“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Vayechi
Parshas Vayechi
14 Teves 5776/ December
25, 2015
25, 2015
Someone once quipped that their mother
was always serving leftovers; they have never found the original! Everyone
seems to groan when they hear that they are having leftovers for supper. Some
mothers try to reason with their family “You loved it on Shabbos, so why
shouldn’t you enjoy it now?” Usually those arguments are futile. The bottom
line is that people don’t like to eat leftovers.
was always serving leftovers; they have never found the original! Everyone
seems to groan when they hear that they are having leftovers for supper. Some
mothers try to reason with their family “You loved it on Shabbos, so why
shouldn’t you enjoy it now?” Usually those arguments are futile. The bottom
line is that people don’t like to eat leftovers.
So in our house we stopped serving
leftovers. It just wasn’t worth the battle. So now when our children ask on
Monday ‘what’s for supper?’ the answer is “Shabbos delicacies!” True, the foods
may be the same as what graced our Shabbos table, but they aren’t leftovers; now
they are delicacies!
leftovers. It just wasn’t worth the battle. So now when our children ask on
Monday ‘what’s for supper?’ the answer is “Shabbos delicacies!” True, the foods
may be the same as what graced our Shabbos table, but they aren’t leftovers; now
they are delicacies!
In a similar vein our children don’t
have chores to do. It was too much of a battle to get them to do their chores,
so we just did away with them. However, each of our children has family
contributions that they are expected to take care of. After all, if they
are living in our home and eating our food, it is only fair that they
contribute to the family.
have chores to do. It was too much of a battle to get them to do their chores,
so we just did away with them. However, each of our children has family
contributions that they are expected to take care of. After all, if they
are living in our home and eating our food, it is only fair that they
contribute to the family.
You may think this is all a matter of
semantics, but apparently semantics are not trivial. It seems that we
conceptualize concepts based on language, i.e. how we label them. As infants
become older and begin to speak they begin to have a deeper understanding of
the world around them.
semantics, but apparently semantics are not trivial. It seems that we
conceptualize concepts based on language, i.e. how we label them. As infants
become older and begin to speak they begin to have a deeper understanding of
the world around them.
My father is, and has always been,
loathe about disposing good food. He often places bottles or cans back in the
refrigerator after a meal despite the fact that they are virtually empty
because there is a little left.
loathe about disposing good food. He often places bottles or cans back in the
refrigerator after a meal despite the fact that they are virtually empty
because there is a little left.
On one occasion during our younger years
he found a little bit of cottage cheese left in a container in the fridge. He
convinced an older sibling of mine (who shall remain nameless to protect his
anonymity) that cottage cheese and ice cream was a rare treat, especially with
chocolate syrup on top. Believe it or not my anonymous older sibling (I only
have one) ate the entire thing.
he found a little bit of cottage cheese left in a container in the fridge. He
convinced an older sibling of mine (who shall remain nameless to protect his
anonymity) that cottage cheese and ice cream was a rare treat, especially with
chocolate syrup on top. Believe it or not my anonymous older sibling (I only
have one) ate the entire thing.
It all depends on the presentation (just
ask the party planners).
ask the party planners).
The titles and labels we attribute to
things and their presentation define how we perceive them. That’s why it is
significant when a world leader refers to terrorists by a lesser or more benign
term.
things and their presentation define how we perceive them. That’s why it is
significant when a world leader refers to terrorists by a lesser or more benign
term.
A friend of mine once related that when
running out to daven he never announces to his family “I have to go daven
mincha!” Rather, he says “I want to go daven mincha!” It’s the same basic point
but the underlying message is quite different. It implies that the
responsibility of tefillah is a privilege and not a chore.
running out to daven he never announces to his family “I have to go daven
mincha!” Rather, he says “I want to go daven mincha!” It’s the same basic point
but the underlying message is quite different. It implies that the
responsibility of tefillah is a privilege and not a chore.
There is nothing wrong with teaching our
children that they have to perform responsibilities even when they don’t want
to. However, there is also something noble about helping them recognize the
inherent value and personal pleasure one can enjoy when living up to his
responsibilities.
children that they have to perform responsibilities even when they don’t want
to. However, there is also something noble about helping them recognize the
inherent value and personal pleasure one can enjoy when living up to his
responsibilities.
I recently heard a seasoned rebbe quip
that we don’t fully appreciate the power and importance of our Shabbos tables. Just
as there is considerable time and effort invested to ensure that every member
of the family has physical enjoyment from the seudah, so does there need to be
time and effort invested to ensure that every member of the family feels
involved and uplifted at the Shabbos seudah.
that we don’t fully appreciate the power and importance of our Shabbos tables. Just
as there is considerable time and effort invested to ensure that every member
of the family has physical enjoyment from the seudah, so does there need to be
time and effort invested to ensure that every member of the family feels
involved and uplifted at the Shabbos seudah.
It’s
all in the presentation. We want our Avodas Hashem to be fresh and exciting,
because no one likes leftovers.
all in the presentation. We want our Avodas Hashem to be fresh and exciting,
because no one likes leftovers.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
Union Road
• (845) 362-2425