Thursday, June 7, 2012

PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSCHA 5772


“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beha’aloscha Pirkei Avos, perek 2
19 Sivan 5772/June 8, 2012

This year Chani and I were privileged to be among the 1800 educators who participated in the annual Torah Umesorah convention a few weeks ago, at the Split Rock resort in the Pocono Mountains.
Late Thursday evening, our first night there, we realized that we had forgotten our cell phone chargers at home. The resort is quite large, and being that there are so many events happening simultaneously, when we wanted to find each other it would be inconvenient to be without a cell phone.
On Friday morning we contemplated our options, and after some inquires found out that Chani’s sister in Lakewood had an extra charger. Rabbi Rothstein, Bais Hachinuch’s assistant Menahel was leaving Lakewood to come to the convention a short time later. I called my brother-in-law and he graciously brought the charger to Rabbi Rothstein’s home just as Rabbi Rothstein was beginning to back out of his driveway.
When Rabbi Rothstein arrived I thanked him for bringing the charger and helping provide me with material for a Musings.
We all have a certain amount of energy and motivation which carries us through our daily affairs. But invariably we hit a point when we feel drained - emotionally and physically. Those are times when we need chizuk from others.
It’s often mentioned that we can never know just how much encouragement we can give someone else by listening to them, calling to see how they are doing, and sometimes even by merely smiling at them and offering a kind word. We all have moments or days when we feel down and alone. A real friend or close family will act as our ‘charger’ and provide us with a charge/boost when we lack our own.
It’s worthy for us to remember that so we can seek to provide our friends, neighbors, and family with a charge when they might need it.
In conclusion, I just want to add that I didn’t have a replacement charger, and my phone lasted until the end of the convention. Draw your own conclusions.  

              Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
                R’ Dani and Chani Staum