“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh
Parshas Vayetzei
9 Kislev 5777/ December 9,
2016
For the last
year and a half, I have had the privilege to post a brief video entitled “Instant
Inspiration” on Torahanytime.com weekly. In last week’s video, I related a
powerful mussar thought on the parsha from Rav Leib Chasman zt’l. I originally
heard the idea from Rabbi Pinchus Idstein, with whom I am close from our many
summers together at Camp Dora Golding. Rabbi Idstein is a wonderful mentor and
rebbe from whom I have learned many insights and divrei Torah.
Currently, Rabbi
Idstein is the menahel of Torah Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When I texted him a link to the video last
week, he replied by sending me an email link to his school newsletter. In his
weekly message, he had written the exact same thought!
After noting the
cute coincidence, I began scanning the rest of the newsletter. A boxed in blurb
on the front page caught my eye, that read: “Dress for the Weather! Children
should come to school with warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, snow pants, and
boots so they can enjoy recess. We send the children outside whenever possible
as long as it is not too extreme.”
I did not ask
Rabbi Idstein what they consider to be “too extreme”. However, I did look at
the long-range forecast for Minneapolis and saw a string of days when the highs
are expected to be in the single digits. From what I understand the weather in
Minneapolis gets even colder during much of the winter.
I have only worked
in yeshivos in the Tri-State area, but here when the weather drops below forty
degrees the students aren’t too keen about going outside for recess. If they
are told they have no choice, many of them will spend their entire recess
kvetching about the weather. In Minneapolis if they wait until it’s forty
degrees they may not step foot outside for months during the winter.
I have a friend
who works as an electrician in newly constructed buildings. Most of the
buildings are not yet insulated, and during the coldest days of winter he often
spends hours on end, bundled up in his coat, exposed to the extreme cold while
working. When I asked him how he does it, he replied curtly, “What choice do I
have?”
In Eretz
Yisroel, the fledgling yet prospering and burgeoning state fought three wars
for its very survival against hostile enemies. Not a day goes by when they are
not forced to defend themselves to provide vital security for the entire
country. The refrain in Israel is that the army is led by “General Aleph Bais”;
Aleph Bais stands for Ain Beraira – No Choice. The country is fighting
for its very survival and that of every one of its citizens, and therefore
cannot afford to lose any war.
The reality is
that we can tolerate far more than we think. But we are not interested in being
uncomfortable. In our society, we pay any price for comfort and convenience,
and will go to any length to avoid discomfort. The problem is that real growth
and accomplishment only comes from exertion and pushing ourselves beyond our
comfort level.
The truth is
that the only time we allow ourselves to be inconvenienced is when we feel we must.
We only exert ourselves if we feel we have to, because we recognize that
stagnation and autopilot is not an option. Happiness is the result of effort
and growth, of having pushed ourselves beyond what was easy and convenient.
It behooves us
all to always “dress for the weather”. Life’s course doesn’t slow down, and the
tempests that are par for the course are not always predictable. The only way
we can ensure our constant growth is if we are always ready and searching.
Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum