Thursday, November 20, 2014

PARSHAS TOLDOS 5775



“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos  
28 Cheshvan 5775/ November 21, 2014
Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Kislev
      
One of the most prized seforim that I have from my zaydes massive collection is a rosh hashana/Yom Kippur machzor printed in Germany in 1840. I always make sure to use the machzor for part of davening during those holy days. I love the feeling of its ancient yellowing yet thick and strong pages and clear ink, and I like to think about the stories this machzor could tell.
But the machzor wasn't printed by Artscroll to say the least. I always chuckle to myself when I get to the words at the beginning of shemone esrei which states, "b'choref (in the winter one adds the prayer): Mashiv Haruach"
As Yom Kippur of course will never fall out during the winter it's a cute editorial oversight.
But this week I realized that it's not such a joke. Perhaps Yom Kippur will never fall out during the winter, but this week Tisha B’av did – again!
Once again Klal Yisroel is observing a national Tisha B'av out of season. The massacre that took place this week in a shul in the Har Nof section of Yerushalayim, the murdering and maiming of multiple Jews wrapped in their talis and tefillin, has left us all in utter shock.
We were sure nothing else could so shock us. After all, by now we have heard of suicide bombers blowing up busses and pizza shops, three yeshiva bochurim killed in senseless cold blood, a massacre in a yeshiva killing multiple yeshiva students over their gemaras, a father murdered along with his daughter who was to be married that very night, the murder of an innocent infant and a pure convert, and the list painfully goes on. And yet here we are again - in shock. People murdered in shul wrapped in Tallis and tefillin while davening? How could it be?
We again have nothing to grasp but our faith that Hashem is all good and knows what He is doing, even as we are reeling.
Of course when it hits close to home the pain is magnified. Rabbi Twerski hy'd was a rebbe in yeshivas Toras Moshe, which I attended for a time. Although he was not my rebbe I remember his radiant countenance and how he would lovingly teach Torah to his admiring students.
When I looked at the horrific picture of the body of one of the victims draped by his talis with tefillin still wrapped around the listless arm, I yearned to grab the hand and lift it off the ground. I yearned to see that hand again move in prayer, clutching a siddur lovingly. Alas, the hand will move no longer!
But I realized that I have the ability to cause a similar hand, also regally decked in tefillin, sway gracefully in prayer while clutching a siddur - i.e. my own hand.
I daven each morning, and have the great merit to don those G-d endowed gifts for a few precious moments of prayer each morning. But it's hard to remember how precious those gifts are. I am tired in the morning, and I have a lot of concerns and affairs to deal with later in the day. It's hard to concentrate on davening and it's even harder to awaken within myself feelings of excitement for my talis and tefillin, which I wore yesterday, and the day before yesterday.
But that image serves as a painful reminder. I have no doubt that the neshama of that holy martyr would tell me to appreciate what he can no longer do; to cherish those moments and cherish those gifts. Put aside everything else - it will wait! Leave your silly cell phone closed and focus on the davening.
Tisha B’av has arrived yet again. On Tisha B’av morning we do not wear tefillin. But in the afternoon we do. We gather solace in the unified mourning and love of our people, and we forge on with faith in Hashem.
May the ethereal light of Chanukah arrive early to douse the darkness of the Tisha B’av that came late.
May Hashem comfort the mourners, and may Hashem comfort all of us.

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


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