PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5780

 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayigash
6 Teves 5780/January 3, 2020
LIGHT
ON!

            It’s not something anyone wants to hear or see.
            While
enjoying a Chanukah family get-together in Lakewood, NJ on Motzei Shabbos, I
saw a message on my phone that made my heart drop: “Is everyone okay in
Forshay?”
            My
parents live in the Forshay neighborhood of Monsey, and Rabbi Rottenberg’s home
and shul – where this week’s stabbing attack took place – is a one minute
shortcut from their home. I have davened there on many occasions.
            My
sister, Shoshana, and her family had visited my parents for Shabbos and were
remaining there until Sunday morning. She related that on Motzei Shabbos she
suddenly heard a tremendous number of siren, and saw a plethora of flashing
lights through the trees, clearly coming from nearby Forshay Road. She called
my father, who was downstairs, to ask what was happening. In the age of social
media, people throughout the world knew what had occurred even before they did.
Moments later the texts and messages began buzzing on their phones, as well as
all our phones throughout the world.
            Grafton
Thomas had entered Rabbi Rottenberg’s home just prior to his lighting the
menorah holding a machete which he used to begin stabbing people. After Yosef
Gluck threw a table at him in the Rebbe’s house, Thomas tried to then enter the
shul next door. Thankfully, he was unable to do so, again thanks to Gluck who
made sure all the doors of the shul were quickly locked. Thomas left the scene
after injuring five people. The evil perpetrator was apprehended in Harlem by
the NYPD a few hours later, still wearing his blood-stained shirt.
            The next
morning, the quaint and relatively quiet neighborhood of Forshay in Monsey was
featured on the front pages of prominent newspapers and news outlets the world
over. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York State, arrived that morning to
meet with Rabbi Rottenberg in his home. The stabbing increased already
heightened tensions throughout the Jewish world, which is contending with
increased anti-Semitic attacks in the recent past.
            What
struck me most was what happened the following evening. What did Rabbi
Rottenberg do the evening following the frightening attack, in which two of his
sons were injured, and one of his congregants remain in critical condition? He
lit the menorah of course, and added one more candle than the previous night!
            That is
always our utmost response. Of course, we have to do our part to ensure our
safety, in whatever ways are necessary and appropriate. But on a spiritual
level, our response is always to strive to increase light – the very light our
enemies seek to extinguish.
            The
celebration of a Hachnossas Sefer Torah the following day, whose procession
stopped in front of Rabbi Rottenberg’s shul, is another demonstration of our
spiritual response.
            This
week, the Torah world celebrated the thirteenth Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi.
Throughout the last seven and a half years, those completing Shas have
undoubtedly had difficult and perhaps painful days, when the daily dose of
learning seemed unrealistic or daunting. As a people, there have been events
that have caused us pain, angst and endless aggravation in America, Eretz
Yisrael, and throughout the world. Yet, what did they all do the next day? They
lit the proverbial candle, by learning another Daf.
            As
Chanukah comes to an end, we no longer physically light candles each night. But
we continue the symbolic lesson of Chanukah by striving to add another bit of
light each day of our lives. On Chanukah we light the candles when it is dark
outside, and in life generally, we continue to spread light even, or perhaps
especially, during times of darkness.
            We do
not know what the future will bring, and we pray that it will only herald good
news for our brethren throughout the world. But one thing is guaranteed – the
Jewish people will NEVER stop producing light. We only hope that each and every
one of us will merit being part of that production of light.
            For two
millennia they have tried to extinguish our lights, without success. The One
who “performed miracles for our fathers, in those days at this time”, will
continue to guard the candles for all eternity.
            Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum       

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