“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Eikev
21 Menachem Av 5781/July 30, 2021
Avos perek 4
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לרפואה שלימה נטע יצחק בן רחל
OUT
OF LINE
During a
speech he gave at a sheva berachos, Rav Shmuel Barenbaum, the Rosh Yeshiva of
the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn, noted that he had seen a cereal box that had on
its cover a picture of an athlete eating that cereal. Rav Barenbaum related
that he had three questions on the advertisement. First of all, even though the
athlete was holding a bowl of that cereal, who is to say that he even likes the
cereal? He may detest the cereal but is being paid to pose that way. Secondly,
even if he does like the cereal, who is to say that just because he likes it,
I’ll like it too? Finally, he’s famous because he can play ball well. What does
that have to do with knowing if a cereal is good or not?
Logically,
his questions make a lot of sense, especially the third question. Why should
anyone want to eat a cereal or, for that matter, drink certain beverages, wear
certain clothes or use certain products just because an athlete or celebrity is
portrayed enjoying that food or product? But such is the way of our society,
and such is the profound effect of the billion dollar advertising industry.
The
mishna in Avos (Perek 6) lists 48 prerequisites for growth and greatness in
Torah. One of those 48 is המכיר את מקומו - one who
recognizes his place. Such a person understands his role and the effect he can
have on others. At the same time, he recognizes who and what he’s not and
doesn’t try to overreach his abilities or authority.
Rav
Samson Rafael Hirsch explains that the word chutzpah is a contraction of the
words chutz and poh - outside of here. One who has chutzpah
crosses the line of appropriateness and oversteps his boundaries.
The
gemara (Sotah 49b)) relates that one of the signs of the times for the
generation prior to Moshiach is that there will be a proliferation of chutzpah.
This manifests itself in many ways that are apparent in our time, including the
way society worships celebrities, allowing them to sway public opinions.
In 2016,
a football player decided that he should kneel during the singing of the
national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Since then,
a noted basketball player used social media to broadcast his opinions about
political matters. Many celebrities followed suit using their platforms to
convey their opinions about politics.
Most
recently, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company decided to weigh in (pun
intended) on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, choosing to no longer sell
their products in areas they deemed illegal. They were doing great with the ice
cream. What does rocky road and half-baked cookie batter have to do with
Israeli settlements?
All
these examples fit Rav Hirsch’s definition of chutzpah. Why should athletes or
celebrities get involved in matters beyond their area of expertise?
But such
is the way of our generation in which many don’t know their place or recognize
where the lines of appropriateness lie.
Perhaps
the ultimate chutzpah is when one person decides to become the spokesperson for
an entire community asserting that her grievances represent what is happening
in most homes. Aside for being a slanderous misrepresentation, it is also way
out of line. (It is perfect entertainment for a society which prioritizes
entertainment over facts…)
The
Torah teaches us how to live a life of meaning and inner expression within the
guidelines of its parameters.
When
young children draw, they pick up a crayon or marker and color indiscriminately
all over the paper. They subsequently tell you what they drew because it’s not
otherwise recognizable. But as they become older, they learn to color between
the lines, creating nicer pictures that are more clearly defined.
In our
own lives when we traverse the lines of halacha, we enter the realm of chutzpah
and the picture we create with our lives appears messy and unappealing.
When we
live within the divinely ordained parameters of halacha however, we create a
spiritually beautiful picture.
What
greater honor could there be than to paint a divinely beautiful tapestry every
day of our lives.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum