Succos 5785

 

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”

 

Erev Succos

14 Tishrei 5785/ October 15, 2024

GROWTH POSITION

October means it’s Major League Baseball Postseason time. Religious Jews who are sports fans clandestinely struggle to find ways to be informed of the scores of their team during the many holidays of this time period.

I heard one story from a few decades ago on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The rabbi of a shul walked out for a breather during davening on Yom Kippur. He was dismayed to find a few of his congregants crowded around a television at a local mechanic watching a baseball game. When the dismayed rabbi chastised them, they replied that the New York Giants were in the World Series, and they had to know what was happening. (Perhaps it was 1951 when the New York Yankees were battling the New York Giants in the World Series.)

The rabbi promised them that if they returned to shul, he would inform them of the score. Satisfied with the proposition, they filed back into Shul.

Just before Mincha the rabbi rose to the podium and in rabbinic diction quoted the pasuk, “Eich naflu giborim - Oh how the Giants have fallen!” (Shmuel II 1:25)

 

As of this writing in 2024, both the Yankees and Mets are in the playoffs. Hopefully that is not the reason they feel this is the z’man simchaseinu - season of our joy.

 

It’s been said that aside from being a pitcher, the hardest position in baseball is to play catcher.

Catchers need to have some familiarity with opposing batters and understand their own pitcher's strengths and weaknesses. The catcher also needs to be ready for action at all times. He needs to frame for the pitcher by positioning his glove and needs to be ready to block or field wild pitches. Squatting for an extended period of time during the game isn’t very comfortable or good for his knees. But he needs to be ready to jump to his feet on a whim to pursue a shallow pop up or to gun out a player attempting to steal a base.

 

The beautiful mitzvah of succah celebrates and commemorates the divine protection afforded to us while we traveled through the desert. The divine clouds of glory enveloped the Jewish camp on seven sides - the four directions, and above and below them, and a seventh cloud that led the way. Within the clouds the nation was protected from the harsh elements of the desert. It kept natural predators away and warded off any danger. In addition, it leveled mountains and valleys and provided temperature control.

But that doesn’t mean life in the desert was simple or easy. Throughout their forty-year sojourn in the desert the nation had to be prepared constantly. They had no idea when it would be time to travel. Without warning, the cloud could begin to move, and trumpets would be sounded in the camp. Everyone would have to rush to their tents to dismantle them. Children playing with friends had to be gathered and readied for travel. How long the nation would travel was also a mystery.

The Leviim had the added challenge of disassembling and reassembling the Mishkan. When the time came to travel and the rest of the nation rushed to take apart their tents and ready their families, the Levite men had to run to take apart the Mishkan. That meant that their wives had the task of taking down their own tents and preparing their children for travel.

So, while it was true that within the clouds of glory it was a wonderful existence, the nation had to ensure that they remained within the cloud’s environs. During their years in the desert the nation had to always expect the unexpected. Only when they committed themselves to following the clouds would the clouds protect them.

Like a baseball catcher ready for action, we too must live our lives dedicated to following the path that has been ordained for us.

Succos reminds us that divine clouds surround us in our lives as well, but it’s up to us to be ready to follow their path. It’s then that we rise to become great spiritual giants.

 

Freilichen Yom Tov & Chag Sameiach,

R’ Dani and Chani Staum

stamtorah@gmail.com

 

 

Yom Kippur 5785

 

“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”

 

Erev Shabbos Kodesh - Yom Kippur

9 Tishrei 5785/ October 11, 2024

OH DEER

For those living in New York City, it’s quite rare to see deer. But for those of us who live on the other side of the Hudson River it is quite common. In fact, recently the number of deer has grown exponentially. It is not unusual for a family of deer to sprint across our yard, or even be grazing calmly in our yard. (So far, my effort to get them to pay for their usurped meals haven’t been successful…) Often, when I walk into my own backyard the deer chilling there glare at me as if I am intruding on their property.

As I walk closer, they stop nibbling on the grass to stare at me and their ears immediately perk up. It’s clear that they are listening intensely to every sound as they watch to see if I’m getting too close. When they deem that I’ve indeed gotten too close, they immediately bolt.

It’s amazing how quickly they shift into danger mode. When a deer first senses potential danger, it freezes “like a deer in headlights” with its ears flared, completely focused on surveying the situation.

What’s fascinating is that even if a deer is chased by a real predator, as soon as the danger passes, the deer resumes its previous state of complete calm. The same holds true for other animals like zebras and impalas. When they sense danger, their body instantly mobilizes with a physiological “fight-or-flight” reaction. As soon as the threat dissipates however, it immediately returns to a state of homeostasis, and its stress response subsides as swiftly as it arose.

At times, we could benefit greatly if we could learn this from animals. After a situation that triggered a fight or flight reaction within us has dissipated, we often struggle with anxiety from the previous situation. Though the danger has passed we relive it in our minds and ruminate over the experience.

However, we often have the opposite reaction as well. After something triggers us, we often push the event out of our mind when we should not be so quick to do so.

 

In our fast-paced, impatient world we fail to appreciate the importance and value of truly listening.

When I was in graduate school working towards my social work degree, my professors would emphasize the importance of active and empathic listening to a client. Active listening entails periodically reflecting back to a client the points he or she is saying to demonstrate that you fully understand the emotion and message he/she is conveying. To a certain extent, a client feeling comfortable enough to share an experience can be more helpful than the guidance the therapist offers.

We naturally crave to express ourselves and to feel understood. But these days who has time or patience to truly listen to someone else? We’re too busy asserting ourselves and explaining our own viewpoint to hear the opinions and feelings of others.

The mitzvah of Shofar obligates us to focus on listening. In fact, the beracha recited prior does not mention blowing the shofar, only hearing it. Fulfilling the mitzvah of shofar entails just listening. One is not supposed to speak from when the berachos are recited prior to the first shofar blasts until all 100 shofar blasts have been blown at the conclusion of Mussaf. What an invaluable training - keep quiet and listen purposefully!

What a better world it would be if we took the time and invested the energy to listen to others. On a deeper level, how much better off would we be if we took the time to listen and be in touch with our own inner voice.

The deer in my yard listen intently, but only enough to ascertain if there is immediate danger. As soon as the immediate danger has passed the danger is quickly forgotten.

The shofar teaches us to be in tune with those around us. If we internalize that message, we can elevate our own lives and the lives of those we encounter, especially those we love most. But that is only if we dare to be different than the deer.

 

Shana Tova & Gut G’bentscht Yahr

G’mar Chasima Tova,

R’ Dani and Chani Staum

stamtorah@gmail.com