PARSHAS VAYECHI 5774

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi
Fast of 10 Teves 5774/December 13, 2013
It just seemed so logical. If we had to
have a stopover on our way to Eretz Yisroel the week before Thanksgiving, where
better than Turkey? And that’s basically why we decided to fly Turkish Air (the
vastly cheaper ticket prices was only incidental) with a stopover in Istanbul,
Turkey, one of the top twenty places in the world I would love to not be
in. [Truthfully, the Turkish were very cordial, and our brief visit was
otherwise uneventful.] 
When we finally arrived in Ben Gurion
Airport
on Thursday
evening, we wearily made our way through customs and passport control, and
finally arrived at the baggage carousel. We had checked in eleven bags. Ten of
them came out relatively quickly. All we needed was one more and we could find
our prearranged ride to Yerushalayim. But the carousel kept circling, as the
masses dwindled. We finally came to the stark realization that our last piece
of luggage – the one with all of Chani’s clothes, wasn’t coming around.
We dejectedly filed a claim with the
overly unenthusiastic fellow behind the claim’s counter. Hence began the lone
damper on our otherwise dreamlike trip. Each afternoon included more phone
calls that ended in frustration and futile checking of emails. Istanbul,
Kennedy, and Ben Gurion airports, as well as Turkish Air all assured us that
they were doing their utmost to blame the other for our loss, and that we would
hear back from them soon. [Actually no one even answered the phone at the
Turkish Air desk in Ben Gurion.]
When we departed for our return trip, we
wanted to ensure that we did our utmost to locate the lost luggage. In Ben Gurion
Airport
, the luggage
department assured us that it wasn’t there. When we arrived in Istanbul, the fellow seated behind the
information desk directed us to “Hava’s Desk” on the first floor. Hava’s Desk!
It sounded like we had found what we were looking for. Surely Mr. (Mrs?) Hava
would know where our luggage was. But alas, Mr. Hava directed us to the Turkish
Air desk down the corridor. It seems Hava only dealt with luggage that wasn’t
lost.
When we arrived at the Turkish Air desk,
before we even reached the counter, we were greeted by a representative who
insisted that we needed to go to the Lost and Found desk. I replied that we had
been informed that we could only get to that desk, which was beyond the
departing flights area, with a Visa to enter Turkey, which we didn’t have. He
looked at us for a moment and then nodded that I was correct. “So in other
words you’re telling me there’s nothing I can do.” “It seems that way. Have a
great day.”
No wonder the European Union didn’t want
to allow Turkey
in!
The Torah relates that before Yaakov
Avinu descended to Egypt
with his family, he dispatched Yehuda to create a yeshiva where Torah could be
studied and taught.
Why was Yehuda chosen above all the
tribes (Yissochor were the Torah scholars, and Levi was the future priests)?
In a moment of incredible darkness and
confusion for their entire family, it was Yehuda who stood up and took
responsibility. It was Yehuda who guaranteed Binyamin’s safe return from Egypt. Building
a framework of Torah, and raising a generation that follows mitzvos and Avodas
Hashem, requires individuals who take responsibility to ensure that it will be
done properly. Yehuda is the king because he felt that burden of responsibility
for his brother.
On President Truman’s desk was a sign
that read: “The buck stops here!” That is the attitude of a true leader.
Whether we get our luggage back or not
remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain: the “Hava (Nageela)” Turkeys
in the airports are sure not going to be the ones who find it.
      An easy & Meaningful Fast
      Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
      R’ Dani and Chani Staum

720 Union Road • New Hempstead, NY 10977 • (845) 362-2425

Sign Up For Our Email List

More Posts

Yom Kippur 5785

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh – Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei 5785/ October 11, 2024 OH DEER For those living in New York City, it’s quite rare to see deer. But for those of us who live on the other side of the Hudson River it is quite common. In fact, recently the number of deer has grown exponentially. It is not unusual for a family of deer to sprint across our yard, or even be grazing calmly in our yard. (So far, my effort to get them to pay for their usurped meals haven’t been successful…) Often,

Read More »

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Netzovim-Vayelech 23 Elul 5784/ September 27, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 5-6 KUGEL JUICE It’s been said that more people become religious because of the Rebbetzin’s kugel than because of the Rabbi’s sermon. This past Friday I couldn’t stop thinking about my wife’s kugel all morning. While she does make a mean potato kugel (that’s a big compliment for those who don’t know), that’s not why I thought about it all morning. During a game played at last year’s Chanukah mesiba in my home for my students, one student won a

Read More »

Parshas Ki Savo 5784

  “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”   Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Savo 17 Elul 5784/ September 20, 2024 Pirkei Avos – Perek 3-4 UNAPOLOGETIC PRIDE Each year before Tisha b’Av I spend a considerable amount of time working with the learning director of Camp Dora Golding, my rebbe, Rabbi Noach Sauber, to develop a program for our campers that will be engaging, inspiring and meaningful. That includes asking our talented rebbeim in camp to introduce each of the kinnos recited. On Tisha b’Av this summer, my friend and summer colleague, Rabbi Mayer Erps, shared the following personal anecdote[1]: “On occasion I’ve

Read More »
Scroll to Top