“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Vayera
Parshas Vayera
17 MarCheshvan 5777/ November
18, 2016
18, 2016
These thoughts are lovingly dedicated in
memory of my Savta, Mrs. Minnie Staum, Shprintza bas Avrohom Yitzchok a’h,
whose yahrtzeit is Friday, 17 Cheshvan.
memory of my Savta, Mrs. Minnie Staum, Shprintza bas Avrohom Yitzchok a’h,
whose yahrtzeit is Friday, 17 Cheshvan.
——————————————
Disclaimer: The following is not an
endorsement of any candidate – not of their views, behaviors, or comments. It
is merely a perspective on the reality of what has occurred.
endorsement of any candidate – not of their views, behaviors, or comments. It
is merely a perspective on the reality of what has occurred.
“Now it is done. Now the story ends. And
there is no way to tell it. The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled
invention. Only the utterly impossible, the inexpressibly fantastic, can ever
be plausible again.”
there is no way to tell it. The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled
invention. Only the utterly impossible, the inexpressibly fantastic, can ever
be plausible again.”
(Red Smith, New York Hearld-Tribune,
“Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff”, October 4, 1951; the day after Bobby Thomson hit
the legendary walk-off homerun that won the Giant’s the pennant over the
Brooklyn Dodgers.)
“Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff”, October 4, 1951; the day after Bobby Thomson hit
the legendary walk-off homerun that won the Giant’s the pennant over the
Brooklyn Dodgers.)
How powerful is
the media? How much of an effect do they have on our general perspective?
the media? How much of an effect do they have on our general perspective?
In regards to
contemporary issues the ‘media experts’ present their opinion as they want it
to be presented. As Jews, we especially know just how powerful they are. The
media is heavily responsible for the anti-Israel bias that pervades campuses
and liberal America. The lies and skewered truth that they so often portray
leave us scratching our heads about how blatant facts can be so distorted.
contemporary issues the ‘media experts’ present their opinion as they want it
to be presented. As Jews, we especially know just how powerful they are. The
media is heavily responsible for the anti-Israel bias that pervades campuses
and liberal America. The lies and skewered truth that they so often portray
leave us scratching our heads about how blatant facts can be so distorted.
This week’s
election results stunned the world and shocked the media. There’s a certain satisfaction
hearing so many of the “experts” admit that they were wrong. Things they said
could not, and would never happen, happened.
election results stunned the world and shocked the media. There’s a certain satisfaction
hearing so many of the “experts” admit that they were wrong. Things they said
could not, and would never happen, happened.
Those who were
hoping for the first female president to be elected felt disillusioned and
disappointed that the “glass ceiling” was not shattered. It seems however, that
there was a significant “glass ceiling” that was shattered – that of the
arrogance of the media moguls. No one knows what the results will be and
whether this will be a positive change for America or not. But the unthinkable
has already occurred.
hoping for the first female president to be elected felt disillusioned and
disappointed that the “glass ceiling” was not shattered. It seems however, that
there was a significant “glass ceiling” that was shattered – that of the
arrogance of the media moguls. No one knows what the results will be and
whether this will be a positive change for America or not. But the unthinkable
has already occurred.
In our long and
painful history, numerous unthinkable events happened. Many of them have been
painful and terrifying. This week marks the commemoration of Kristallnacht, the
night of broken glass, when 250 shuls were burned, 700 Jewish businesses were
ransacked, and many Jews were tortured and killed throughout Germany in 1938.
Rav Shimon Schwab zt’l noted that the infamous night is called Kristallnacht,
not so much because of the broken glass that littered the streets. Rather it
was the shattering of the illusion that it could not happen.
painful history, numerous unthinkable events happened. Many of them have been
painful and terrifying. This week marks the commemoration of Kristallnacht, the
night of broken glass, when 250 shuls were burned, 700 Jewish businesses were
ransacked, and many Jews were tortured and killed throughout Germany in 1938.
Rav Shimon Schwab zt’l noted that the infamous night is called Kristallnacht,
not so much because of the broken glass that littered the streets. Rather it
was the shattering of the illusion that it could not happen.
On the other
hand, there have so many incredibly wonderful events that have occurred to our
nation, despite the fact that they “could not happen”: The Jewish People’s
return to Eretz Yisroel and the formation of a Jewish government, victory in
1967 and recapturing of Yerushalayim, the successful Entebbe raid, the
rebuilding of the Jewish world and Torah observance after the Holocaust, and
the falling of Communism and freedom of three million Jews in the Soviet Union.
Before they occurred, it was absolutely impossible for them to happen. But then
they did.
hand, there have so many incredibly wonderful events that have occurred to our
nation, despite the fact that they “could not happen”: The Jewish People’s
return to Eretz Yisroel and the formation of a Jewish government, victory in
1967 and recapturing of Yerushalayim, the successful Entebbe raid, the
rebuilding of the Jewish world and Torah observance after the Holocaust, and
the falling of Communism and freedom of three million Jews in the Soviet Union.
Before they occurred, it was absolutely impossible for them to happen. But then
they did.
The fact that we
have witnessed the impossible occurring is in the very genetics of our nation. In
Parshas Lech Lecha, Hashem told Avrohom that he should count the stars “if you
can count them”. Then Hashem added “So will be your descendants”.
have witnessed the impossible occurring is in the very genetics of our nation. In
Parshas Lech Lecha, Hashem told Avrohom that he should count the stars “if you
can count them”. Then Hashem added “So will be your descendants”.
Rav Meir Shapiro
zt’l noted that Hashem was conveying to Avrohom that just as he was being
instructed to count the stars even though it was impossible “So will be your
children”. In other words, they will accomplish and persevere, despite it being
impossible.
zt’l noted that Hashem was conveying to Avrohom that just as he was being
instructed to count the stars even though it was impossible “So will be your
children”. In other words, they will accomplish and persevere, despite it being
impossible.
What the outcome
of the new presidency will be remains to be seen. But the very fact that he
won, despite the fact that everyone said it was impossible, is a stark reminder
that we mortals do not decide what can or cannot happen.
of the new presidency will be remains to be seen. But the very fact that he
won, despite the fact that everyone said it was impossible, is a stark reminder
that we mortals do not decide what can or cannot happen.
So many people
in their private lives have great dreams about things they want to accomplish. In
the daily grind, it’s easy to become disillusioned and discouraged, and to give
up on those dreams. This is especially true when the ‘realists’ say that it
will never happen. This week served as a reminder that things can happen even
when they are impossible. This surely does not mean they will happen just
because we try so hard and want it so badly. But it does remind us that the
experts do not decide our fate.
in their private lives have great dreams about things they want to accomplish. In
the daily grind, it’s easy to become disillusioned and discouraged, and to give
up on those dreams. This is especially true when the ‘realists’ say that it
will never happen. This week served as a reminder that things can happen even
when they are impossible. This surely does not mean they will happen just
because we try so hard and want it so badly. But it does remind us that the
experts do not decide our fate.
Of course, the
whole idea of Moshiach coming, and all of Klal Yisroel returning to Eretz
Yisroel, with the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash, and the end of terrorism is
also absolutely impossible. Yet we, and the world, will witness it unfolding…
very soon.
whole idea of Moshiach coming, and all of Klal Yisroel returning to Eretz
Yisroel, with the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash, and the end of terrorism is
also absolutely impossible. Yet we, and the world, will witness it unfolding…
very soon.
And then again
the media will be forced to admit just how wrong they were!
the media will be forced to admit just how wrong they were!
Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,
& Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum