“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra
5 Adar II 5774/March 7, 2014
Many of the readers of this brilliant
column are aware of our luggage woes. When our family went to Eretz Yisroel in
December for my brother’s wedding, only ten of the eleven pieces of luggage we
checked in came around the carousel at Ben Gurion airport. Thus began an
arduous, frustrating, and fruitless search for that one piece of luggage which
contained all of Chani’s clothing, as well as our sons’ suits for the wedding.
[By the grace of G-d, at the last minute Chani had packed her gown and our
daughter’s gowns in a different suitcase.]
column are aware of our luggage woes. When our family went to Eretz Yisroel in
December for my brother’s wedding, only ten of the eleven pieces of luggage we
checked in came around the carousel at Ben Gurion airport. Thus began an
arduous, frustrating, and fruitless search for that one piece of luggage which
contained all of Chani’s clothing, as well as our sons’ suits for the wedding.
[By the grace of G-d, at the last minute Chani had packed her gown and our
daughter’s gowns in a different suitcase.]
When we returned home, the next step was
to try to get reimbursed by Turkish Air, and the insurance company. Chani spent
numerous hours over the course of a few weeks fulfilling all of their
requirements via lengthy email correspondence, until they finally sent us a
check. It was not easy especially considering the language barrier. [There was
a language barrier despite the fact that they spoke English.]
to try to get reimbursed by Turkish Air, and the insurance company. Chani spent
numerous hours over the course of a few weeks fulfilling all of their
requirements via lengthy email correspondence, until they finally sent us a
check. It was not easy especially considering the language barrier. [There was
a language barrier despite the fact that they spoke English.]
We were sure the annoying luggage saga
had finally come to an end. But then this past Thursday morning, a friend
called Chani and related that she had just seen the following ad in that week’s
Yated classified section:
had finally come to an end. But then this past Thursday morning, a friend
called Chani and related that she had just seen the following ad in that week’s
Yated classified section:
“FOUND: Suitcase. In November, right
before Chanukah, someone lost a suitcase by airport and JFK sent it to … It
contained children and adult clothing. Please contact….”
before Chanukah, someone lost a suitcase by airport and JFK sent it to … It
contained children and adult clothing. Please contact….”
Chani was quite skeptical but she called
the number and identified the contents of the luggage. Wouldn’t you know it, by
Thursday afternoon her long lost luggage was home! The son of the woman who had
placed the ad had lost a piece of luggage and JFK had mistakenly delivered our luggage
to her. It seems that after we checked it in, that piece of luggage never made
it out of New York, although it was somehow inspected by Air France, who left a
tag in the luggage reassuring us that they had done their best to keep
everything in order.
the number and identified the contents of the luggage. Wouldn’t you know it, by
Thursday afternoon her long lost luggage was home! The son of the woman who had
placed the ad had lost a piece of luggage and JFK had mistakenly delivered our luggage
to her. It seems that after we checked it in, that piece of luggage never made
it out of New York, although it was somehow inspected by Air France, who left a
tag in the luggage reassuring us that they had done their best to keep
everything in order.
What are the chances that our luggage
would end up in the home of a frum person, in Monsey, who fulfilled the mitzvah
of hashavas aveida, and didn’t just send it back to the airport? For over three
months we were wondering where the luggage could be, when in reality it was in
Monsey virtually the entire time!
would end up in the home of a frum person, in Monsey, who fulfilled the mitzvah
of hashavas aveida, and didn’t just send it back to the airport? For over three
months we were wondering where the luggage could be, when in reality it was in
Monsey virtually the entire time!
We often feel that the key to our
happiness lies in achieving that one thing in our lives that keeps eluding us –
an extension to our home, a new car, different neighbors, a new job, more
nachas from our children, a shidduch, better health, etc. While one has every
right to hope and yearn for the fulfillment of his dreams and hopes, he shouldn’t
detain his own efforts to grow and achieve until his other dreams have come to
fruition.
happiness lies in achieving that one thing in our lives that keeps eluding us –
an extension to our home, a new car, different neighbors, a new job, more
nachas from our children, a shidduch, better health, etc. While one has every
right to hope and yearn for the fulfillment of his dreams and hopes, he shouldn’t
detain his own efforts to grow and achieve until his other dreams have come to
fruition.
When Hashem
appeared to Moshe from the burning bush, He told Moshe, “Do not come closer to here; remove your
shoes from your feet, for the place upon which you stand is holy ground.”
(Shemos 2:5)
appeared to Moshe from the burning bush, He told Moshe, “Do not come closer to here; remove your
shoes from your feet, for the place upon which you stand is holy ground.”
(Shemos 2:5)
The Chofetz
Chaim explained that a person must realize that every situation and predicament
of life that he finds himself in is potentially holy ground, if he
consecrates it. One cannot wait for the ideal time to learn more, to perform
more mitzvos, or to work on davening better. The challenge of life is to
realize that “the place upon which you stand” at this very moment, “is holy
ground”.
Chaim explained that a person must realize that every situation and predicament
of life that he finds himself in is potentially holy ground, if he
consecrates it. One cannot wait for the ideal time to learn more, to perform
more mitzvos, or to work on davening better. The challenge of life is to
realize that “the place upon which you stand” at this very moment, “is holy
ground”.
We cannot
wait for all of our luggage to arrive, because Hashem may want us to strive for
greatness despite the fact that we don’t have ‘all of our stuff’. And who
knows, if at the moment we least expect it, Hashem will allow us to see that
the luggage we thought we were missing and therefore couldn’t accomplish, was
really with us the whole time.
wait for all of our luggage to arrive, because Hashem may want us to strive for
greatness despite the fact that we don’t have ‘all of our stuff’. And who
knows, if at the moment we least expect it, Hashem will allow us to see that
the luggage we thought we were missing and therefore couldn’t accomplish, was
really with us the whole time.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’
Dani and Chani Staum
Dani and Chani Staum
720 Union Road • New Hempstead , NY 10977 • (845) 362-2425