“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei – Parshas
HaChodesh
Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan – Shabbos Chazak!
24 Adar 5783/March 17, 2023
לזכר נשמת נטע יצחק בן אלכסנדר ז"ל
NOSTALGIC ANTICIPATION
My first position in chinuch about two
decades ago, was as an elementary school social worker in Yeshiva Bais
HaChinuch in Spring Valley, NY. During those years, I taught a class about
emotions vocabulary. It began with a discussion about the common emotions of
mad, sad, glad, and bad. It then moved on to discussing more complicated
emotions like disappointment, frustration, excitement, surprise, etc.
The final classes were about dual
emotions and even conflicting emotions. The human experience is never clear cut
and smooth sailing. Life entails balancing conflicting feelings of joy and
sadness, often at the same time.
This past Shabbos, 18 Adar, our family
marked the first yahrtzeit of my late father-in-law, Mr. Nathan Mermelstein
a’h, Nuta Yitzchok ben Alexander. The following day was the hakamas
matzeivah (unveiling).
Beforehand I discussed the event with
our nine-year-old son Dovid. I told him that it would mostly be a sad event,
but there would be a tinge of happiness as well. We are sad because we miss Zayda
and would like to see and speak to him again. Yet, at the same time there is a
tinge of comfort and happiness, knowing that he is free of pain, and enjoying
his place in Olam Haba.
At the same time, this week is a
special milestone for me. Two books that I worked on for some time have been
published simultaneously. They are both already available in seforim stores in
Eretz Yisroel and will iyH be available in American seforim stores imminently.
The first is entitled “Nostalgia for Eternity”, published
by Feldheim. It contains a collection of lectures from my rebbe, Rabbi Berel
Wein. The book contains a treasure trove of his ideas about many topics
including prayer, Jewish pride, marriage, post-pandemic life, dealing with
disappointments, and ideas about the Yomim Tovim of the year.
Rabbi Wein is renown throughout the
Jewish world as a lecturer, author, historian and scholar. But for myself and
countless others he is foremost our Rosh Yeshiva and rebbe. I was privileged to
be part of the last class of Yeshiva Shaarei Torah to graduate with Rabbi Wein
as its Rosh Yeshiva. That summer, the summer of 1997, Rabbi Wein and his
Rebbitzin a”h made aliyah.
I always appreciated Rabbi Wein’s
timeless insights, candid reflections about life, and his love for Torah, Eretz
Yisroel and the Jewish People. But now, over 25 years later, I have a far
deeper appreciation for the poignancy and accuracy of his messages.
Rabbi Wein often speaks fondly about
his great Rabbeim and the Gedolim of the previous generation that he was
privileged to know personally. He recounts that they imparted to his generation
the need to appreciate being part of the eternal people and the responsibility
it entails. He also speaks of our need to pridefully convey those messages to
our progeny.
My goal in transcribing and adapting
his lectures for print was to help others feel the nostalgia for eternity that
Rabbi Wein evokes.
The other book is
entitled the “Ateres Frumah - Striving Higher Haggadah”, published by
Mosaica Press. The Haggadah contains a brief, running commentary on the
Haggadah that allows the reader to understand the beautiful passages of the
Haggadah as he reads them. There are also footnotes containing lengthier
explanations and ideas, often with novel and contemporary stories and parables
that help explain the words of the Haggadah.
Following the Haggadah section is a
collection of essays about the Seder and Pesach, with a touch of (attempted)
humor and (attempted) sophistication.
The fact that the Ateres Frumah
Haggadah bears the name of my late beloved Bubby, Rebbetzin Frumah Kohn,
makes it all the more endearing to me. I was privileged to have my Bubby in my
life for almost four decades and that my children knew her as well. She serves
as our link to a lost generation.
No book merges past, present and
future quite like the Haggadah. Through its timeless words we are inspired by
reading about the past, to anticipate and await a wonderful future.
Grandparents and grandchildren sit around the Seder table symbolizing the
bridging of generations.
My rebbe, Rabbi Wein teaches us to
appreciate that we are a vital link in an eternal chain, an idea represented by
the Haggadah. Our nostalgia for the greatness of the past, helps us yearn for
the eternity of our future.
The books are currently available for
preorder:
Nostalgia for Eternity: Ideas,
insights, and inspirations from Rabbi Berel Wein https://a.co/d/9xltS3Z
https://mosaicapress.com/product/the-striving-higher-haggadah/
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum