“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas
Vayera
14 Cheshvan 5778/November
3, 2017
A
couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to accompany the ninth and twelfth
graders of our yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah, on the first Shabbatone of the year.
The Shabbatone was held at a resort
deep in the Catskill Mountains, way up the 17, well past the bungalow
colonies, and summer homes.
The
lack of an eiruv was a bit challenging, but it was a great reminder of how
careful we have to be regarding hotza’ah (carrying) on Shabbos. Many, if not most,
of us live in communities where there are communal eiruvs, and we tend to
forget of how careful we must be without one. After every tefillah and every
seudah, everyone was reminded to vigilantly check his pockets prior to stepping
outside.
It
was a beautiful and inspiring Shabbos. The davenings, learning sessions,
zemiros and general atmosphere were very uplifting. An added highlight was
spending Shabbos in the crisp and clear country air, away from the distractions
of home. On Friday evening, as we walked from the villa where we davened to the
villa where we ate, there was minimal electric light along the path. I don’t
remember the last time I saw the stars so clearly. Many of the students were
excitedly pointing upwards at the Big Dipper and the North Star.
Then,
early Shabbos morning, the steep mountains facing us were covered in a fog that
was visibly moving across the mountain. The sun was barely shining atop the
peak, while the clouds still veiled the rest of the mountain. Over the next
hour, the sun slowly spread across the mountain range. Deer grazed freely on
the fields near the villa, in a stunningly serene and picturesque scene.
One
of the rabbeim noted afterwards the irony between the uplifting weekend and
coming back home. Throughout the weekend we connected with nature, and enjoyed
the perfection of Hashem’s world in a manner we hardly appreciate. Everyone
felt uplifted by the genuine and liberating experience. Then, as soon as we
pulled onto the highway, we returned to a world where we confine ourselves to
screens, that block out, not only nature, but also each other.
It’s
often been noted that the more we connect digitally, the more we disconnect
naturally. The irony is that the more we step into the world and appreciate the
vastness of G-d’s creation, the more humbled we become. But the more we stick
our heads into our little devices, and bury our minds in it, the more
self-centered and unemotionally involved in our surroundings we become.
Dr. David
Pelcovitz relates that in a survey he conducted on the greatest impediments to
spirituality, he found that number one on the list is the fact that we are
always rushing, and never have moments of calmness or stillness. We
never have time to reflect and think about our priorities, values, and what’s
important in our lives. In our world even when we’re alone, we’re
not alone, because we are still connected to technology and surrounded by its
endemic noise.
It’s
impossible for us to truly connect to Hashem and to our own selves when
connected to our smartphone, a friend, a song, or the Internet. Dr.
Pelcovitz notes that in Shema we say, “Ve’avadtem mehaira,” literally
translated as, “you will quickly be abandoned.” The Ba’al Shem Tov
interpreted those words, not as a threat but as a command: “get rid of the rush”
from our lives. We need to be able to find internal serenity to enable us to
refocus and turn our attention to our relationship with Hashem, and with what’s
truly important and matters most.
Part
of the beauty and gift of Shabbos is being able to step back from being
completely immersed and overly involved in our mundane affairs. Shabbos grants
us the opportunity to pull our heads of the little boxes and cubicles –
literally and figuratively – in which we bury ourselves all week, and to step
into the vast and beautiful world of G-dliness. In a world of tension and
hurriedness, Shabbos is an island of tranquility and true connection.
We
should use this priceless gift well.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum