“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Eikev
Mevorchim Chodesh Elul
22 Menachem Av 5776/ August
26, 2016
Pirkei Avos – Perek 4
It's been a gratifying
and enjoyable, yet exhausting summer season. And now after eight wonderful weeks
at Camp Dora Golding, we have returned home.
It takes a few days
before I can sit and relax without worrying that someone is calling me on my
camp radio. In fact, sometimes I still think I hear my name called, despite the
fact that my radio has been shut off for the season. But soon enough life
resumes its busy course.
One of the highlights
of camp, and in many ways it's crescendo, are the three days of Color War.
There are certain unwritten traditions about Color War in every camp, including
the need to have (or attempt to have) a surprise breakout, as well as a Grand
Sing that culminates with the singing of the alma-mater which must contains the
"tear-year" rhyme (e.g. "I just can't help but shed a tear; I
just can't wait until next year").
This year too we
enjoyed a beautiful Color War - intense and competitive, yet enjoyable and fun.
Another endemic component of Color War is the long sleepless nights, at least for the staff. There's hardly enough time, as they scramble to produce quality songs, skits, plays, banners, and speeches, within limited time. It's all part of the experience, and for some reason the staff anticipates it and loves it.
Another endemic component of Color War is the long sleepless nights, at least for the staff. There's hardly enough time, as they scramble to produce quality songs, skits, plays, banners, and speeches, within limited time. It's all part of the experience, and for some reason the staff anticipates it and loves it.
I was reminded of years
back when I was a counselor and experienced those three bleary eyed nights of
color war. At the time, Rabbi Noach Sauber (currently the learning director at
camp) gave the staff shiur. There were over a hundred staff members packed into
the room, which wasn't air conditioned (these days you'll be hard pressed to
find a building in camp that's not air conditioned).
Believe it or not, the
shiur was taken very seriously. It was due to the combination of the high
caliber of the shiur and Rabbi Sauber's close relationship with the staff. He
also took attendance every day and would follow up with any staff member who
missed shiur.
During the days of
Color War, attendance was nearly perfect. To be honest, some may have dozed off
during the shiur those three days, but everyone came.
Before shiur during one
of those days, Rabbi Sauber shared a penetrating insight which I have never
forgotten:
The Rambam (Hilchos
Talmud Torah 3:12) writes about the virtue of learning Torah with exertion
and dedication. Based on a pasuk in Koheles, the Rambam (paraphrasing the
Medrash) states: "The Torah that I learned b'af, that has been
fulfilled within me." The simple meaning of b'af is "in my
anger".
Rav Yitzchok Hutner
zt"l once quipped that b'af can also mean "even so" (as
in the gemara's lexicon: “af al pi kein”). In other words, it's the
Torah that one learns "even so" - i.e. when he has ten excuses why he
cannot or should not learn, and does so nonetheless, that really becomes
internalized and builds him spiritually.
Rabbi Sauber continued
that it's particularly when one is exhausted after sleepless nights, or when the
room is hot and humid, or whatever other justifications one has not to learn,
that real growth takes place. The measure of greatness is not when one performs
when he's at his best, but how much he is able to produce when his resistance
is low and he's not feeling his best.
When one triumphs over
his personal "af al pi kein" that is where the road to
greatness lies. That's true in regards to all spiritual matters, even more so
in regards to Torah study.
Those who are already
sleep deprived and overworked, yet push themselves to learn Torah, perform
chesed, and daven properly - those are the real winners!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum