“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shavuos – Z’man Matan Toraseinu – 5 Sivan 5774/June 3,
2014
2014
Before Shabbos this
week I asked our son Shalom if he turned off his alarm clock so that it
wouldn’t go off on Shabbos morning. He assured me that he did. Somehow the
alarm clock sprang to life anyway and at 6:30 a.m. Shabbos morning our upstairs
was filled with the relentless chiming of his alarm clock. At about 7 a.m. when
I headed downstairs I noticed a most interesting sight: Our daughters were wide
awake while our two older boys were sound asleep, oblivious to the obnoxious
buzzing of their alarm clock. It was obvious that because the alarm clock served
to signal to the boys that it was time for them to get out of bed to get ready
for school they had trained themselves to not to hear it. To the girls however,
it meant nothing more than that they were lucky to have more time to stay in
bed. Therefore, the girls had no aversion to getting up and taking advantage of
some early time.
week I asked our son Shalom if he turned off his alarm clock so that it
wouldn’t go off on Shabbos morning. He assured me that he did. Somehow the
alarm clock sprang to life anyway and at 6:30 a.m. Shabbos morning our upstairs
was filled with the relentless chiming of his alarm clock. At about 7 a.m. when
I headed downstairs I noticed a most interesting sight: Our daughters were wide
awake while our two older boys were sound asleep, oblivious to the obnoxious
buzzing of their alarm clock. It was obvious that because the alarm clock served
to signal to the boys that it was time for them to get out of bed to get ready
for school they had trained themselves to not to hear it. To the girls however,
it meant nothing more than that they were lucky to have more time to stay in
bed. Therefore, the girls had no aversion to getting up and taking advantage of
some early time.
The human mind can
accustom itself to anything. When I was spending a Shabbos in Lawrence a number
of years ago, in the middle of the meal I heard the unmistakable deafening
sound of a jumbo jet bearing down upon us. I was sure that it was about to land
on the dining room table in the cholent. I instinctively ducked (as if that
would help at all). To my astonishment my host continued the conversation as if
nothing was going on. Because he lived next to the Kennedy airport he had grown
accustomed to the sounds of planes taking off and landing, and he hardly heard
them.
accustom itself to anything. When I was spending a Shabbos in Lawrence a number
of years ago, in the middle of the meal I heard the unmistakable deafening
sound of a jumbo jet bearing down upon us. I was sure that it was about to land
on the dining room table in the cholent. I instinctively ducked (as if that
would help at all). To my astonishment my host continued the conversation as if
nothing was going on. Because he lived next to the Kennedy airport he had grown
accustomed to the sounds of planes taking off and landing, and he hardly heard
them.
The same was true when
I was visiting a friend inEdison . Then too in
the middle of the Shabbos meal I felt heaving pulsations and the unmistakable
sound of a train bearing down the track. I was sure the New Jersey Transit was
going to run right through his living room. But my host didn’t even acknowledge
it.
I was visiting a friend in
the middle of the Shabbos meal I felt heaving pulsations and the unmistakable
sound of a train bearing down the track. I was sure the New Jersey Transit was
going to run right through his living room. But my host didn’t even acknowledge
it.
When my parents first
moved to Monsey in 1988, after living their entire lives inManhattan
because of the eerie quiet. Where was the honking trucks, shouts and hullabaloo
at 2 a.m.? The sound of crickets was unnerving to them. But not too long later
when they returned to theLower East Side to
visit, they had a hard time sleeping with the windows open because of the
noise.
moved to Monsey in 1988, after living their entire lives in
because of the eerie quiet. Where was the honking trucks, shouts and hullabaloo
at 2 a.m.? The sound of crickets was unnerving to them. But not too long later
when they returned to the
visit, they had a hard time sleeping with the windows open because of the
noise.
Educational experts
note that when adults yell, threaten, or lecture children, the children can
tune out as soon as the adult begins talking, and no longer hear the content of
the harangue. (From what I’ve heard from others) this can happen between
spouses as well. [Someone once noted
that in the old Charlie Brown movies, their teacher always sounded
unintelligible. The reason is because that is often how students hear their
teachers – like a dreary endless blah of monologues.]
note that when adults yell, threaten, or lecture children, the children can
tune out as soon as the adult begins talking, and no longer hear the content of
the harangue. (From what I’ve heard from others) this can happen between
spouses as well. [Someone once noted
that in the old Charlie Brown movies, their teacher always sounded
unintelligible. The reason is because that is often how students hear their
teachers – like a dreary endless blah of monologues.]
The Yom Tov of Shavuos
gives us a brief, subtle yet poignant jolt that reminds us of the centrality of
Torah in our lives. On Shavuos we read about the revelation of Sinai, amidst
thunder and lightning, and the uninhibited display of G-d’s Omnipotence
throughout the world.
gives us a brief, subtle yet poignant jolt that reminds us of the centrality of
Torah in our lives. On Shavuos we read about the revelation of Sinai, amidst
thunder and lightning, and the uninhibited display of G-d’s Omnipotence
throughout the world.
In the daily grind we
often forget about the thunder and lightning and the excitement of Torah. It
becomes just another part of our day, and we forget that its message is eternal
and all encompassing. On Shavuos we remind ourselves “It is our life and the
length of our days, and in it we will engage day and night.”
often forget about the thunder and lightning and the excitement of Torah. It
becomes just another part of our day, and we forget that its message is eternal
and all encompassing. On Shavuos we remind ourselves “It is our life and the
length of our days, and in it we will engage day and night.”
On Shavuos an internal
alarm is buzzing. It’s up to us to decide if we will heed its call.
alarm is buzzing. It’s up to us to decide if we will heed its call.
Chag Sameiach & Good Yom Tov,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum