Thursday, January 30, 2020

PARSHAS BO 5780


 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Bo
5 Shevat 5780/January 31, 2020
ETERNAL ROYALTY
            It’s a fascinating story. Prince Harry, a member of the English royal family, and his wife, Duchess of Sussex, have informed his grandmother the Queen, and the world at large, that they no longer wish to perform their royal duties.
            As a student of Rabbi Berel Wein, the story immediately brought to mind an incident recorded in Sefer Yechezkel (chapter 20) that Rabbi Wein often recounts. The destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash brought shocking devastation to the Jewish people. It wasn’t only what occurred, it was the very fact that it had occurred. Many Jews felt that it was over. They had a “good run” as the Chosen People for a millennium, but at that point they felt their ‘chosenness’ had expired. G-d had destroyed the Bais Hamikdash and exiled them, and now “the House of Israel is like all other nations.” The prophet conveys G-d’s strong and unequivocal response: “As for what enters your minds - it shall not be!... I will rule over you with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath...”
            Essentially, G-d informed the nation that there was no escaping their distinction and greatness. Being a holy nation and a kingdom of priests was their mission and destiny.
            Shortly before Rosh Hashana this year, our yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, NJ, celebrated a very special event. During the summer, over thirty students reviewed the masechta of gemara that they learned in Yeshiva the previous year. The yeshiva hosted a joint Siyum for the entire yeshiva, its parent body, and friends. The students being mesayem sat upon a dais in front of the room.
            It was a memorable and special evening, which included a catered meal and singing and dancing. We were also graced with the presence of noted rabbinic personalities. One of those distinguished personalities was Rabbi Yeruchom Olshin shlita, one of the Roshei Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.
            When he addressed the assemblage, he began by lauding the worthy accomplishment of the mesaymim who had chosen to review their learning during their summer break. He quoted the words of the Rambam who says one who wants to merit the כתר תורה - crown of Torah must learn Torah every night. Most people relax at night and unwind from the pressures of the day. One who uses that time to engage in Torah study is worthy of the crown of Torah. Therefore, the students who had chosen to learn and review during summer break, a time of leisure and relaxation, had surely achieved כתר תורה as well.
            Then Rabbi Olshin announced that he wished to say a few words to the rest of the students, those who were not making a Siyum that night.
            He related a story about Rabbi Akiva Eiger, the renown nineteenth century Torah leader. Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s Talmudic questions are legendary in the hallowed halls of gemara study. Rabbi Akiva Eiger has incredible clarity and his questions are sharp and brilliant. Scholars pride themselves on offering resolutions to his questions.
            On one occasion, Rabbi Akiva Eiger was bothered by one such question. He pondered and struggled for three days until he excitedly discovered an answer to his question.
            That same day he was invited to visit a class of Talmudic students to “speak to them in learning”. When Rabbi Akiva Eiger arrived there, he decided to pose the question he had just discovered an answer for. He did not expect any of the students to have a resolution, but he reasoned that it would be a good way to initiate a discussion.
            However, as soon as he mentioned the question, the hand of one student shot up. That student proceeded to rattle off the exact answer that Rabbi Akiva Eiger had labored three days to discover.
            When he heard the answer, Rabbi Akiva Eiger was beaming with joy. But then, a moment later, the Rabbi’s countenance literally dropped, and he seemed pale and very upset. He quickly composed himself and continued the discussion.
            When they were on their way home, those accompanying him asked Rabbi Akiva Eiger what had occurred. He replied that when that student had immediately offered that answer so effortlessly, he became very excited. There was no doubt that this student was a future Torah leader. But then, when Rabbi Akiva Eiger looked at that student’s face, he didn’t see a trace of emotion. The student who had just answered the Talmudic question of the greatest Rabbi of his time, did not have a trace of joy or excitement. Rabbi Akiva Eiger explained “when I saw that he did not feel elevated or joyous about the Torah he had just shared, I realized there was no way he would become a future Torah leader of the Jewish people. That’s why I looked so distressed. We are losing a Torah leader because he has no joy in his Torah study!”
            Rabbi Olshin conveyed to the assemblage that every person must feel a sense of joy and happiness in whatever levels of Torah he has learned. Even if he is not yet ready to complete masechtos and make siyumim, he must be joyful over whatever he has accomplished.
It is not enough to learn Torah. One must also celebrate his personal connection and portion of Torah, whatever and however much that may be. That is the meaning of the words we recite each morning “Praised are we, how good is our portion, how sweet is our lot, and how beautiful is our inheritance. Praised are we that we wake up early and remain into the nights, night and morning, and recite twice every day: Shema Yisroel...”
            Chazal (based on Gittin 62a) state מאן מלכי רבנן - who are the true kings? The rabbis! Those who engage in Torah study and live a Torah life, are true royalty. But they can only celebrate that royalty if they recognize and appreciate it.
            Being a member of the royal family has many responsibilities and expectations that non-royalty doesn’t have. Why would anyone want those extra restrictions and expectations? Because they recognize the privilege, uniqueness, responsibility, and opportunity of being part of leadership and royalty. But if they are unable to recognize the privilege and uniqueness of their royalty, and only experience the annoyance of those expectations, then it’s not so hard to understand why they would want to escape that life to live like a commoner.
            A few weeks ago, the Torah world celebrated the Siyum Hashas of Daf Yomi. But even those who did actually make a siyum must share the simcha based on their own personal connection and accomplishment to Torah. That feeling of pride is vital and they are entitled to it.
            It is not easy being a Torah Jew. But there is no greater honor, fulfillment, and royalty than living such a life. Our arduous task is to help every one of our children, neighbors and friends realize the extreme privilege they have to be part of this unique nation of ultimate royalty. They must understand that they are vital to our cause, and we are incomplete without them. The greatest danger is when one doesn’t recognize that he is special and needed.
            They need not be Rabbi Akiva Eiger to celebrate their portion in Torah. Every pasuk, every Mishna and every line of gemara; every mitzvah, every chesed, and every word of tefilla - make us part of the royal family.
            There is no greater “highness”.

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

Thursday, January 23, 2020

PARSHAS VAERA 5780


 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vaera- Mevorchim Chodesh Shevat
27 Teves 5780/January 24, 2020

STEALING SIGNS

            Busted! It has now been verified that the Houston Astros cheated in the post-season on their way to winning the World Series in 2017. Yankees and Dodgers fans are particularly enraged and are calling for the Astros to be stripped of their championship rings.
            There is an old saying in baseball that good pitching stops good hitting. What defines a good pitcher is his having a repertoire of good pitches that he can use at will, plus strong command of those pitches so that he can use to use them effectively. Then it becomes a guessing game for the hitter to try to be ready for anything. When a pitch is coming at a hitter 80-95 mph, he only has a couple of seconds to decide when and how to swing. An effective pitcher uses the element of surprise to try to blow the ball past the hitter and to get him to not be able to make solid contact.
            The catcher has secret signals through which he suggests to the pitcher what kind of pitch he should throw. The pitcher then nods whether he agrees or not. This way the catcher can be ready to catch the incoming pitch, so that the ball doesn’t go past him.
            During Astros’ home games, a camera was set up in center field that was fixated and zoomed in on the catcher. There was television monitor affixed to the wall of a hallway leading from the home-team’s dugout to the clubhouse. Team players and employees would analyze the catcher signs of the opposing team until they broke the code and were able to decipher what kind of pitch the pitcher was about to throw.
            They would then bang on a trash can to alert their batter as to what kind of pitch was coming. All the Astros players were in on the scheme and knew what each bang on the trash can represented.
            When the scandal broke, it had far reaching effects. The Astros immediately fired their general manager and manger. That was quickly followed with the Boston Red Sox firing their manager who had led them to a World Series victory because he was a former employee of the Astros. Finally, the New York Mets fired their newly hired manager, who was also a member of that team.
            We live our lives engaged in an epic struggle to maintain our integrity and to live according to the dictates and expectations of halacha. That battle is fought mostly within ourselves, against our internal evil inclination.
            Ramchal explains that, originally, the yetzer hara was external and spoke to Adam in second person, “you should eat from the forbidden fruit”. Once Adam consumed the forbidden fruit however, the evil inclination entered his body and his psyche and became part of him. Forevermore it speaks to Adam and his descendant from within, “I want to do this act even though it is sinful and immoral.”
            Warring countries always seek to plant spies behind enemy lines to infiltrate their ranks in order to find out their military secrets. The greatest advantage in war is the element of surprise. When one side is aware of their rival’s next move, they can be ready for them.
Regarding our personal ongoing internal battle, we are at an incredible disadvantage.
            There is an old Telzer Purim Niggun[1] with the words: “g’daynk dem alter ganev, asher karcha v’yizanev - remember the old thief who cut you off; you must eradicate the memory of Amalek.”
            The greatest danger of our evil inclination - symbolized by Amalek - is that he is a thief. When we allow ourselves to be ensnared, he steals time, the most precious commodity we have, and our ability to accomplish what we truly aspire to accomplish.
            The greatest danger is that we don’t realize we are being preyed upon. He has his video camera zoomed in on our every move. Every time we try to accomplish and do something positive he is there mixing the signs and exploiting our weaknesses.
            But there is a fascinating component about our evil inclination that we may not realize.
            When Yaakov Avinu was victorious over the angel after they struggled against each other all night, the angel declared “send me for the morning has ascended”. Rashi explains that the angel was saying that since it was morning, he had to sing shira before Hashem. Targum Yonasan adds that this was his first opportunity to sing shira. Why did he have to sing specifically now?
            The Avodas Yisroel of Koznitz explains that every angel has a mission to fulfill. When and if the angel fulfills its mission, it ascends to heaven to sing before the Thorne of Glory.
            The angel Yaakov struggled with was the evil inclination itself. That angel’s purpose is to test us constantly, so that we can overcome him and be worthy of ultimate reward. The evil inclination doesn’t want to beat us. Its real hope is that we will overcome it so that its mission will be fulfilled.
            When Yaakov was victorious, the angel became excited - “finally someone has beaten me! That means I have fulfilled my mission, and now I must sing before the Throne of Glory!”
            That means that the yetzer hara isn’t stealing our signs to defeat us. It’s more like the trainer who compels his trainee to be ready for anything, so that he will be able to withstand whatever comes his way. The more agile, stronger and better the trainee becomes, the more challenging and harsher the trainer works him.
            Life is about overcoming struggle, because it’s only through overcoming adversity that we become stronger and greater.
            So, whenever we feel like we are being tested and challenged hard, we can gather some solace by remembering that someone obviously believes in us. Someone believes we have the ability to overcome it, so that it can ascend and sing shira for fulfilling its mission of preparing another soul to compete in the major leagues.

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


[1] I learned this niggun and words from Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer and his sons. Rabbi Feuer was the Rabbi of Kehillas Bais Avrohom in Monsey, which was my family’s shul during my adolescence.  

Thursday, January 16, 2020

PARSHAS SHEMOS 5780


 “RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Shemos
20 Teves 5780/January 17, 2020

Raf and the Daf[1]
I am Raf. I do the Daf.

That Raf he does Daf.
I do not like Raf who does Daf.

Would you like to join and do the Daf?
I cannot Raf; cannot do the Daf!

Would you learn it here or there;
Would you learn it anywhere?

I cannot learn it here or there
I cannot do it anywhere.

Would you learn it in your den;
would you learn it with a guy named Ben?
Would you learn it when going far;
would you learn it in your car?

I cannot do the daily Daf;
it’s just too hard Mr. Raf!

Would you be doing it in your house;
Would you be encouraged by your spouse?
Would you do it at a wedding;
Would you ensure there’s no forgetting?
Would you go to a shiur in Yiddish;
Would you learn it at a kiddush?
Would you learn it from a CD;
Would you rather from an MP3?
Would you even give the shiur;
Would you just listen in your chair?
Would you in the rain or snow;
Would you learn it on the go?
Would you, could you on a train;
Would you, could you on a plane?
Would you Yom Kippur afternoon;
Would you learn it on the moon?
Would you make it a life עיקר;
Would you on Purim when you’re שיכור?
Will you say “it doesn’t pas”;
Or will you use an Artscroll Shas?
Would you overcome a life of מיתותא;
Would you learn each night with a chavrusa?
Would you learn it from a Sage:
 Would you ensure to do that page?
Would you do it when sick and tired;
Would you do it after getting fired?
Would you do it when you’re harried;
Would you do it after your child gets married?
Would you learn it in your shul;
Would you learn it at the pool?
Would you learn it after a chupah
Would you when vacationing in Aruba?
Would you delve into every סברא:
Would you meet Abayei and Rava?
Would you learn it after Pesach Seder;
Would you give daily nachas to your Creator?

Ok Raf, if you’ll just let me be
I’ll try the Daf, just wait and see

Hey! I CAN do the Daf!
I CAN do it - thank you Raf!
I can do it here or there;
I can do it anywhere!
I can do it in my den;
I can do it with my friend Ben!
I can do it when going far;
I can do it in my car!
I can do it in my house;
I can do it - thanks to my spouse!
I can do it at a wedding;
I can do it - no forgetting!
I can do it – maybe not in Yiddish;
I can do it after kiddush!
I can learn it from a CD;
I can learn it from an MP3!
I can learn it at a shiur;
I can listen in my chair!
I can learn it - rain or snow;
I can learn it wherever I go!
I can learn it on the train;
I can learn it on a plane!
I can do it Yom Kippur afternoon;
I can even do it on the moon!
I can make it my life עיקר;
I can do it before becoming שיכור!
I can do it even sick and tired;
I can do it - hopefully won’t get fired!
I can do it when I’m harried;
I can do it even when getting married!
I can do it at a shul;
I can do it before the pool!
I can do it after a chuppah;
I can do it - where’s Aruba?
I can delve into every סברא;
My new best friends are Abayei and Rava!

I can learn it now or later;
I can give nachas to my Creator!

I can do all twenty-seven hundred and eleven;
I can earn this great ticket to heaven!
I can do it - just a Daf each day;
I can do it - hip hip hurray!



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


[1] Dedicated in honor of my father who made his fifth Siyum Hashas with Daf Yomi last week and dedicated in honor of my mother who has been there throughout.