at
an incredible disadvantage.
an incredible disadvantage.
There is
an old Telzer Purim Niggun[1] with the words: “g’daynk
dem alter ganev, asher karcha v’yizanev – remember the old thief who cut
you off; you must eradicate the memory of Amalek.”
an old Telzer Purim Niggun[1] with the words: “g’daynk
dem alter ganev, asher karcha v’yizanev – remember the old thief who cut
you off; you must eradicate the memory of Amalek.”
The
greatest danger of our evil inclination – symbolized by Amalek – is that he is
a thief. When we allow ourselves to be ensnared, he steals time, the most
precious commodity we have, and our ability to accomplish what we truly aspire
to accomplish.
greatest danger of our evil inclination – symbolized by Amalek – is that he is
a thief. When we allow ourselves to be ensnared, he steals time, the most
precious commodity we have, and our ability to accomplish what we truly aspire
to accomplish.
The
greatest danger is that we don’t realize we are being preyed upon. He has his
video camera zoomed in on our every move. Every time we try to accomplish and
do something positive he is there mixing the signs and exploiting our
weaknesses.
greatest danger is that we don’t realize we are being preyed upon. He has his
video camera zoomed in on our every move. Every time we try to accomplish and
do something positive he is there mixing the signs and exploiting our
weaknesses.
But
there is a fascinating component about our evil inclination that we may not
realize.
there is a fascinating component about our evil inclination that we may not
realize.
When
Yaakov Avinu was victorious over the angel after they struggled against each
other all night, the angel declared “send me for the morning has ascended”.
Rashi explains that the angel was saying that since it was morning, he had to
sing shira before Hashem. Targum Yonasan adds that this was his first
opportunity to sing shira. Why did he have to sing specifically now?
Yaakov Avinu was victorious over the angel after they struggled against each
other all night, the angel declared “send me for the morning has ascended”.
Rashi explains that the angel was saying that since it was morning, he had to
sing shira before Hashem. Targum Yonasan adds that this was his first
opportunity to sing shira. Why did he have to sing specifically now?
The Avodas
Yisroel of Koznitz explains that every angel has a mission to fulfill. When and
if the angel fulfills its mission, it ascends to heaven to sing before the
Thorne of Glory.
Yisroel of Koznitz explains that every angel has a mission to fulfill. When and
if the angel fulfills its mission, it ascends to heaven to sing before the
Thorne of Glory.
The
angel Yaakov struggled with was the evil inclination itself. That angel’s
purpose is to test us constantly, so that we can overcome him and be worthy of
ultimate reward. The evil inclination doesn’t want to beat us. Its real hope is
that we will overcome it so that its mission will be fulfilled.
angel Yaakov struggled with was the evil inclination itself. That angel’s
purpose is to test us constantly, so that we can overcome him and be worthy of
ultimate reward. The evil inclination doesn’t want to beat us. Its real hope is
that we will overcome it so that its mission will be fulfilled.
When
Yaakov was victorious, the angel became excited – “finally someone has beaten
me! That means I have fulfilled my mission, and now I must sing before the
Throne of Glory!”
Yaakov was victorious, the angel became excited – “finally someone has beaten
me! That means I have fulfilled my mission, and now I must sing before the
Throne of Glory!”
That
means that the yetzer hara isn’t stealing our signs to defeat us. It’s more
like the trainer who compels his trainee to be ready for anything, so that he
will be able to withstand whatever comes his way. The more agile, stronger and
better the trainee becomes, the more challenging and harsher the trainer works
him.
means that the yetzer hara isn’t stealing our signs to defeat us. It’s more
like the trainer who compels his trainee to be ready for anything, so that he
will be able to withstand whatever comes his way. The more agile, stronger and
better the trainee becomes, the more challenging and harsher the trainer works
him.
Life is
about overcoming struggle, because it’s only through overcoming adversity that
we become stronger and greater.
about overcoming struggle, because it’s only through overcoming adversity that
we become stronger and greater.
So,
whenever we feel like we are being tested and challenged hard, we can gather
some solace by remembering that someone obviously believes in us. Someone
believes we have the ability to overcome it, so that it can ascend and sing
shira for fulfilling its mission of preparing another soul to compete in the
major leagues.
whenever we feel like we are being tested and challenged hard, we can gather
some solace by remembering that someone obviously believes in us. Someone
believes we have the ability to overcome it, so that it can ascend and sing
shira for fulfilling its mission of preparing another soul to compete in the
major leagues.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
[1] I learned this niggun and words from Rabbi Avrohom Chaim
Feuer and his sons. Rabbi Feuer was the Rabbi of Kehillas Bais Avrohom in
Monsey, which was my family’s shul during my adolescence.
Feuer and his sons. Rabbi Feuer was the Rabbi of Kehillas Bais Avrohom in
Monsey, which was my family’s shul during my adolescence.