“RABBI’S
MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera
25 Teves 5775/ January 16, 2015
Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat
I never understood why
I did it, but I always did. Whenever I needed to go shopping for ‘just a few
things’, either during an early weekday morning or on Friday afternoon, I would
run into the store without grabbing a shopping cart. I reasoned to myself that
I didn’t need the cart if I was only buying a few quick things.
Yet somehow the scene
repeated itself every time. I would get on line at one of the registers with my
hands overflowing, trying pathetically to maintain the precarious balance of
all the things I ended up buying. I tried to ignore the pitiful stares from the
other cart-wielding shoppers as I pretended that I was really fine without a
shopping cart.
Recently I was teaching
my fifth graders about the final beracha of Shemoneh Esrei. I explained that after
delineating and petitioning G-d for all of our needs – wisdom, repentance,
health, livelihood, redemption, etc. - we conclude with a request that we be
granted the blessing of peace.
The Sages explain that
“G-d found no better vessel to contain blessing than peace.” One who merits
tremendous blessings but has no receptacle to contain it all, will not be able
to maintain or enjoy his bounty. Even if one has wealth, health, and respect if
he has no peace in his life, with others, in his home, or even with himself, he
will not be able to enjoy any of the blessings he has been endowed. Therefore,
before concluding Shemoneh Esrei we beseech G-d to grant us peace, for therein
lies the key for our being able to glean blessings for divine countenance,
Torah living, loving-kindness, righteousness, and goodness.
I explained this idea
with the shopping cart analogy. I told my students that even if I have enough
money to buy everything in the store, if I don’t have a way of getting all the
groceries I purchased onto the conveyor belt to pay for them, all my money
won’t help me.
So this past Friday I
finally wizened up. When I ran in to a store to buy some last minute items for
Shabbos, despite my desire not to, I grabbed a shopping cart. When I came to
pay a few minutes later I was gratified that I had the shopping cart.
As the cashier was
ringing up my purchases I turned to see a friend standing on the adjacent line
his hands folded and a slew of items piled up precariously and pathetically
atop his arms. With a smug look on my face I told him that there are shopping
carts available outside for no extra charge. He smiled and replied “I’m only
buying milk!”
Shabbat Shalom &
Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani
Staum