“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos
Kodesh parshas Pinchos
23 Tamuz
5782/July 22, 2022
Avos perek 1
FOCUS ON FOCUS
Every word of the Torah is precious,
beloved, and timeless. But I have a particular affinity for parshas Balak. I
know we just read it. Still, while it’s fresh in my mind I wanted to write
about why I enjoy the parsha so much.
For one, parshas Balak has the
uniqueness of being the only narrative in the Torah of which our ancestors were
completely unaware. As Moshe related the words of the Torah, reviewing all the
events that transpired during their forty-year sojourns in the desert, the
nation nodded knowingly. But when they were informed that Balak had hired
Bila’am to curse them, but their nefarious plan had been thwarted, the nation
was stunned. They knew nothing about the evil intentions or about the beautiful
praises Bila’am had unwittingly stated about them.
In addition, there is a poignant
practical message the parsha conveys. We often don’t recognize the blessings in
our lives, because we grow accustomed to them. But when an outsider conveys his
amazement and admiration for what we take for granted, it generates within us a
renewed appreciation for those blessings.
The Jewish people have their flaws;
there’s no doubt about that. We are, and have always been, a tough people. We
are stubborn, strong-minded, and strong-willed. Although those traits have assured
our survival, they also make us difficult to contend with at times. Moshe
Rabbeinu himself told our ancestors at the end of his life. “You have been
rebellious from the day I knew you” (Devorim 9:24).
At the same time however, there is
much greatness, nobility, strength of character and inherent goodness in the
Jewish people. But since it surrounds us and we don’t know any other type of
life, we often don’t realize or focus on the gift of being part of such a great
people.
It’s well-known that there are
non-Jews who keep a yarmulka in their glove compartment. If their car ever
breaks down on the highway, they don the yarmulka and stand outside their car,
assured that within a short time a bunch of yarmulka-wearers will stop to help.
The truth is that in the last few years there have been numerous stories of
religious Jews, particularly of Chaverim, helping non-Jews with flat tires, and
cars stuck in snow.
A few weeks ago, there was a formula
shortage crisis in the United States. There are sensitive and hypoallergenic
toddlers that could only have certain amino acid-based formula. As can be
imagined, that formula was in high demand and even more limited than general
formula.
There was a post that was circulated
that said the following: “Emergency post: please share. If anyone, anywhere has
this formula (the post had a picture of the can), a desperate mother in
Baltimore is looking for this exact formula. Her baby is having severe allergic
reactions to everything else tried.” Within a few hours a follow-up post
circulated: “Mi K’amcha Yisroel!!! 4 cans located in Monsey with a ride
directly to Baltimore!”
The story is truly remarkable. It was
sent from Monsey to Baltimore, from one family to another they had never
previously met.
I saw the posts about the formula on
a beautiful new WhatsApp group called “#MKY” (Mi K’amcha Yisroel - Who is like
Your people, Yisroel). The group’s description states:
“A place to celebrate the joy, the connection,
and the flavor of simply being a Yid!” What a beautiful idea!
There is so much collective beauty
being a Torah Jew and being part of our communities m, but we often forget it
in our daily frustrations and gripes.
The average American family starts
saving money for their children to go to college when the children are just
beginning elementary school. In our communities, we pay astronomical amounts in
tuition for our children to attend Torah institutions every year.
The average American family has a
family meal on Thanksgiving and perhaps December 25. We enjoy such special
family meals every Shabbos and Yom Tov.
In addition, we spend thousands of
dollars on Shabbos, Yomim Tovim, kashrus, shul dues, tefillin and mezuzos. Our
communities have endless opportunities for inspiration and lectures on a
variety of topics, including parenting and improving marriage, parsha, daf yomi
and all areas of halacha. I wonder how often the average American listens to a
class or attends a lecture about improving their character, marriage or
becoming a better parent.
A year and a half after the Covid
pandemic began, public school teachers were arguing that schools had to remain
shuttered. Meanwhile in our yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs, our rabbeim, moros, and
teachers were on the front lines, trying to get our schools to reopen as soon
as it was reasonably safe enough to do so.
Rabbi Yisroel Reisman noted that we
must point this out and emphasize it to our children. They should realize the
primacy and vital importance we place on educating and teaching our children
Torah and Torah values.
Everyone is familiar with the dictum
that the optimist sees the glass as half full while the pessimist sees the
glass as half empty. I once heard the following clever and true observation:
Whether one sees the glass half full, or half empty is dependent
on his vantage point when looking at the glass. If he is looking up for below,
he will see the water in the glass. But if he looks at the glass from above, he
will see the emptiness on top.
How we view everything in life
depends on the perspective from which we are looking. If we have sense of
humility and appreciation we will look up at others and at life, and we will
notice the blessings on our lives. But if we are looking down from above with a
sense of entitlement and arrogance, we will first notice the things we are
missing from our lives.
The same is true regarding our
perspective when thinking about the Jewish people. If our focus is on the
deficiencies of others and with a negative perspective, we will see the faults
of the Jewish people. But if we have a perceptive of humility and look up at
our fellow Jews, we will see the incredible beauty the Jewish people have and
the gift we have to be part of the eternal people.
As we begin the Three Weeks of
mourning for the loss of the Bais Hamikdash and our elongated exile, it is an
apropos time to focus on our focus. How do we think about and view others and
the Jewish people collectively? When we seek the good, we will discover that
there is much good to be found.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum