“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Vayakhel – Shekalim
Parshas Vayakhel – Shekalim
Mevorchim Chodesh Adar
II
II
24 Adar I 5776/ March Forth , 2016
I spend my afternoons in the warm
environs of Mesivta Ohr Naftoli in New Windsor, NY, where I am the Principal of
the Secular Studies department. Once a week the students of each grade have the
good fortune to have me as their teacher for one period. With the eleventh
grade I give a course in public speaking.
environs of Mesivta Ohr Naftoli in New Windsor, NY, where I am the Principal of
the Secular Studies department. Once a week the students of each grade have the
good fortune to have me as their teacher for one period. With the eleventh
grade I give a course in public speaking.
As their final, each student has to
present a speech to his classmates. I created a list of possible venues and
occasions, and by way of lottery, each student chooses the topic/venue which he
will address. The occasions include sheva berachos of your sister, promoting a
kiruv event at your shul, bar mitzvah of a younger brother, opening words as
emcee of shul dinner, class representative at graduation, Bubby’s surprise 90th
birthday party, speaking to a group of eighth grade students and their parents
to promote the yeshiva, class valedictorian, etc.
present a speech to his classmates. I created a list of possible venues and
occasions, and by way of lottery, each student chooses the topic/venue which he
will address. The occasions include sheva berachos of your sister, promoting a
kiruv event at your shul, bar mitzvah of a younger brother, opening words as
emcee of shul dinner, class representative at graduation, Bubby’s surprise 90th
birthday party, speaking to a group of eighth grade students and their parents
to promote the yeshiva, class valedictorian, etc.
Recently, one boy was assigned to speak
at his neighbor’s fiftieth anniversary party. He began with a d’var Torah which
emphasized the importance of having good middos and being a pleasant person. He
continued by saying, “Everyone knows our dear neighbors – Rabbi and Rebbitzin
Staum – who are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary today, possess
these wonderful qualities…” When he concluded his speech, I couldn’t help but
share with him that, believe it or not, that day, February 17th,
happened to be my anniversary (coincidentally it’s also my wife’s anniversary),
albeit it was our fourteenth, not quite our fiftieth. I also told them that
there was no place I’d rather be on my anniversary than with them.
at his neighbor’s fiftieth anniversary party. He began with a d’var Torah which
emphasized the importance of having good middos and being a pleasant person. He
continued by saying, “Everyone knows our dear neighbors – Rabbi and Rebbitzin
Staum – who are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary today, possess
these wonderful qualities…” When he concluded his speech, I couldn’t help but
share with him that, believe it or not, that day, February 17th,
happened to be my anniversary (coincidentally it’s also my wife’s anniversary),
albeit it was our fourteenth, not quite our fiftieth. I also told them that
there was no place I’d rather be on my anniversary than with them.
The following week in the middle of
class the boys presented me with an ice cream cake and a card which read:
“Happy Anniversary. Better late than never!”
class the boys presented me with an ice cream cake and a card which read:
“Happy Anniversary. Better late than never!”
It was a very sweet and thoughtful
gesture, and thankfully I still have my teeth and was able to enjoy the cake. But
it did give me a moment’s pause to think about my fiftieth anniversary, which I
pray G-d will grant us the blessing to reach such a beautiful and precious
milestone.
gesture, and thankfully I still have my teeth and was able to enjoy the cake. But
it did give me a moment’s pause to think about my fiftieth anniversary, which I
pray G-d will grant us the blessing to reach such a beautiful and precious
milestone.
We live our lives trying to balance our
short-term, immediate focus with our long-term, future focus. The challenge is
that the pressures of today make it so difficult for us to focus on the growth
and goals of tomorrow.
short-term, immediate focus with our long-term, future focus. The challenge is
that the pressures of today make it so difficult for us to focus on the growth
and goals of tomorrow.
It’s been said that youth is not so much
a matter of age as it is a matter of attitude. In the Torah Yehoshua bin Nun is
referred to as a na’ar (youth) despite the fact that he was well advanced in
his years. The Nesivas Shalom explains that as long as one is still growing and
has not stagnated spiritually he is still deemed a na’ar. Yehoshua may have
been advanced in years, but he still sat at the feet of his mentor, Moshe
Rabbeinu, with youthful exuberance and vigor. Therefore, he is still called
youthful.
a matter of age as it is a matter of attitude. In the Torah Yehoshua bin Nun is
referred to as a na’ar (youth) despite the fact that he was well advanced in
his years. The Nesivas Shalom explains that as long as one is still growing and
has not stagnated spiritually he is still deemed a na’ar. Yehoshua may have
been advanced in years, but he still sat at the feet of his mentor, Moshe
Rabbeinu, with youthful exuberance and vigor. Therefore, he is still called
youthful.
Nesivas Shalom adds that when the
brothers of Yosef demanded that he release Binyamin and allow him to return to
Cana’an with them, they said “For how can we go up to our father if the na’ar
is not with us?” This is a question we must each ask ourselves “How can we
return our souls after we leave this world if our na’ar – that youthful
exuberance and drive to grow and accomplish – is not with us, because we have
allowed ourselves to become old, withered, and frumpy.[1]
brothers of Yosef demanded that he release Binyamin and allow him to return to
Cana’an with them, they said “For how can we go up to our father if the na’ar
is not with us?” This is a question we must each ask ourselves “How can we
return our souls after we leave this world if our na’ar – that youthful
exuberance and drive to grow and accomplish – is not with us, because we have
allowed ourselves to become old, withered, and frumpy.[1]
More impressive than fifty years of
marriage is when it is also a celebration of fifty years of growth and
accomplishment. The only way to achieve that is to try to keep growing every
day. Not easily achieved, but well worth the price.
marriage is when it is also a celebration of fifty years of growth and
accomplishment. The only way to achieve that is to try to keep growing every
day. Not easily achieved, but well worth the price.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
[1] I heard this idea from
Rabbi Noach Sauber, a personal mentor and rebbe, at the chasuna of my friend
Nachi Baldinger. Rabbi Sauber told me he was told the idea by a friend. I could
not find the Nesivas Shalom inside before I sent this out.
Rabbi Noach Sauber, a personal mentor and rebbe, at the chasuna of my friend
Nachi Baldinger. Rabbi Sauber told me he was told the idea by a friend. I could
not find the Nesivas Shalom inside before I sent this out.