“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Mishpatim/Shekalim
Mevorchim Chodesh Adar
26 Shevat 5780/February 21, 2020
THE CANDY MAN CAN
In case
you aren’t aware, President Trump was impeached, put on trial, and has since
been acquitted of the charges that led to his impeachment.
As one
person put it “from the whole impeachment trial at least Americans learned a
new Latin word - quid pro quo.”
To the
chagrin of some and the relief of others, the trial in the Senate ended
relatively quickly. Despite their personal feelings, Senators have to be happy
that the trial is over simply because of the dietary restrictions imposed upon
them during the trial. They are allowed no food or drinks besides water and
milk. Well, no food other than the famous candy drawer. For some odd reason,
while even coffee is prohibited, candy is permitted in the Senate.
The current Capitol Hill Candy Man is Pat Toomey, republican
Senator of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is home of Hershey’s Chocolate World and
200 confectionary companies and therefore Pennsylvania is the candy capital of
America. Toomey makes sure that his desk is well stocked with all sorts of
candies for his fellow Senators. It may be the only bipartisan thing in
Congress at this point.
This
concept is not so strange to us because we are all familiar with the shul candy
man. I remember one candy man who had a sign in his tallis bag calling for
everyone to vote for him as Shul candy man. As a youngster, I wondered when
those elections were held, and what qualifications the candy man needed to
have.
The idea
of receiving candies or treats for a spiritual accomplishment, is not without
source. Rambam (Pairush Mishnayos, Sanhedrin, chapter 10) writes that a young
child does not yet have the intellectual ability to appreciate Torah, and so he
should be given some treats (Rambam suggests walnuts, figs or some honey) to
goad him to learn. As he gets older, the incentives should remain age
appropriate. At some point, he will hopefully be mature enough to appreciate
the greatness of Torah and want to learn on his own.
In 1904,
Ivan Pavlov received the Nobel Prize for his experiments in classical
conditioning. He noticed that dogs began to salivate when the technicians who
fed them appeared, even if the technicians weren’t holding food. Association
through stimuli became known as the Pavlovian response.
Long
before Pavlov experimented with his salivating dogs however, the Rokeiach
recorded the ancient custom that when young children were brought to learn
Torah for the first time, they were given honey cake so that they would
associate Torah with sweetness and enjoyment.
One of
the challenges of contemporary society is that everything is so readily
available, and however much we want. Supersize becomes the norm, and childhood
obesity has become a national epidemic. Candy which is eaten all week and
whenever a child wants, is no longer special on Shabbos, or as an incentive for
when the child does something exemplary.
But the
truth is that even as adults we are not above culinary incentives.
Rabbi
Avrohom Yachnes is a seasoned and beloved rebbe for over three decades in North
Miami Beach, Florida. When he began his career in chinuch, during his first
year as a rebbe he had a particularly challenging and difficult class. Within a
few months, he was feeling somewhat despondent and was rethinking his ability
to do what he loved and wanted to do.
At that
time he had a friend who was close with Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv zt”l.
Rabbi Yachnes asked his friend to ask Rabbi Eliyashiv for some advice. Rabbi
Eliyashiv replied, “I heard that in America they have food people like called
pizza or ice cream”. Rabbi Eliyashiv suggested that every day, when Rabbi
Yachnes finished teaching he should buy himself a slice of pizza. That physical
incentive would give him the boost he needed to deal with the challenges of
teaching.
Rabbi
Yachnes related that he followed the advice, albeit not exactly. Instead of
pizza, what kept him going was the daily chocolate Thickshake he picked up from
Carvel after he finished substituting each day. Over three decades later he
agrees that it was indeed the extra boost he needed at that time. (Rabbi
Yachnes adds that at that time he was able to afford the calories and sugar
intake...)
It’s not
exactly the advice you might have expected from a leading Torah personality.
But the truth is that one immersed in Torah wisdom has a keen and deep understanding
of human personality and motivation. Rabbi Eliyashiv, who himself never
indulged in candy or culinary treats, understood and suggested, that a
struggling and aspiring rebbe utilize his natural physical cravings to help him
accomplish his goals and aspirations.
We can
easily overindulge in candy, sugar, sweets and treats. But when used in the
right time, in the right manner, and with proper balance, it can be a wonderful
motivational tool and boost. For some that may mean surviving an impeachment
trial, for others it can enhance Shabbos kodesh, be an incentive to daven and
learn, and help a rebbe overcome his initial inhibitions on his path to
becoming a beloved pedagogue who has, and continues to, influence scores of
students.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum