“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos
4 Kislev 5784/November 17, 2023
SURPRISE SHOWER
During a Tuesday evening a few weeks ago, one of our younger sons asked
me to turn the shower on for him. Being that the first burst of water is cold
water, he wanted the water to be nice and warm when he went in. Being the
incredible father that I am, I went to do so. Standing on the outside of the
shower fully dressed I unsuspectingly turned the nozzle full blast. I was
totally unprepared for the rush of cold water that sprayed me in the face and
drenched the bathroom. It took me a few seconds before I realized that the
shower head had been facing outwards. I was wet and annoyed as I cleaned the
water from all over the bathroom.
When I came downstairs a few minutes later, my wife asked me what I
thought of the new cleaning lady. I replied that although she did a decent job
cleaning, she needed to learn to turn the shower head back towards the shower
when she was finished cleaning it.
It’s famously said that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make
it drink. A wise friend noted that although the line is true, there is an
important addendum to the quote. Although you can’t make a horse drink, you can
make it thirsty. Once the horse is thirsty then it will want to drink on its
own.
In a sense, that quote encapsulates the essence of chinuch. Our objective
is to make our children and students thirsty for greatness. In the words of
Dovid Hamelech, “My soul thirsts for You, my flesh pines for You, in a parched
and tired land, without water.” If we can evoke that thirst and spark an inner
desire for growth in Avodas Hashem and Torah study, our children will want to
drink the water on their own.
The challenge is that the proverbial shower head is turned in other
directions. There are so many other forces competing for our and our children’s
attention. It is therefore a formidable struggle to keep our children thirsty
for the spiritual waters that we want to shower upon them. It entails ensuring
that our observance is dynamic and passionate. We may not be able to be overly
enthusiastic every single day. But we have to find ways to celebrate and
demonstrate our excitement to serve Hashem and to be part of the eternal
people. Shabbos and Yomim Tovim are particularly important in this regard.
The haftorah of Parshas Toldos is from the first chapter of Malachi.
Sefer Malachi contains the final words of prophecy uttered until the arrival of
Moshiach.
The prophet begins by encouragingly stating, “I love you, says Hashem!”
He continues, however, by chastising the nation, “If I am a father, where is My
honor?”
He then questions why the nation fulfils mitzvos and brings offerings in
the cheapest manner possible. He bemoans the fact that the nation seeks to
fulfil its responsibilities in a heartless manner, just to be done with it. If
their connection with Hashem was of a loving relationship, they would seek to
perform mitzvos in an ideal manner, not trying to cut corners. If we seek to
serve Hashem passionately, it will invariably affect our children as well.
Currently, there is a wave of Jewish pride and unity sweeping the Jewish
world. It’s been said that virtually every Israeli soldier who has gone into
Gaza is wearing tzitzis and has a Tehillim. The goal is for us to maintain that
excitement and pride after Hashem blesses us with victory and life returns to
some level of normalcy.
At that point it will become more challenging to keep the shower head
facing in the right direction.
As the lights of Chanukah begin to appear on the horizon, we should feel
and convey our excitement for the holiday and its timeless message.
I must add in conclusion that the following Tuesday evening when I again
went to turn the shower on for my son, I was rudely reminded that that the new
cleaning lady comes on Tuesdays. I guess we are both slow to learn.
Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
