tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51647450450383329442024-03-16T14:50:27.459-04:00Rabbi’s Musings & Amusingsstamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comBlogger718125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-71591556744775901432024-03-14T09:01:00.004-04:002024-03-14T09:01:34.140-04:00Parshas Pekudei 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pekudei <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5 Adar II 5784/ March 15, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">PUNCTUATED SALVATION </span></u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is it
possible that our English teacher was right (or correct)? Could it be that
punctuation really does make a difference in life and, in fact, could save
lives?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many are
familiar with the difference between “Let’s eat Grandma” and “Let’s eat,
Grandma.” The first is a grotesque form of cannibalism while the second depicts
a lovely outing. So, it seems commas indeed save lives. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What if I told you that the Jewish people were in fact
saved by one comma? What if I told you that the whole Purim salvation was based
on one comma? <i>And, no, it’s not because I’m in a state of ad d’lo yada.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Megillah relates that King Achashveirosh allowed
Haman to dispatch letters to all his provinces allowing the nations “to
destroy, to kill and to wipe out all the Jews” (Esther 3:13). Further in the
Megillah, however, after Haman was killed, Achashveirosh told Mordechai and
Esther to “write concerning the Jews whatever is favorable in your eyes…”
(ibid. 8:8). Mordechai and Esther were enjoined to draft second letters to send
to the provinces, permitting the Jews to defend themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How were
Mordechai and Esther able to overwrite the first edict issued by Achashveirosh
if the law was that a decree could not be rescinded? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>A
yeshiva bochur on his way to his best friend’s wedding realizes that, as usual,
he is running late. His best friend’s chuppah is about to begin and he still must
find parking in that notoriously difficult parking area. He says a silent
prayer and pulls onto the block of the hall. To his utter delight, a spot is
available right in front of the wedding hall. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He quickly
pulls in, grabs his hat, and, while simultaneously making his tie, rushes
towards the front entrance. As he is opening the front door, he notices in the
corner of his eye that a cop standing next to his car issuing him a parking
ticket. He turns around and runs back. “Officer, why are you giving me a ticket?”
The cop hardly looks up. “Son, are you blind? Didn’t you see the sign right
there that says, ‘No Parking’?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bochur laughs
and shakes his head. “Officer, let me explain. At first, I made the same
mistake as you did. When I first pulled up and saw this perfect spot, I thought
to myself there’s absolutely no way that I can park right here. But then I noticed
the sign here that says, ‘<u>No</u>!’ don’t think you can’t park her. Rather, ‘<u>Parking</u>!’
The sign was actually informing me that I can park here. But you obviously
misread the sign too, Officer.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What a
difference a comma can make!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here are some other examples of potential tragedies
that could be averted with the insertion of a comma or two:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jacob
likes cooking his family and his dog.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Throw my
wife out the window the keys.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Throw my
husband in the oven a slice of pizza.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(Yes, I am aware that the last two
sentences are not grammatically correct anyway.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a similar
vein, the Vilna Gaon explains that Mordechai and Esther did not change the
wording of the previous edict, “to destroy, to kill and to wipe out all the
Jews.” Instead, they merely inserted a comma, so that it now read, “to destroy,
to kill and to wipe out all, the Jews.” That one little comma completely
changed the meaning of the decree. Instead of the Jews being the targeted
subjects of the murderous decree, the Jews were now going to be the
promulgators of it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Shalmei Todah further explains that this is what Achashveirosh meant when he
told Mordechai and Esther, “write concerning <i>haYehudim,</i> the Jews
whatever is favorable in your eyes.” They were to write what they found
favorable about the word <i>Yehudim</i> – the Jews mentioned in the original
decree. They did exactly that by adding that fateful comma. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not
coincidental that punctuation plays another vital role during this time of
year. In Parshas Zachor, read immediately prior to Purim, we recall what Amalek
did to the Jewish people. We restate our mission to “wipe out the memory of
Amalek from under the heaven” (Devarim 25:19). As prescribed by halacha, due to
the question of how to pronounce the Hebrew word for memory – <i>Zecher</i> –
in the Torah, we read the word in two ways. The word is pronounced with both a <i>tzeirei</i>
and <i>segol</i> to cover all possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is most
apropos that the question of one nekudah arises regarding the mitzvah of
eradicating Amalek. It is one <i>nekudah</i>, one dot, that differentiates the
pronunciation between these two words. But that is exactly what Amalek wishes
to destroy. One small dot, symbolizing that one inner spark, the <i>pintele</i>
yid, the pristine Jew, within every Jewish soul. That one nekudah is what
Amalek wishes to extinguish. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Inky Johnson was a top prospect during
a successful college career on the path to stardom in the NFL. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In his junior year of
college, he was projected as a top thirty draft pick. On September 9<sup>th</sup>,
2006, he sustained a life threatening, career-ending injury that paralyzed his
right arm and hand. Since then, Inky has dedicated his life to
motivational speaking and encouragement to always pursue greater goals and
never allow the setbacks of life to impede. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following is one of Inky’s messages: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“A comma means there is a pause. The
sentence isn’t over, but there is a need for a space before going on. A period
on the other hand, tells you that the sentence is over.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Many times in life, we place a period
where G-d intends for us to place a comma.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“When I had my career ending injury
and was told that I was paralyzed on one side and would never play football
again, many people placed a period on my life. They said that I had worked
toward that dream from when I was 8 years old, and now it was shattered, so
there was nothing else for me. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“But I knew that it was a comma and
there was more to come. I knew G-d would not have put me through all that if
there wasn’t something bigger for me in the future. I didn’t know what it was
then, but I knew that the ordeal was a comma and not a period!” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the time of the Purim story, the
Jewish people feared that their situation was going to be a period, bringing
about the frightening end of their story. In truth, however, the Purim story
became a glorious comma, in the long history of the eternal people. But it was
not just another ordinary comma. Purim reminds us that no matter what
challenges, frustrations, anguish and setbacks we suffer, collectively or individually,
they are commas, and not periods. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During our present time of pain and
challenge for Klal Yisroel, Purim reminds us that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran
will be a comma in the history of our people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Just as back then, there will be no permanent
parking for the Jewish people. We will proceed and we will prevail. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“To make known that all those who hope
in You will not be ashamed and all who trust in You will never be humiliated.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">stamtorah@gmail.com<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-60360139779037358602024-03-07T08:59:00.004-05:002024-03-07T08:59:54.863-05:00Parshas Vayakhel 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">28 Adar I 5784/ March 9, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Adar II – Shekalim </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
</span></u><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">EMOTIONAL EXTENSION
CORDS<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Doing construction is exciting and simultaneously exceedingly frustrating
and trying on one’s patience. One of the things I remember most about when we
did construction was myriad wires everywhere. Eventually, all those wires were
hidden within the walls. But before the walls were erected, and new outlets
were created, there were numerous wires crisscrossing each other. Those wires
were plugged into extension cords that themselves were plugged into other
extension cords, with all those cords competing for the same few outlets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One day during construction, I realized that our freezer had been
unplugged. I had to trace the wires until I figured out which plug should be
pulled out so I could ensure the freezer was plugged in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The maze of extension cords is a poignant analogy. At times we may say or
do something that brings a surprisingly strong reaction or response from
another, be it a spouse, friend, child, student, parent, employee, neighbor,
etc. We have no way of knowing that at some earlier point, someone else may
have said similar words which, at that time, caused him tremendous pain, shame,
or aggravation. What we said or did caused a proverbial extension cord to plug
into to that past experience causing a painful emotional jolt or shock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This dynamic happens within us as well. At times we may be surprised by
our own emotional reaction to a comment or situation. It is more than likely
that our reaction wasn’t so much caused by actual words that were said but the
significance or meaning we subconsciously attached to it. A seemingly
nonchalant comment may have plugged into a metaphoric extension cord connecting
us way back to our past.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The most extreme example I experienced of this phenomenon was with a
client I visited weekly when I was a social worker intern. Antschel was a
retired Holocaust survivor. He had recently suffered a few mini strokes and it
was hard for him to speak. He was also attached to a feeding tube.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One blustery rainy November afternoon, I was sitting next to him
discussing something when he motioned that he wanted to say something. I
stopped and waited. It took a minute before he got the words out: “They made us
walk”. At first, I had absolutely no idea what he was referring to. But then
his wife explained that at the end of WWII, Antschel had been on the Nazi death
march during the month of November when it was often blustery and rainy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It was amazing to me, that sixty years later, in his home in New York,
when seeing the same weather out his window, it triggered a painful and
traumatic memory. The weather had caused a mental extension cord to be plugged
in, triggering a visceral reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The analogy can be helpful in putting things in perspective in our daily
lives as well. A client with whom I shared the analogy reported that he
recently became upset at something relatively trivial that happened at home.
When he thought about the situation, he realized that his harsher reaction was
because the incident triggered an earlier memory. Once he was able to identify
that, he was able to work on “unplugging” that extension cord. In fact, he was
able to apologize for his reaction to his wife and to explain that what
happened triggered plugging in an extension cord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Mishnah (Avos 2:4) states, “Do not judge your friend until you are in
his place.” The Mishnah is essentially saying that one cannot judge his friend
until he has “walked a mile in his friend’s shoes”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Sefas Emes notes that even if someone finds himself in the exact same
predicament as his friend and all conditions are equal, he still cannot judge
his friend. Although the external situation may be the same, every person has
vastly different internal emotions, sensitivities, feelings, dispositions,
inclinations, fears, life experiences, family upbringing, values, goals, and
sense of morality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To say it more succinctly, every person has different extension cords
plugged into different outlets. Therefore, even if one is in the same situation
as another, he cannot adequately judge his friend’s actions in the same
situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Essentially the Sefas Emes is saying that one can <u>never</u> properly
judge another. Even if he is in his friend’s shoes, he still doesn’t have his
friend’s feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There’s a lot of mental extension cords running from the present into way
back in our lives. The more we can identify them, the more we can unplug
ourselves from them. Instead, we can find more positive extension cords and
outlets that help us connect with healthier thoughts and reactions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">stamtorah@gmail.com<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-17844045014813262122024-02-29T11:33:00.003-05:002024-02-29T11:33:21.553-05:00Parshas Ki Sisa 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">21 Adar I 5784/ March 2, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
</span></u><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In a recent edition of her daily WhatsApp, Sivan Rahav-Meir, disseminated
the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Kama Hochman is a 7-year-old girl who lives in Bnei Netzarim, a charming
little moshav in southern Israel. Her father is presently doing reserve duty in
Khan Yunis. This week she decided to write a letter to Yahya Sinwar, the leader
of Hamas. It seems to me that this simple and innocent letter is much truer and
more to the point than the decisions handed down at the Hague or the UN.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Listen to 7-year-old Kama:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“To Sinwar<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shalom! I am Kama, I’m in second grade and live in the Gaza periphery. I
want to tell you that G-d chose the nation of Israel to be His people and,
therefore, even if you try to kill us, we will win. I am wishing that you will
be caught, and that the nation of Israel will live with quiet and in peace.””<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I am impressed with Kama’s perspective. She was obviously taught that she
is part of a special people and that our national ordeal is part of a bigger
picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It reminded me of an anecdote that my rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, often
relates:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After the Second World War ended, a former SS guard recounted one
occasion when he was rounding up Jews and throwing them onto trucks to be taken
to be killed. He found a young Jewish boy hiding and pulled him out. The boy
looked him in the eye and said, “I’m Yaakov and you’re Eisav. Even though
you’re about to kill me, I would still rather be Yaakov than Eisav.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At this year’s Agudah Convention in December 2023, during the popular
Thursday night session entitled, “Asking for a friend” with Rav Aharon
Lopiansky and Rav Yosef Elefant, Rav Elefant said the following:</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“As far as children are concerned, I think that Jewish history, our <i>tzaros</i> –
the Holocaust, Crusades, Tach V’tat (the Cossack massacres of 1648-1649), are
all part of the timeline from the Churban; it’s part of the history that dates
back to Har Sinai. Our <i>mesorah</i>, our history, is critical to the
context of our Avodas Hashem and our mission in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“It’s absolutely critical that we speak to children about the historical
context of what’s happening. It’s part of our <i>mesorah</i>, part of our
connection to Sinai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Someone from a yeshiva in Lakewood called me a few months ago and said
they have an hour of General Studies a week. What should they teach?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I told them they should
teach Jewish history. The students should have a context of the continuity and
the plan. Teaching Jewish history is not about teaching gory details or trauma.
Children have to know to be able to connect the dots and understand what
happened from the Churban and on, what the Churban caused, why we are what we
are, where we were and where we are going. It’s critical for the
self-definition of our young generation. To miss the opportunity would be a
tremendous shame.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One additional quote from non-Jewish author, Paul Johnson. In <i>A
History of the Jews,</i> he writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“No people have ever insisted more firmly than the Jews that history has
a purpose, and that humanity has a destiny. At a very early stage in their
collective existence they believe they detected a divine scheme for the human
race of which their own society was the pilot.... Judaism is not a product, but
a program, and the Jews are instruments of its fulfillment.</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Jewish history is a record not only of physical facts but of
metaphysical notions. The Jews believe themselves created and commanded to be a
light unto the nations of the world. And they have attempted to obey, to the
best of their considerable powers, that commandment…</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“The Jews have been great truth-tellers. And that is why they have been
so hated. A prophet will be feared and sometimes honored, but he will never be
loved. A prophet must prophesy. And the Jews, therefore, will persist in
pursuing truth as they see it wherever it leads.</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Jewish history teaches, if anything can, that there is indeed a purpose
to human existence, and we are not just born to live and die like beasts of the
field….”</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Being a Jew isn’t easy, but it is an incredible privilege and
responsibility. Being chosen and special always comes with a price tag.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When viewed in that light, our national travails, painful as they may be,
become purposeful and meaningful. This is certainly true of our current
struggle and anguish in Gaza and beyond. These powerful perspectives are vital
for us to convey to our progeny.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There is no holiday that celebrates the eternity of our people and our
values like Purim. The unbridled joy we feel during Adar is inextricably bound
with knowing we are part of something greater than ourselves and that our
lives, and our deaths, have meaning and purpose. It is the same joy that has
been reflected on the faces of soldiers, and Jews around the world in past
months. It is what grants the incredible conviction of families, including
those who have lost parents, spouses, children, friends and/or neighbors the
conviction and inner strength to carry on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Despite our collective anguish and personal pain, we have an ethereal
inner pride knowing that we are fighting for something divine and eternal, and
that every one of us is an essential component of that Master Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">stamtorah@gmail.com</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-46764630333073859462024-02-23T10:21:00.002-05:002024-02-23T10:21:35.782-05:00Parshas Tetzaveh 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tetzaveh <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">14 Adar I 5784/ February 23, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Purim Katan</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
</span></u><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A LITTLE MORE TIME<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">R’ Benzion Dunner of London was renown as a tremendously charitable
philanthropist. He would say that he viewed himself as a ‘gabbai tzedakah’;
that G-d had granted him wealth merely so that he could oversee its
dissemination to those in need.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On the night of Purim 2008 he distributed more than a million pounds to
charity.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
Two weeks later, on March 21, 2008, R’ Benzion was driving with some of his
children when he suddenly lost control of his car, and veered off the road.
Tragically, R’ Benzion was killed instantly. Miraculously, everyone else in the
car survived. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
Shortly afterwards, a relative of R’ Benzion asked Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky,
“Doesn’t it say (Mishlei 10:2) “Charity saves from death”? How could a person
who dedicated his life to charity, have died so young and so tragically?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
Rabbi Kanievsky replied, “He was supposed to die twenty years ago!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
(I asked R’ Zev Dunner, R’ Benzion’s brother and an activist with Torah
Umesorah, about the story. I have written it as he told it to me. He added that
Rabbi Kanievsky was very emphatic. He did not say, “Perhaps he was
supposed to die twenty years ago”.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">R’ Benzion was granted twenty years of life because of his
philanthropy. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This week, 18 Adar I, marks the second yahrtzeit of my father-in-law, Mr.
Nathan Mermelstein a”h.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 2014, my father-in-law was hospitalized. To be honest, at the time we
didn’t realize how ill he was. It was only when we went to visit him in the
hospital that we were informed that he was fighting Sepsis, a serious
complication resulting from infection that can be life threatening. The odds
weren’t on his side, but, thankfully, he pulled through. He hosted a seudas
hoda’ah when he regained his health.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 2020 during Covid, he began not feeling well. For a long while the
many doctors he went to couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. They insisted
he was fine, even though he was extremely uncomfortable and often in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I will never forget the afternoon when he called to tell me that a tumor
was discovered in his pancreas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He began schlepping into the Bronx weekly for treatment. My incredibly
devoted mother-in-law was always at his side. The treatment weakened him, but
he seemed to be responding. Then, at the end of January 2022, he fell at home.
When Hatzaloh members arrived, he was still communicating with them. Little did
anyone know that was the last time he would be in his home and the last time he
would speak. His condition deteriorated over the next few weeks, and he was
niftar on Shabbos morning, 18 Adar I, surrounded by his wife and three
children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One night during my father-in-law’s shiva, Rabbi Avi Cohen, a dear neighbor
of my in-laws, related to us the following story:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">22 years earlier “the other side of the lake” in Lakewood had no mikvah.
The nearest mikvah was on Madison Ave, a long walk away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Representatives of three shuls convened to raise funds to purchase a
piece of land and renovate the house on it to become a mikvah. Rabbi Cohen and
another member of his shul, Ephraim Birnbaum, were the representatives of their
shul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Their first stop was at the home of my father-in-law. When they began
explaining the project to him, before they had a chance to explain all the
details, he sat down and wrote out a check for $2,000.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They thanked him but then explained that they were looking for 5 founding
families to donate $10k each to initiate the campaign. Once they had $50k in
commitments they felt the $245k project would gain momentum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My father-in-law immediately replied that he wanted to be the first donor
and pledged an additional $10k.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That indeed helped get the project rolling and a year later the mikvah
was completed. My father-in-law forever has a significant share in the mikvah
on the corner of Sunset Blvd and Central Ave on the other side of the Lakewood lake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We were blown away by the story that we knew nothing about. There are
undoubtedly many more stories of his chessed and tzadakah of which we are still
unaware.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We can never profess to know the calculations of heaven. But I’ve often
wondered if he was granted six additional healthy years, and the opportunity to
meet 4 more grandchildren, in the merit of his tzedakah and chessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My father-in-law came from humble beginnings. His parents were Holocaust
survivors and things were challenging in his youth. My father-in-law began his
“career” doing menial jobs, including truck deliveries and as a butcher. He
slowly saved up money until he could purchase a house and a car. He loved to
help people and contribute as much as he was able.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Every Motzei Shabbos/Yom Tov, immediately after havdalah, he would sit
down at the dining room table and write out a check for any tzedakah pledges he
had made over Shabbos/Yom Tov.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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Description automatically generated" height="310" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="413" /><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He was also a
person of impeccable integrity. The afternoon before I became engaged to his
daughter, I had a long conversation with my future in-laws. During that
discussion my father-in-law told me that if anyone ever called him dishonest it
was equivalent to taking a knife and stabbing him in the back. He had a disdain
for dishonesty. I don’t know where he developed such fierce honesty from.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He often told me that he didn’t want to be an in-law to me, but more like
a father. I personally learned so much from him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We continue to miss him so much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">May his neshama have an Aliyah.</span><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">stamtorah@gmail.com<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-83946937829245464632024-02-15T11:58:00.004-05:002024-02-15T11:58:33.878-05:00Parshas Teruma 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Terumah <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">7 Adar I 5784/ February 16, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
</span></u><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">IN THE MIDDLE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When flying, some people prefer aisle seats, so they don’t have to bother
anyone else when they want to get up. Other people prefer the window seat so
they can enjoy the incredible views outside. But I don’t know anyone who
prefers a middle seat. It’s the worst of all worlds. From the middle seat you
can’t really see out the window and you don’t have direct access to the aisle.
In addition, it seems to be an unwritten rule that the person in the middle
doesn’t have dibs over the armrests. He must defer to his seatmates on either
side.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In my younger years I was very much a window seater. I was, and am,
fascinated by the wonder of flying and love looking out the window. As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve begun to prefer aisle seats so I can stretch my legs at
will. On my recent trip to Eretz Yisroel however, I apparently booked my seat
too late and was designated a middle seat. Although it definitely wasn’t what I
would’ve chosen, it was worth the discomfort to get to Eretz Yisroel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When I boarded the plane and arrived at my seat, there was an elderly man
already seated in the aisle seat and an elderly woman in the window seat. The
man got up to allow me to go to my seat. Two minutes after I sat down, the man
on my left turned to the woman on my right and asked her something, and she
replied. A minute later she asked him a question, and he replied. I realized I
was seated between a married couple. He wanted the aisle while she wanted the
window, and I was stuck in between. They were very pleasant, but it was a bit
of an awkward ten hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A few days later I saw the same couple on the side of the road in Geulah.
They hadn’t seen me yet, so I walked in between them and announced, “This feels
familiar”. They looked up with confusion. Then they saw me and laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It brought back memories of the middle seat in the front row of a car.
Today, that seat doesn’t exist. But in my youth, I remember many occasions
sitting in the middle seat between my parents. I can’t even imagine driving
anywhere today with one of my children sitting in the front between my wife and
myself. Aside from the discomfort, how would my wife and I discuss anything if
a child was sitting between us, instead of trying to eavesdrop from the back?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I am grateful to my younger two siblings who rescued me from being a
middle child. Middle children often feel that they get lost in the shuffle and
have various gripes that include feeling somewhat forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In my early days of rabbanus a veteran rabbi explained to me that in most
congregations 10% of the congregation will love the rabbi and back him almost
regardless of what he says or does. Another 10% of the congregation will
disdain the rabbi and challenge him almost regardless of what he says or does.
The middle 80% fluctuates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s to them that the rabbi should focus his efforts. The wise rabbi
doesn’t waste too much time trying to convince the naysayers; their minds are
already made up. Instead, he seeks to maintain a warm and positive relationship
with the wavering mass in the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In classrooms there is a constant tension all teachers must contend with
- whom to cater their primary efforts towards. Do they focus more on the
quicker students of the class or on the students who need added explanation to
grasp what is being taught. No matter which the teacher chooses, he/she should
always be mindful of the students in the middle who often slide through the
system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Middles get a bad rap. But there is great significance and value of the
middle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Gemara (Megillah 21b) notes that the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash
had three branches on either side of the middle branch. The flames atop each of
the branches faced the middle one, while the middle one faced the Holy of
Holies, where the Shechinah was. Rabbi Yochanan noted that the middle candle
atop the menorah demonstrated that the middle is special.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Beginnings are challenging but they are also exciting. We gear up for new
challenges and prepare for them. Endings are also special, fostering feelings
of accomplishment and/or closure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We celebrate book ends. We have Siddur and Chumash parties for our
children when they begin davening/learning. We also have graduations to
celebrate and mark the completion of their studies. In between there is a long
stretch of unremarkable learning and studying. But it is there in the elongated
uncelebrated middle that the real learning and growth takes place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Mishnah (Avos 3:7) states that if a person is walking on the way and
he interrupts his studies and declares, “How beautiful is this tree”, or, “How
beautiful is this plowed field”, the Torah considers him as if he is liable for
his soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What is so pretty about a plowed field? In addition, why is a person
liable for his soul for admiring beautiful landscapes?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabbi Label Lam suggests that the beauty of a plowed field lies in its
potential. Only a farmer who appreciates how much produce and profit can be
generated from a yet uncultivated field would see it as beautiful. A plowed
field represents potential waiting to be actualized, the coveted initiation of
a potentially profitable process. In contrast, a beautiful tree represents
actualization and accomplishment. A blooming tree stands regally bearing its
luscious fruits, waiting to be picked and enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We all travel the paths and roads of life. Rabbi Lam suggests that the
subject of the Mishnah is trying to accomplish and grow but feels that his
growth is stymied and stagnated. He admires young children, analogous to plowed
fields bursting with potential. He recalls when he himself set out on the path
of growth wide-eyed and confident before he became burned-out. He also admires
those who have accomplished and brought their dreams to fruition, analogous to
beautiful fruit producing trees. He sighs, feeling that his own dreams will
never be actualized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Mishnah warns that such a defeatist attitude destroys the soul. It
depletes confidence and squashes dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are always in the middle of the paths of life. The middle may not feel
exciting. But that is where one’s main efforts must be invested. As long as one
can stay the course and maintain a sense of mission and direction, that is a
success.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">stamtorah@gmail.com</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-23512325081369067372024-02-08T14:13:00.004-05:002024-02-08T14:13:39.237-05:00Parshas Mishpatim 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">23 Shevat 5784/ February 2, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Adar I </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">HUMBLE
SPIKE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My
personal breakfast of champions each morning includes a bowl of Cheerios. Not
honey nut, frosted, banana, chocolate or even mayonnaise flavored Cheerios, but
good ol’ regular cheerios.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Recently,
when I finished a box of Cheerios, I brought the empty box into my ninth grade
Shiur room. I asked my students why they thought when I finished the box, I
didn’t spike the box and scream “let’s goooooooo” like guys often do when they
make a great play in sports. (They actually thought I should have done so…) The
consensus was that it was because finishing a box of Cheerios wasn’t a major
accomplishment. Only when one accomplishes something arduous or against the
odds does he feel the need to celebrate ostentatiously.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the
second quarter of a football game played at Yankees Stadium in 1965, Homer
Jones, a speedy Giants wide receiver, caught an 89-yard touchdown pass from QB
Earl Morrall. He was on the verge of tossing the ball into the crowd, as his
teammates liked to do, but at the last second, he remembered that doing so had
been banned by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Not wanting to be fined, Jones
stopped short and threw the ball down on the grass instead. The crowd seemed to
enjoy it, and it was repeated by other players. Jones later coined what he had
just done a “spike” – and the name stuck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Today,
touchdown celebrations have become de rigueur. Players choreograph and rehearse
their victory bravado dance in advance for if and when they score a touchdown.
The sports ignoramus seeing such a dance would likely think the dancing player
was unwell or in need of psychological help. Nevertheless, it has become a
coveted part of the game, though it definitely doesn’t add sportsmanship to it.
Still the original celebratory gesture remains spiking the football.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have
often thought that there is symbolic meaning to spiking a football. To score a
touchdown or win a football game, every player seeks to drive the football
downfield into the opposing team’s end zone while defending their own turf.
That football - where it is and who has it - dictates what everyone on that
field will be doing. When a player scores a touchdown, he throws down the
football with conviction, demonstrating that he dominates the football, and not
vice versa. He spikes the football subconsciously declaring to it, “I own you!
I dictate where you go, and not vice versa!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Contrast
that with our approach to Torah study. No matter how much we learn and how many
masechtos we have mastered, we always maintain a sense of humility towards it.
The Torah dictates every facet of our lives and always remains our guide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When we
master a game of football, we throw the football down. When we complete
studying Torah, we lift ourselves up with song and dance. One is a celebration
of mastery of the body; the other, mastery of the spirit and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Chodesh Tov
& Gut Chodesh</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-33466513882434528642024-02-01T10:52:00.003-05:002024-02-01T10:52:48.594-05:00Parshas Yisro 5784 <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Yisro <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">23 Shevat 5784/ February 2, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Adar I </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">STEP UP<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There aren’t many people who are able to impact and influence masses of
Jews throughout the world. Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l, the late Lakewood
Mashgiach, was one such rare individual. Aside from being a scholar of note, he
was an eloquent and inspiring orator with an English accent to boost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During his youth Rav Matisyahu learned in the Gateshead yeshiva where he
gained mastery of Shas. His proficiency was evident from his shmuessen and
speeches, in which he would quote extensively from Chazal, midrashim and
mussar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Many of those who knew him during his formative years thought Rav
Matisyahu was destined to become a great rosh yeshivah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the late 1960s however, Rav Matisyahu was appointed assistant
mashgiach and then mashgiach of Gateshead Yeshivah. After holding the position
for almost 3 decades, Rav Matisyahu and his family moved to Lakewood, NJ where
he assumed the daunting role of mashgiach of Beis Medrash Govoha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Originally, Rav Matisyahu was very hesitant to accept the position of
mashgiach. During his early years, he periodically traveled to the Steipler
Gaon to ask if he could leave his leadership role and return to full-time
learning in kollel. The Steipler advised him to retain the position. Rav
Matisyahu once quipped, "All of my success in life has been a result of
doing things I did not necessarily want to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, was a lawyer for nine years after his
marriage. One November afternoon as he was preparing to leave the office his
old friend, Rabbi Aryeh Rottman, appeared. Rabbi Rottman had been the Rav of a
small shul in Miami Beach but was preparing to leave. Rabbi Rottman told Rabbi
Wein that he had been sent by their rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Kreisworth, to tell
Rabbi Wein to seek the position. Rabbi Wein’s initial response was incredulous
at best. But Rabbi Rottman was persistent and wouldn’t leave until Rabbi Wein
agreed to at least apply for the position. The rest is history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabbi Wein was and is a very influential personality in the Torah world.
He has taught and inspired tens of thousands as a Rabbi, Rosh Yeshiva, lecturer
and author. Yet, in Rabbi Wein’s words, “My wife married a lawyer. I was never
going to go into rabbanus. Never say never; you don’t know what’s going to
happen, and you never know where the truth really lies until it hits you in the
face.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">While I was visiting Eretz Yisroel last week, a friend suggested that I
attend a funeral for an IDF soldier on Har Herzl. Unfortunately, there was
bound to be at least one such funeral, and attending would help me connect with
the harsh and painful reality of the war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During my week in Eretz Yisroel, Rivka Baruch, a lone female soldier from
Holland passed away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rivka had immigrated to Israel from Holland, and had enlisted, and served
in the IDF as an officer. When the war broke out, Rivka was abroad, but she
immediately returned to enlist in the reserves. A few weeks ago she contracted
a fatal infection and her family came to Israel to be with her during her
hospitalization until her tragic passing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My son Shalom and I attended her funeral on Har Herzl. Messages had been
sent that day asking people to attend the funeral because she was a lone
soldier. Amazingly, hundreds of people came to the funeral.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the funeral, her bereaved father, Robert, recounted the message Rivka
had shared a few years earlier at her Bas Mitzvah. She had quoted the pasuk
from the haftorah of Parshas Yisro in which the Navi Yeshaya relates, “Then I
heard the voice of Hashem ask, ‘Whom can I send and who will go on our behalf<i>?
Va’omar hinini shlacheni </i>- I answered, “I am ready; send me!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As Robert said the words “<i>hinini shlacheni</i>” his voice broke. He
shared that his daughter had always lived with that sense of mission, to act on
behalf of her people. It wasn’t easy to become a lone soldier in the IDF from
the Netherlands, but with incredible resolve she forged ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As he described each of his daughter’s accomplishments during her short
life, Robert continually repeated the words of the prophet, “<i>hinini
shlacheni</i> - I am ready; send me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I will never hear those words the same way again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The words of the Navi are to be our mantra as well. Throughout our lives
we encounter situations that require ‘someone’ to step up. It is as if Hashem
is asking us, “Whom can I send and who will go on our behalf?” Those tasks and
roles may very well not be what we originally planned. Heaven looks for those
who<i> </i>are up for the task and declare<i>, “hinini shlacheni </i>-
I am ready; send me!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The greatest event in the history of the world was Kabbolas HaTorah. The
Jewish people uninhibitedly accepted the entirety of the Torah with absolute
adherence to G-d’s will. Complete acceptance of G-d’s will includes accepting
the path and role He has destined for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Life doesn’t always follow our carefully crafted plans. Great people are
able to adapt and recalculate. At the end of the day, or more accurately, at
the end of our lives, what counts is how much we accomplished with the cards we
were dealt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Va’omer hinini shlacheni </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">- I answered, “I am ready; send me!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-66949569092000430022024-01-27T21:44:00.004-05:002024-01-27T21:44:49.725-05:00Parshas Beshalach 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach/Shabbos Shirah <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">16 Shevat 5784/ January 26, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">BEYOND HOME</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I just returned from a wonderful week in Eretz Yisroel. The
main purpose of my trip was to visit our two children who are learning there
this year.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">However, due to the war and that fact that it is
a time of significant challenge and difficulty for Klal Yisroel, I wanted to
contribute in whatever small way I could.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Based on the suggestion of friends, I joined a bunch of
WhatsApp chats. One is dedicated to posting opportunities in fields and on
various kibbutzim to pick fruits or help with basic farming. With so many
soldiers at war, there is a need for volunteers to help maintain livelihoods
and the Israeli economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There is another WhatsApp group for making sandwiches or
meals for soldiers, tying tzitzis for soldiers, delivering food, etc. Another group
posts opportunities to help families that have been relocated to hotels in
Yerushalayim because their communities are too close to the war front. There
are posts for babysitters to help overwhelmed mothers and setting up activities
for the children. They also post sad information about funerals and Shiva
visits for soldiers killed at war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Every morning and throughout the day my phone would buzz
nonstop with holy Jews on these groups looking to contribute in any way they
could.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">I rhetorically asked a few people if in Ukraine
there are similar WhatsApp groups set up for people eagerly looking for
opportunities to help fellow Ukrainians suffering from the effects of war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What a people we are!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Description automatically generated" height="190" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="253" /><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One
of the things I personally did was to join a day trip close to the southern
Gaza border, arranged by a wonderful volunteer named Yossi Hoffman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On the day of the trip, our bus left
Yerushalayim and made its first stop outside Kibbutz Takuma, where the vehicles
burned on October 7th have been moved to. It’s a frightening and horrendous
site. Tens of burned-out skeletons of cars and vans are piled up in a mass
junkyard.</span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" alt="A house with a broken roof
Description automatically generated" height="168" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" width="224" /><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">From
there we continued to the site of the Nova music festival, one of the main
targets of the October 7th massacre. There are rows of pictures of and messages
to the victims and hostages. It is absolutely heartbreaking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our next stop was at Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the hardest hit
areas. The Kibbutz is located along the Gaza border. On October 7th, the
terrorists entered the Kibbutz before 7 am and went from house to house
unimpeded until the army finally arrived at 1:30 pm. Aside for six, every house
on the Kibbutz was destroyed or sustained terrible damage. A third of the
population of the Kibbutz was murdered or taken hostage. Even now, over three
months later, the smell of incineration hovers above the Kibbutz. In between
the burned-out homes, beautiful fruit trees grow as birds chirp peacefully
above. It is the cruel contrast of life.</span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" alt="A group of men standing in front of a tent
Description automatically generated" height="224" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="298" /><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We
were led through the Kibbutz by a resident of the Kibbutz who lived through the
horrors of that day. He recounted what happened to each home, relating the name
of the family and what happened to every member of the family. This included
the home of Kfir Bibas, the cute redhead who recently “celebrated” his first
birthday in Hamas captivity. While walking through the Kibbutz we heard
powerful explosions nearby in Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our final stop was the main objective of our trip, a barbecue
for over 200 IDF reserve soldiers on the Magen army base. Everyone who attended
the trip paid 400 Shekel to cover the cost of the barbecue. The total cost of
the barbecue exceeded 35,000 Shekel. All the extra food was delivered across
the border into Gaza later that night. After we ate, there was also a DJ and
spirited dancing with the soldiers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I had the opportunity to speak to a few of the soldiers,
including the Rabbi on the base.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-no-proof: yes;"> It was a very enriching and enlightening experience. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I should add, that two of the soldiers from that base were of
the 21 soldiers tragically killed this week in Gaza. The battalion is entering
Gaza for 12 days at the end of the month.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It was a very special and moving day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I asked Yossi Hoffman why he invests so much time and effort
to arrange these trips when he doesn’t make a penny from it. He replied that as
a volunteer for Zaka he witnessed terribly traumatic things on and since
October 7th. He feels an overwhelming need to continually contribute to Klal
Yisroel to maintain his own sanity and this is part of how he does so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yossi also delivers food packages for 4500 soldiers every
Shabbos, with most of the food being delivered into Gaza. Each package contains
food for two Shabbos meals and costs $36 each. That means Yossi must raise
$162,000 EVERY WEEK to maintain his incredible chesed campaign to help our
soldiers and enhance their Shabbos while stationed in a most miserable place.
Since the beginning of the war, he has raised over $1 million.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">During the first plague in Mitzrayim - blood, the Torah
relates that Pharaoh turned towards his home and didn’t hearken to the message
of the plague. Commentaries explain that Pharaoh had his servants purchase more
than adequate amounts of water for the palace. Despite the fact that his
country was suffering miserably, he was able to go back into the palace and
hardly feel the effects of the plague.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Hamas and our enemies are worthy students of Pharaoh, lacking
care or concern even for their own people. What matters most is their evil
agenda.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Contrast Pharoah with Moshe who grew up in the
palace in the lap of luxury. Yet he left the comforts of the palace to seek out
the pain of his brethren and to help them in any way he could.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Moshe, our greatest leader, taught by example the way of the
Jewish people. When others are in pain, we don’t close our doors and slink back
into the comforts of our own homes. We worry for each other and concern
ourselves with the collective pain of our people. This is especially true as
the world hypocritically demonstrates indifference to our suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As the signs and messages on the busses say throughout Eretz
Yisroel, </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;">ביחד ננצח</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>
- Together we will be victorious.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> The
following video is about the two soldiers who were killed this week (please
note that the background music has Kol Isha):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIdWclIVVs"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIdWclIVVs</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As the battalion prepares to enter Gaza, the Rabbi of the battalion
who I met sent me the following information for those who wish to donate to
their security:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The campaign for fundraising for the
Meler Battalion has launched! Together we will reach the goal to equip all our
soldiers with protective equipment:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://youtu.be/EaAOLVFfA4U?si=aR6aiYs0k2CRzYyu" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://youtu.be/EaAOLVFfA4U?si=aR6aiYs0k2CRzYyu</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">For donations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/donation-targets/116238" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/donation-targets/116238</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> The following video explains more about the
incredible Shabbos package given to the soldiers each week:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fPIhvjJ22JJf_10LvI6xZNxzhLcrAvNl/view?usp=drivesdk"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fPIhvjJ22JJf_10LvI6xZNxzhLcrAvNl/view?usp=drivesdk</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The following is the link for
Yossi’s ongoing campaign to bring meals for the IDF for Shabbos:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://secure.cardknox.com/ozerdalim" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://secure.cardknox.com/ozerdalim</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In addition, I can give Yossi’s WhatsApp number to anyone who would
like to contact him directly for more information. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20749%20-%20Beshalach%20-%20My%20experience%20in%20EY.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">
Please note that I am happy to directly share the links or further discuss
these important causes with anyone who would like. Please email me at: </span><a href="mailto:Stamtorah@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Stamtorah@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-37445827702013732024-01-17T14:08:00.002-05:002024-01-17T14:08:06.715-05:00Parshas Bo 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">9 Shevat 5784/ January 19, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">COME AND LISTEN</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
been said that the only one who hears both sides of an argument is the next
door neighbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
I was a social work student at Fordham University, I mostly kept my opinions to
myself. More than one professor wrote on one of my papers that they wanted to
hear my voice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Part
of the reason they were curious to hear my take was that I was the only
Orthodox Jew in many of my classes. I didn’t feel I had much to gain by arguing
with the extreme liberal views of my professors and colleagues. But I also
noticed that the quieter I was the more people around me wanted to hear what I
had to say. I’ve often thought that if I had spoken up and debated with them,
within a short amount of time, they wouldn’t want to hear my opinion anymore.
As President Lincoln quipped, “<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak
and remove all doubt”. </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">One of the most
important components of maintaining good relationships is the ability to listen
well. For most of us that is particularly challenging. Even when we remain
quiet while listening to someone else, we are often mentally formulating a
response. The result is that we aren’t truly present and tuned in to what the
other person is saying. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our son Dovid shared the
following beautiful thought at our Shabbos table this week:</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">At the beginning of
parshas Va’era when Hashem informed Moshe of the imminent redemption from
Egypt, He stated, “And I have also heard the cries of the B’nei Yisroel”
(Shemos 3:9). Why does Hashem say that He <i>also</i> heard the cries of B’nei
Yisroel? Who else besides Hashem had heard their cries?</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The Chasam Sofer
explains that Hashem was saying that He had seen how the tortured Jewish slaves
heard and cared for each other’s pain. Therefore, because they empathized and
cared for each other, He would do the same. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">At the beginning of
parshas Yisro, when the Torah relates about Yisro’s journey to join Klal
Yisroel, it begins, “And Yisro heard.” The commentators note that Yisro didn’t
hear anything different than everyone else. But Yisro heard and hearkened to
the message, while everyone else heard and then went on with their daily
routine. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Whenever the Gemara
wants to prove a point, it introduces it by saying, “<i>ta shema</i> – come and
listen.” There is great wisdom in that terminology. So often when we argue with
someone, we are so entrenched in our opinion that we don’t really hear what he
is saying. The first step is to enter the other person’s thought process and
actively listen to understand what he is saying. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">One of the things that
frustrates me to no end is when I am saying a story or joke, and someone calls
out the punch line. For some reason, when we know something we are being told,
we feel the need to stop the person so we don’t have to hear it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The Orchos Tzaddikim (<i>Sha’ar
Hashesikah</i>) writes: “If someone tells you something that you already know,
be quiet until he finishes, for he may tell you something that you have never
heard before. He also derives enjoyment from telling you something, and even if
you know he will not tell you anything new, be quiet until he finishes.” </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I often tell my students
that if they want to work on their middos, when someone begins telling them a
d’var Torah, story, joke, or piece of news that they already know, they should
pretend like they never heard it before. They should listen attentively and
smile, nod or laugh afterwards as if they just heard something fascinating for
the first time. It may sound like a simple thing to do. But the reality is that
most people – including this author – have a very hard time doing it. People
enjoy sharing novel ideas with others. Why can’t we give them satisfaction even
if we already know it? </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Rabbi Daniel Kalish is
the beloved menahel of the Waterbury Mesivta. He relates that in his early
years as an educator whenever a student who was down or upset approached him,
he felt it was his duty to cheer the student up. He would tell the student a joke,
story or something light to distract him from his grief. With time, however, he
realized that doing so denied his student what he truly wanted and needed in
the moment. His job as a rebbe was to enter his student’s world to understand
and subsequently empathize with his student. That is far more time-consuming
and challenging and requires greater emotional investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Most people are too busy
to listen, and even if they do listen, they don’t really hear. Being able to
listen and hear requires understanding, caring and patience. Greater even than
the song of silence, is listening and hearing someone else’s song. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-36520943688343248612024-01-11T09:18:00.005-05:002024-01-11T09:18:21.487-05:00Parshas Vaeira 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaera <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2 Shevat 5784/ January 12, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">UNABASHEDLY<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Recently, I attended a Sheva Berachos at which the mother of the Kallah
spoke. She expressed her tremendous feelings of gratitude to her family and
friends and extolled the virtues of her daughter the Kallah and new son-in-law.
Then, before concluding she noted that during the weeks before the wedding it
had felt strange to be so focused on her simcha when there was and is so much
ongoing heartbreak and anguish in Klal Yisroel. As she said that she choked up.
Then she looked down and said, “I’m sorry” and began to cry. After a moment,
through tears she continued by noting the pain of hostages, broken and
displaced families, and wounded soldiers. She apologized for her tears twice
more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I found it intriguing that she apologized for her tears three times. In
fact, it’s not uncommon to hear someone apologize for being overtaken by
emotion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Our society views demonstrating emotion, and particularly tears, as
weakness. People like to present themselves as being strong, confident, and
like they have everything in life together. Crying is a profoundly vulnerable
and intimate expression of one’s inner self. It’s an admission that things are
not perfect, and one doesn’t feel completely in control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Women cry out of a feeling of guilt that they overburdened another with
their emotions. They apologize for causing an emotional imposition on the other
person. The feeling is that dealing with real emotions and feelings of
loneliness and pain are too intrusive and overburdening to push onto another.
Most people would rather just use counterfeit intimacy, perpetuated by a quick
emoji showing care, albeit from a distance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Men cry out of a feeling of shame that they appeared weak and unmanly by
allowing themselves to appear vulnerable. The message absorbed from early on is
that men don’t show emotions. They have to be tough and deal with everything
“like a man”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Although in our world crying is viewed as showing weakness, the Torah has
the opposite perspective. We are encouraged to feel the pain of others and to
empathize to the extent that we are able. Shedding a tear for the pain of
another is virtuous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Ponovezher Rav once entered the home of the Chofetz Chaim and became
alarmed when he heard piercing cries. The Chofetz Chaim’s wife reassured the
Ponovezher Rav that it was nothing out of the ordinary. A woman had been there
a few minutes earlier and had shared with the Chofetz Chaim painful details
about her life. After she left the Chofetz Chaim was davening and crying for
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The beauty of this story isn’t just about the incredible empathy and care
that the Chofetz Chaim felt for a Jew he hardly knew. It’s also that we share
the story as a value to aspire for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the beginning of Parashas Shemos, the Torah describes the development
of Moshe Rabbeinu into the future leader. Moshe left the comforts of the palace
to seek the welfare of his people. When he saw the bitter servitude they were
subjected to, he was crestfallen. The Medrash (Shemos 1:27) writes: “Moshe
would see their burdens and would cry and say, “Woe is me on account of you! If
only I could die for your sake”.” Part of the development of our greatest
leader was that he cried for his brethren.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We could fill volumes of stories of Jews who cried for each other, and
thereby offered a modicum of comfort. If nothing else, those suffering didn’t
feel alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the Sheva Berachos I attended, the Kallah’s mother’s message was the
most memorable and meaningful part of the Sheva Berachos for me. It was genuine
and heartfelt, and it was inspiring how deeply she connected to the pain of Am
Yisroel. It was apparent that many others in the room were likewise moved by
her words. Her apology was not only unnecessary, but it was also out of place.
At most, she could have said “excuse me” for taking a moment to compose
herself. But to remind us of the need to feel each other’s pain, especially
that of Am Yisroel, an apology is never in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I can only say I’m sorry
that anyone would feel the need to apologize for demonstrating empathy with
tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-74300293244921979912024-01-04T12:43:00.004-05:002024-01-04T12:43:56.360-05:00Parshas Shemos 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos – Mevorchim Chodesh
Shevat<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">24 Teves 5784/ January 5, 2024</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">TIME AND PLACE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On a Shabbos morning in 1990, I was walking to shul with my father and a
neighbor. My father and my neighbor were discussing how comprehensive the newly
published Artscroll Mishnayos were. At that time, Artscroll had published quite
a few volumes of Mishnayos but they still had ways to go before finishing all
of it. What they had already published was well received. My father commented
to our neighbor that he had read that Artscroll was working on a Gemara that
due to be published in the coming months. The neighbor was incredulous that
Artscroll would publish the translation of an entire masechta of Gemara with
insights and footnotes. But a few months later, Artscroll indeed released its
first masechta, Makkos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Until then, the only available English translation of the Gemara was the
Soncino Talmud. Those gemaras were published by Rabbi Yechezkel Epstein, a
talmid chochom of note who had learned in the yeshiva of the Chasam Sofer and
was reputed to know all of Shas by heart. The Soncino project of translating
the entire Talmud began in 1936 and was completed in 1948.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The challenge of using the Soncino Gemara is that the translation was in
the King’s English, and not the more familiar American vernacular. In addition,
although the Soncino Talmud has footnotes, they are concise and without much
elaboration. Unlike the Artscroll Gemara which spoon-feeds the Gemara to the
reader, the Soncino Gemara simply gives the reader a head start with some
background knowledge. But the reader still needs to invest effort to fully
comprehend the text.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One of my rebbeim in yeshiva was very witty and innovative. As a major
test on a few dafim (pages) of Gemara, he gave us a list of 20 footnotes copied
from the Soncino Gemara. Our task was to figure out what daf Gemara the quote
was from. One really had to know the Gemara well to figure out where a Soncino
footnote would have been said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the pre-Artscroll world, the only other option to decipher ancient
Talmudic Aramaic aside from Soncino, was the Jastrow dictionary. Although the
author, Marcus Jastrow, was a great scholar, he had a tarnished reputation.
Yeshiva students would therefore often keep their Jastrow dictionaries hidden
under the table. That was no small feat considering that it was a small but
thick volume. In addition, when using the Jastrow Dictionary one had to search
one word at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Since they have completed their monumental 73-volume project, Artscroll
has literally created a Torah revolution particularly by making Gemara
accessible to the masses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the yeshiva world however, the Artscroll Gemara is viewed differently.
Rebbeim engrain in their students that using an Artscroll to learn Gemara
hampers their ability to learn how to learn properly. During one’s formative
years when he has time and guidance of rebbeim for in depth study, he has the
opportunity to learn how to decipher and plumb the depths of Gemara. Doing so
is tedious and difficult but is the only true road to becoming a talmid
chochom. A student who chooses the easy and quick route of perusing through the
Gemara with an Artscroll, is cheating himself. He may be able to ace a Gemara test,
but he likely will not be able to develop into the scholar he has potential to
become.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s a valid and important point, and I have conveyed that message to my
students as well. However, at times I hear yeshiva students speak disparagingly
about Artscroll generally. It’s as if anything published by Artscroll is to be
treated like an allergen. The fact that it is less than ideal for the yeshiva
student to use an Artscroll Gemara during his yeshiva years does not diminish
the value of what Artscroll has accomplished. The letters of approbation from
many great Torah leaders in the front of every Artscroll Gemara attests to how
valuable Artscroll’s contribution has been and is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A yeshiva student once told me he wouldn’t use an Artscroll Siddur
because his rebbe told his class that they shouldn’t use Artscroll. I explained
to him that he seemed to misunderstand his Rebbe’s point. I don’t know anyone
who would argue that using a Siddur with translation and comments isn’t a great
way to enhance one’s tefillos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This is an important idea because it goes far beyond a Yeshiva student’s
attitude towards Artscroll. In general, people often have a hard time parsing
ideas and seeing the full picture. We like it when things are black and white
and don’t deal well with blurred lines. But life isn’t so clear cut. There are
always nuances and factors that need to be taken into account.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Life often needs elucidation and annotation, kinda like what Artscroll did
for the Gemara. Maybe Artscroll should publish a book about who should use
their Gemaras and who shouldn’t and when. The only problem is that those who
could benefit from the book may not want to read it if it is published by
Artscroll.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-65608017313751620772023-12-29T10:22:00.004-05:002023-12-29T10:22:58.687-05:00Parshas Vayechi 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayechi – Shabbos Chazak!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">17 Teves 5784/ December 29, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<h1 align="center" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">KEEPING WARM<o:p></o:p></span></u></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Winter means different things to different people. For those living
further south, it’s time to enjoy the sun without it being too hot. But for the
majority of us living further north, winter weather ranges from cold to
freezing with unpredictable snow and ice storms. Around here you can’t be
outside too long without a coat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Years ago, I had a neighbor who had predictable lines. Whenever someone
said he was getting his coat because it’s cold outside, this neighbor would
quip, “and if you get your coat, it’ll become warm outside?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The truth is that unless it has a built-in heating device, a coat cannot
make a person warm. The body is constantly emitting heat. When exposed to cold,
much of that heat is lost. A coat preserves our natural body heat, much the
same way that closing doors and windows preserves heat in a house. A coat
can <i>keep</i> a person warm, but the source of the warmth must come
from the person himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Our incredible Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs invest tremendous thought and
effort to create guidelines vis-à-vis technology use by their students. The
same is true about their respective dress codes. In Bais Yaakovs tzenius
guidelines are defined as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The rules about technology and modesty are analogous to a coat that keeps
a person warm. Even if a person walks out of a building hot and sweaty, during
a cold winter day, without proper attire, he will soon be consumed by the cold.
In a similar vein, no matter how much a student has grown in his/her learning
and how well he/she is performing, external pressures and influences can
quickly compromise that growth leaving the student exposed to negative
influences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">However, at the same time, it’s important to remember that those
guidelines do not create the warmth. They are there to preserve the inherent
warmth that’s already there. That is no small feat, and it is quite important.
But the inner fire must first be ignited so that it can radiate inner warmth
that then needs to be preserved. That inner fire is created through
feeling <i>worthy</i> of connection with Hashem and actually
connecting with Hashem (those are two different, vital qualifications). We
connect to Hashem through fulfilling His will, by engaging in Torah, Tefillah,
mitzvos, and all forms of avodas Hashem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Parshas Tetzaveh contains the instructions for how the special vestments
of the Kohanim and the Kohain Gadol were to be made. During the week when
Tetzaveh is read, many Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva speak about the Torah
outlook on clothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Interestingly, the parsha begins with what seems to be a complete
non-sequitur - the procedure for how the Kohain lit the Menorah each day in the
Mishkan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Perhaps it is a reminder that as important as the vestments of the Kohain
Gadol were, the initial step was to light the fire. The candles of the Menorah
symbolize the wisdom of Torah practically. Flames also symbolize our soul
within.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The vestments of the Kohanim gave pride and honor to those worthy of
performing the Divine Service. But the ultimate honor is to recognize that our
souls comprise the flames of Hashem’s menorah, as it were.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The most important task of every parent and educator is to light the
inner fire of our children (and ourselves). Without that, all other efforts are
somewhat futile. Once the fire is lit there is an additional, vital need to
preserve that flame and ensure that it isn’t dampened or extinguished by
external factors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is important to realize that when the inner fire is lacking, the
protective measures can feel overbearing. Sometimes when a young man or woman
doesn’t feel connected or worthy of connection, he/she can become resentful for
being denied ulterior avenues of connection. In such situations it’s important
to remember that we have to find the way to flame the inner spark so that
he/she will recognize the need and value to insulate and protect their own
beautiful and unique inner fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The coat can keep us warm, only if we provide the body heat for it to
preserve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-29670713170257951602023-12-21T14:06:00.004-05:002023-12-21T14:06:49.575-05:00Parshas Vayigash 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayigash – Asarah b’Teves<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">10 Teves 5784/ December 22, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LIFE’S CLIFFHANGERS</span></u><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One of the great techniques of drama is to use a cliffhanger. When the
power of suspense is harnessed, it ensures that the reader/viewer will stay
tuned to find out what happens next. All good serials - books, magazines or
shows use a cliffhanger to ensure interest in the next segment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">While the holy Torah is not a history book, it does relate stories. Those
stories are meant to guide us and teach us about contemporary living.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There is no greater cliffhanger in the Torah than between the parshios of
Miketz and Vayigash. At the end of Parshas Miketz, the chalice of the Egyptian
vizier has been found in Binyamin’s sack. The vizier tells the brothers that
they are all free to go, save for the culprit himself. And then?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We wait a week before we read about the dramatic crescendo of the story
wherein Yehuda poignantly addresses the vizier, before Yosef reveals his true
identity to his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Every year when the ba’al korei completes Parshas Miketz by reading the
words Yosef says to the brothers, “And you, go up in peace to your father,” I
feel like an elementary school child who begs his teacher not to stop reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The parshios that detail the saga and journeys of Yosef, provide us with
incredible lessons of faith, resilience, reconciliation and patience. We want
life to be clear and easy but, more often than not, it’s anything but that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the words of my rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, “Life is like a piece of
chewing gum. There’s a little bit of flavor but most of the time it’s just
chew, chew, chew.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s surely not by chance that Parshas Miketz concludes at such a
dramatic moment. Much of life is spent in cliffhanger moments: A young man or
woman waiting for his/her shidduch, one who is ill and hoping to regain his
health, a person looking for a job or waiting for his big break to become
successful, a young couple hoping and waiting to have a child, parents
struggling with the chinuch of their children, spouses and children who live in
broken homes, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At present, the entire Jewish people are collectively in a cliffhanger
state. While we mourn the past and current losses, we are also anxious and
unsure about the future. Thousands of families are displaced, living for months
in hotels far from their homes. Families and friends of soldiers and captives
live in a state of constant anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At times the tension can feel unbearable. Being able to plunge ahead is a
mark of true greatness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part of the challenge is that such greatness is not recognized by others.
Others don’t see it but for those whose lives are at a cliffhanger juncture it
can be heroic for them just to get through their day. That’s why it is vital
that those in such situations recognize how valuable their own efforts are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the Torah, from when
they arrive in Egypt to procure food, Yosef’s brothers lives are like a
cliffhanger. They do not understand what is happening to them and do not know
how things will proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yosef is given the title of <i>hatzaddik</i>, because he maintained his
integrity despite all the travails he endured. If there was ever someone living
a ‘cliffhanger life’, it was Yosef.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The test of greatness is how one handles such moments, even more than how
he conducts himself when life is smooth sailing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Easy &
Meaningful Fast</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-56440959900799366402023-12-14T22:09:00.004-05:002023-12-14T22:09:54.632-05:00Parshas Mikeitz 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Miketz – Zos Chanukah<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3 Teves 5784/ December 15, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">MISSION FOR LIFE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On Thursday mornings I have a weekly
phone conversation with our older son Shalom, who is learning in Eretz Yisroel.
Often our conversation centers on the parsha. Recently he asked me why the
Matriarchs named their children after their own experiences? “<i>She called him
Reuven because Hashem saw my pain.” “She called him Shimon because Hashem heard
that I was hated…” “She said this time my husband will accompany me because I
gave birth to three sons. Therefore, she called him Levi” “This time I thank
Hashem. Therefore, she called him Yehuda…” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Does it make sense that for their
entire lives the tribes bore a name based on how their mother felt when they
were born?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It was an intriguing question that I
had never thought about. (There are many things like that, particularly in the
stories in Tanach. We learn the stories when we are young and therefore often
take the details for granted.) I told Shalom I wanted to think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The following week I came across the
Medrash that states that when Shimon and Levi went to rescue their sister Dinah
from Shechem, Dinah refused to leave until Shimon promised to marry her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">From when she was abducted by Shechem,
Dinah had been objectified and she was afraid to leave after all that happened
to her. By promising to marry her, Shimon demonstrated that he did not see her
as debased. He recognized her shame and restored her dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After seeing that Medrash, it struck
me that when Leah named him Shimon it wasn’t merely because she felt Hashem had
heard her own prayers at the time of his birth. Rather, because Leah felt so
uplifted and encouraged when Hashem heard her cries, she wanted her child to
live his life as one who hears the pain of others. She wanted her child to
ensure that others would benefit from being heard, as she did. In other words,
she didn’t name him Shimon simply to remember what occurred to her. His name
was to become his mission for life - he was to be a listener who heard the pain
of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That same idea can be applied to all
the Shevatim. Leah named her oldest son Reuven, not only because Hashem saw her
pain but so that he should live his whole life with a mission to recognize the
pain of others and be sensitive to it. It was Reuven who stood up (albeit
inappropriately) for the honor of his mother and moved Yaakov’s bed into her
tent, and it was Reuven who saved Yosef when the brothers wanted to kill him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Leah named her third son Levi because
being her third son, Yaakov would need to accompany her and help her more. The
mission of Shevet Levi are to be those who accompany Klal Yisroel as their
spiritual guides and represent the nation in performing the Avodah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yehuda was named as an expression of
Leah’s gratitude. Monarchy can only be granted to one who can admit to his own
mishaps and has sufficient humility that allows him to be grateful to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yissochor was named because Leah felt
Hashem granted her reward for her efforts. Yissochor would live his life
earning reward for engaging in Torah study.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Zevulon was named because Leah felt
Yaakov would now make his main lodging with her since she bore six sons for
him. Zevulon provided homes for Yissochor so that Yissochor could learn Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The same can be applied to all the
sons of Yaakov. It will also explain the names of Perez and Zorach, the later
sons of Yehuda, and Menashe and Ephraim, the sons of Yosef.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When Rochel finally merited the birth
of a son, she called him Yosef because Hashem has gathered her disgrace. Rashi
explains that she would no longer be shamed for being barren. In addition, from
then on when there would be a misdeed in the home, they would attribute it to
the infant Yosef, and not to Rochel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yosef lived his life always assuaging
the guilt of others. Even after the brothers had treated him so harshly and
caused him so much pain, years later Yosef repeatedly comforted them and
reassured them that he bore no ill feelings. He was always “gathering the guilt
of others.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The pasuk states that she also named
him Yosef as a prayer that Hashem add another son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yosef also lived his life seeking to
add to the welfare of others and increase the betterment of their lives. He was
always focused on others and that is what made him worthy of leadership. He was
trustworthy in the home of Potiphar, he concerned himself with the anguished
appearance of his fellow prisoners - the chief butler and baker, and he offered
unsolicited advice to Pharaoh about how to preserve his economy in the face of
the impending famine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Each day of Chanukah we state in
Hallel, “<i>Yosef Hashem</i> - may Hashem add upon you and upon your
children. Blessed are you to Hashem, Maker of heaven and earth.” We pray that
Hashem adds blessings to us, as Yosef did for others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On Chanukah we follow the practice of
being <i>mosef v’holech </i>- adding one candle each night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As we read the parshios that contain
the saga of Yosef we remind ourselves that like Yosef, our task too is to
always add blessing to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We read the parshios of the story of
Yosef on Chanukah and seek to follow his example.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In addition, we seek to live up to the
names/mandates/missions of all the tribes as well. We seek to see and hear the
pain of others. We try to be there for others spiritually and physically. We
seek to admit to our failures and to be grateful to others and to Hashem, to
name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are called b’nei Yisroel. Yisroel
refers to Yaakov’s relentless struggle to overcome his challenges. Our
greatness lies in our ability to never give up and always maintain our struggle
for greatness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are also called Jews, Judahs,
leaders of the world. Like Yehuda we are worthy of leadership because we are
willing to accept responsibility, despite the high cost of doing so, and we are
always expressing our gratitude and unwavering allegiance to Hashem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">May we always live up to the example
of our lofty ancestors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Chanukah
Sameiach & Freilichen & Lichtig Chanukah </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-10212819010999626732023-12-07T11:36:00.003-05:002023-12-07T11:36:22.439-05:00Parshas Vayeishev, Shabbos Chanukah, Shabbos Mevorchim 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vay</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">eshev</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">25 Kislev 5784/ December 8, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Teves</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">BE AND FEEL <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A former colleague who is a wonderful educator would address his students
each day before the students began afternoon classes. For a while he would end
each day’s announcements by bidding the students that they “be <i>matzliach</i>
(successful) and make us proud”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One day he announced to the students that upon further reflection he
decided to reword his daily signature closing. He explained that he felt it was
not correct to bless the students that they make <i>us</i> proud, for that should
not be a student’s true objective. A student’s goal in school is to do the best
he can and develop his skills and actualize his potential. True <i>hatzlocho</i>
isn’t based on the standards or expectations of others, but upon being true to oneself.
Although we likely would have tremendous nachas from their accomplishments that
should never be their primary motivation. The goal was for them to be <i>matzliach</i>
in their own way. From that point on he would simply wish the students that
they “be <i>matzliach</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I suggested to my colleague that the new closing was somewhat lacking as
well. There are many students, and adults, who are <i>matzliach</i> yet do not
recognize it. Despite the fact that everyone around them feels that they are
performing well, they feel deflated and discouraged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The flip side is equally a problem. There are those who do not recognize
that they are not performing at their optimal level but feel they are doing
perfectly fine. Such students cheat themselves out of far greater
accomplishment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Therefore, I suggested, the blessing be reworded that “you should be <i>matzliach</i>
and you should feel <i>matzliach</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This is especially true regarding Avodas Hashem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Recently, while reciting Tehillim in Yeshiva after davening, I noticed
one of my students heading for the door. Later in the day, I asked that student
if he heard what recently happened in Gaza. I told him that an Israeli soldier in
combat was running towards an enemy position without any ammunition. When a
fellow soldier asked him where his gun was, he waved him off and said that his
few bullets weren’t going to make much of a difference anyway. The other
soldier screamed at him that he better get his gun quickly if he valued his
life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The student looked at me quizzically. Why was I telling him such an
outlandish tale? I admitted to him that the story hadn’t happened in Gaza. But
in a sense, it happened that morning after shachris. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If I had chastised him for being callous toward the situation in Eretz
Yisroel, it would have been a harsh and false indictment. More accurately he has
the same misperception many of us have. We often don’t realize or believe in
the poignancy of our own prayers. If we realized that our tefillos and the merit
of our Torah learning and chessed truly protects our soldiers and makes a
difference in the ongoing outcome of the war, we would perform them with
greater concentration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yerushalmi (Chagigah 2:2) relates that the Greeks forced every Jew to write
on the horns of their oxen, “I have no portion in the G-d of Israel.” The Greeks
denied the idea that there is holiness and that a person can spread holiness.
That concept impinged on their epicurean philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The victory of Chanukah celebrates not only the eternity of Torah but
also our personal connection with the G-d of Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As a rebbe and as a therapist, I can attest that there are many students
in our Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs who excel in their learning and are viewed as
stellar students. Yet in their hearts they feel like failures, bitterly and
utterly disappointed with themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s not enough to be successful, one must recognize and feel successful
as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Nachman of Breslev (and others) note that when we light Chanukah
candles and for the first half hour afterwards, our homes are elevated and attain
the kedusha of the Beis Hamikdash and we have the kedusha of the Kohain Gadol. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is not just on Chanukah when we light the Menorah that our Avodas
Hashem is precious. That is how we must view ourselves constantly. We should
not serve Hashem primarily out of feelings of guilt and inadequacy. True Avodas
Hashem is performed with simcha in knowing our value and how precious our
tefillah, Torah and avodah is to Hashem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Freilichen
& Lichtig Chanukah,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-66325759668425605662023-11-30T09:32:00.006-05:002023-11-30T09:32:39.915-05:00Parshas Vayishlach 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayishlach <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">18 Kislev 5784/ December 1, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">CONCEALED LIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Not far from our home in Monsey/Spring Valley is the Jewish cemetery
where many great tzaddikim are buried. There is an enclosed area, where, most
notably, is the kever of the Ribnitzer Rebbe. In the vicinity are the kevarim
of the previous two Skulener Rebbes and the late Viznitzer Rebbe. There is
another section of the cemetery outside the wall where Rav Mordechai Schwab,
the tzaddik of Monsey, is buried. There are many other great people buried
throughout both sections of the cemetery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On one occasion, I
was davening at the kever of Rav Schwab, when I noticed some people davening at
a kever nearby. The cemetery was virtually empty, and it didn’t seem like the
other people had come together. Ever curious, I asked one of the people leaving
if it was the yahrtzeit of a tzaddik I was unfamiliar with. He explained that
he had come to daven at the kever of Rav Moshe New Yorker. When I asked him who
Rav Moshe was, the man shrugged and said he had no idea, except that he knew
that great things have occurred for people who davened there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I was intrigued that I had never heard of Rav Moshe New Yorker. When I
walked over to his kever it was abundantly clear that many people frequented
it. There were many rocks piled atop the matzeivah, and numerous kvitlach
spread across it. There was also a place to light candles. The glowing epitaph
showed that he was a holy man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I wanted to know more about the mysterious tzaddik I had never heard of.
I knew he had lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But when I asked some
former residents of the Lower East Side, including my parents, if they knew of
him, they all said that they had never heard of him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It took some research and inquires before I connected with Rabbi Moshe
Chaim Steinberg, currently of Boro Park, NY, who remembers him well. Rabbi
Steinberg shared some fascinating anecdotes and memories he had of Rav Moshe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Back in the day, Rav Moshe was indeed a familiar figure on the Lower East
Side. He would walk from shul to shul to daven and learn in all of them. When
asked why he explained that he was fulfilling the words of the Mishna, “One
should be exiled to a place of Torah.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Following Kristallnacht, he escaped Berlin and came to New York. Beyond
that he never spoke about himself or his experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Those close to him knew
that he was brilliant and fluent in many languages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He learned Tanach, Bavli
and Yerushalmi by heart and the entire Zohar on the parsha every week. He was
well versed in all Medrashim, the seforim of the Shelah Hakadosh, Maharal, and
classic Chassidishe seforim. But the average person had no idea he even knew
how to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He was cordial and pleasant but also a recluse and kept very much to
himself. He had little connection with this world. He didn’t own a telephone
and he learned by the light of a candle and wouldn’t use electricity. In fact,
nobody knew his last name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For years he ate the Shabbos day seudah in the home of the Kapishnitzer
Rebbe, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel zt”l. The Rebbe would refer to him as “<i>Moshe
foon Henry Street”.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Others referred to him as <i>Moshe der royter</i> because of
his red beard, or <i>Moshe der porish</i> because he separated
himself from anything connected to the physical world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On one occasion he was davening in the back of the Satmar Beis Medrash.
Uncharacteristically, the Rebbe, Rav Yoylish zt”l walked across the Beis
Medrash to greet him. When the Rebbe asked him his name he just replied
“Moshe”. When the Rebbe asked him where he only replied, “New York”. From then
on people would refer to him as Moshe New Yorker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the rare occasion that he had a dollar bill he would look at the code
on the bill and share a gematriah or attribute spiritual meaning to the
numbers. Any money he had he immediately gave away to tzedakah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He was always the first in the shul every morning. He would prepare the
candles in shul, and he would hang up hand-drawn signs to remind people about
the special insertions in davening (<i>mashiv hurach, tal umatar</i>, etc.). He
wouldn’t speak at all until after he davened shachris.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabbi Steinberg relates that when he invited Rav Moshe to come to his
wedding, Rav Moshe apologized and said he couldn’t attend because, “I am from
the galus yidden so I can’t go to weddings.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For many years Rav Moshe lived in a small room under the Boyan shul.
Until his later years no one was allowed to enter. In later years when he
needed assistance, those who came into his room saw many frayed and well used
sifrei Kabbalah strewn around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Over time, the Boyaner gabbai noticed mail arriving for Max Feil. That’s
how they eventually found out that his real name was Moshe Feilschuss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On one occasion during his later years, Rav Moshe was hospitalized. He
refused to accept the IV the hospital wanted to administer, and the hospital
was going to restrain him. Rabbi Steinberg came to the hospital and found one
of the leading doctors in Beth Israel Hospital at Rav Moshe’s bedside. The
doctor pulled Rabbi Steinberg aside and asked him if he knew Rav Moshe
personally. When Rabbi Steinberg said he did, the doctor asked him if he thinks
Rav Moshe is crazy. When Ravbi Steinberg replied that he knew Rav Moshe to be
highly intelligent, the doctor told him he is convinced that Rav Moshe is a
genius. He showed Rabbi Steinberg that on the IV bag were listed all the
contents in the IV. He then explained, “Almost no doctor in this hospital is
familiar with these contents. I am because this is an area of my expertise.
When they wanted to hook up the IV to the patient, the patient pointed to one
of the contents in the fine print on the bag. I realized that it’s the only
ingredient that has pig fat mixed into it. That’s why he refused to allow us to
administer it to him.”</span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Moshe would
feed birds every day. Hundreds of birds would flock around him as he threw
crumbs towards them. While feeding them he would recite pesukim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He never said anything negative about anyone. On one occasion, someone
physically assaulted Rav Moshe, throwing him to the floor. Rabbi Steinberg was
present when it happened and when he rushed to help Rav Moshe up, he told Rav
Moshe that the assaulter was crazy. Rav Moshe became upset and immediately
countered that the man often helped him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Most people thought Rav Moshe was eccentric and strange. They didn’t know
that he spoke in riddles and the strange comments he made always had hidden
depth and meaning. For example, when walking past tall buildings in the city he
would comment that he built them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When asked afterwards what he meant he replied that it was Maseches
Shabbos or Maseches Bava Basra. He referred to his accomplishments in learning
as great buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He would often speak about things that were going to happen. When asked
how he knew he replied that the <i>feigelach</i> - birds told him.
His predictions always came true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the end of his life, Rav Moshe moved to Monsey where he frequented the
shul of the Nikolsburger Rebbe and was a familiar face there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On one occasion, Rav Moshe passed out on the floor of the Nikolsburg shul
during davening. He lay on the floor unconscious. When the Paramedics arrived,
a female paramedic was about to grab Rav Moshe’s hand when he stood up and
began shouting that she shouldn’t touch him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Moshe was niftar on Shabbos Hagadol. On Motzei Shabbos the Nikolsburg
Beis Medrash was packed for the levayah. The Nikolsburger Rebbe was the only
one who spoke. He quoted the pasuk </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-ligatures: none;">והאיש משה לא ידענו מה
היה לו</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> referring to the fact that no
one really knew the greatness of Rav Moshe New Yorker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Even those who saw him constantly were not aware of Rav Moshe New
Yorker’s hidden greatness and piety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Chanukah is a celebration of the revelation of light in darkness. It’s a
time to also remember that there is much greatness in others that we often
don’t recognize. The light is shining, whether we recognize it or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">May Rav Moshe New Yorker be a maylitz yosher for all Klal Yisroel. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-52325577153686345242023-11-24T09:23:00.004-05:002023-11-24T09:23:40.985-05:00Parshas Vayeitzei 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayetzei <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11 Kislev 5784/November 24, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">FEEL IT<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s part of the paradox of our times.
The more comfort, amenities, and conveniences we have, the more anxious and
depressed we seem to become. Despite all our technological advancements, we are
unable to predict or control the future and, despite what we have today, we
have absolutely no guarantees about tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Many people invest great energy to
dull or escape feelings of emotional angst and pain. The danger is that
escaping pain requires increasing effort and doesn’t make the emotions go away.
By not dealing with the cause of one’s emotions, the issues become compounded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Feeling negative emotions is often
quite unpleasant and that’s why most people desperately seek to avoid it. But
perhaps there’s another perspective to feeling one’s feelings that can make
them more tolerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I recently shared the following
analogy with a client who over time had developed negative habits to escape his
emotional pain and was trying to get himself back on track:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During the winter months my hands
become chapped very quickly. I have to put hand cream on my hands most nights
during the winter. If I don’t do so for a few nights, the back of my hands
becomes very red and extremely irritated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At that point, when I finally put on
hand cream, the back of my hands immediately feels like they are burning. But
in a strange way, that pain actually feels good because I know it’s part of the
healing process. The stinging sensation means that it’s getting better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabbi Dr. Abraham J Twerski related
that on one occasion while making rounds in the hospital, a patient told him
that he was feeling a lot of pain in his legs. Rabbi Dr. Twerski told the
patient that he would immediately call for additional pain medication. The
patient replied that this was the first time in ten years that he felt anything
in his legs. He wanted to feel every bit of the pain; it was the most beautiful
feeling he ever felt because it demonstrated that his feet were still “alive”
and hadn’t atrophied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Feeling one’s pain is uncomfortable
but when one can recognize and acknowledge his pain and mental anguish and can
forge on despite the pain, it demonstrates maturity and is an integral part of
living.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In his powerful memoir, Out of the
Depths, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau recounts an experience he had a few months after
World War II ended. A 25-year-old acquaintance named Aaron Feldberg addressed
an assemblage and said the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"If you will allow me, I would
like to say a few words on behalf of my friends. We would like to thank you.
Not to thank you for coming, because we did not want this visit. Not to thank
you for the gifts, because we do not want them. We want to thank you for the
greatest gift of all, which we received from you just a few minutes ago, and
that is the ability to cry. When they took my father and mother, my eyes were
dry. When they beat me mercilessly with their clubs, I bit my lips, but I
didn't cry. I haven't cried for years, nor have I laughed. We starved, froze,
and bled, but we didn't cry. For the past few months, before and since the
liberation, I have had the feeling that I am not a normal person, nor will I
ever be. That I have no heart. That if I can't cry when I am supposed to, I
must have a stone in my chest instead of a human heart. But not any more. Just
now I cried freely. And I say to you, that whoever can cry today, can laugh
tomorrow, and he is a mentsch, a human being. For this I thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Feelings are very much a part of the
human experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We say that emotions are felt in the
heart even though emotions are actually processed in the brain. Intense
emotions are felt throughout the body. When we feel happy, our entire body
feels elevated, and we have a bounce in our step. Conversely, when we feel sad,
we feel a lack of energy and like we want to crawl up and be by ourselves.
Being that the heart pumps blood throughout the body, we say that emotions come
from the heart because they encompass our entire being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part of being human entails dealing
with all the different emotions we invariably feel. We can try to bury them and
hide from them, but they are still there beneath the surface and will subconsciously
gnaw at us. That doesn’t mean that we are subservient to our emotions and
cannot persevere despite them. But we still need to acknowledge them and allow
ourselves to feel them, because they are part of our reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As we pray, mourn and are deeply
pained by the plight of our fellow Jews in Eretz Yisroel, and particularly in
Gaza, we take comfort in knowing that the emotional pain we feel is itself part
of the comfort. The mere fact that our brethren’s pain hurts us so deeply
demonstrates that we are part of the most incredible nation on earth. That deep
collective emotion reminds us that we will prevail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-69712425030440900482023-11-16T08:19:00.004-05:002023-11-16T08:19:57.241-05:00Parshas Toldos 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4 Kislev 5784/November 17, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SURPRISE SHOWER<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At that point it will become more challenging to keep the shower head
facing in the right direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-49042693128353129172023-11-09T13:16:00.002-05:002023-11-09T13:16:08.849-05:00Parshas Chayei Sara 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Chayei Sarah <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">26 MarCheshvan 5784/November 10, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Kislev</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">BROTHERLY LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The month of Cheshvan is the only month on the Jewish calendar that has
no unique endemic avodah. Even months that contain a fast day have special
focus and significance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For me personally, when our Succah and its decorations are put away and
Cheshvan begins, I pull out my grandfather’s notes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My mother’s father,
Rabbi Yaakov Meir Kohn, was the Rabbi of the renown Slonimer Shul on the Lower
East Side. Aside from being a noted talmid chochom, he was an excellent
speaker. From his pleasant personality, charisma, and sense of humor, one would
never know the extreme difficulties of his youth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As his yahrtzeit is 27 Cheshvan, I think a lot about him and the profound
effect he continues to have on me during Cheshvan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have a few pages of my grandfather’s notes and some taped recordings of
derashos he gave in Yiddish that are very precious to me. His writing is very
hard to read and every year I try to decipher a little more of his writings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My grandfather’s father, the Rav of the town of Selz, Russia, along with
his mother and sister were brutally murdered by the Nazis. He had no idea what
happened to his ten years younger brother, Zusha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My grandfather spent the war years on the run, including some time with
partisans in the forest. Alone in the world, he used his excellent social
skills and sharp mind to survive. Most of the stories of how he survived will
never be known as he hardly spoke about his war experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My grandfather’s family
name was really Wilamowsky. At one point during the war his passport was
confiscated. Somehow, he found a passport on the ground that bore the name
Kohn. As the passports then had no pictures attached, from then on, he became
Yaakov Kohn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sometime later, he met my grandmother in Tashkent where they married.
They eventually arrived in America and began life anew on the Lower East Side.
Once he came to America, it was easier to leave his name as Kohn. He would say
that he was Rabbi Kohn who wasn’t a Kohain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One day, someone was speaking to my grandfather and heard that his
original name was Wilamowsky and that he had had a younger brother named Zusha.
The man informed my grandfather that his younger brother Zusha was alive and
well. Zusha had survived the war, also having spent the war years with
partisans. After the war, Zusha became extremely close with the Lubavitcher
Rebbe. In fact, for the rest of his life, the Rebbe would refer to Zushe as “my
partisan” and Zusha became a beloved and noted personality in Lubavitch
circles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As soon as he was able to, my grandfather rushed to Crown Heights where
he was reunited with his brother. Unbeknownst to them, during the war years
they had not been far from each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That reunion must have been incredibly joyous and emotional. For the rest
of their lives, the two brothers remained close. The fact that they lived in
two different worlds made no difference whatsoever. My grandfather was a
Lithuanian Rabbi, while Reb Zusha was a heartfelt devotee of the Lubavitcher
Rebbe. As the only survivors of their family, they had time no or energy to
waste on the difference in the way they lead their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On a national level, the Jewish people’s collective heart is shattered
over the recent tragedies, and we feel continued angst over the plight of our
captives and soldiers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet, at the same time, we are also awed by ourselves and the incredible
unity we all feel now. The added focus on Hashem, the renewed recognized
primacy of Torah study, the dedication to performance of mitzvos like tzitzis
and Shabbos observance, the increased emphasis on prayer and Tehillim, and the
selfless chesed being performed, is heartwarming and encouraging.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In a sense, many Jews didn’t know they had a brother who was still alive.
They felt that the Jews who were not like them were almost a different people,
alienated and cutoff, and lost in the past. But then on Simchas Torah, Hamas
took away our passports that bore our names and affiliations. The only thing
Hamas saw was that we were Jews. We suddenly realized that we are all brothers
and sisters, and that we need to be there for each other. We now see pictures
of Jews of different backgrounds helping each other, hugging each other, and
giving chizuk to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Chaim Marcus, one of the esteemed Rebbeim in Heichal HaTorah, and Rav
of Congregation Israel of Springfield, NJ related to the Heichal students some
of his experiences from when he joined a rabbinic mission to Eretz Yisroel last
week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During their trip one of the people they met was Dana Cohen. On Simchas
Torah, her religious yishuv, Shlomit, was not attacked. But the nearby yishuv
of Pri-Gan was attacked and needed assistance. Dana’s husband, Aviad, and
others from Shlomit’s security team rushed to help Pri-Gan. Arriving there even
before the army, they saved Pri-Gan from eight terrorists who were trying to
infiltrate. However, in doing so, two members of Shlomit security, including
Aviad, were killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Dana, now the mother of four orphans, told the assemblage, “We have to
work on maintaining and growing the incredible emunah and achdus we all feel
now. If that happens then my husband’s death will have been worth it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Unbelievable words!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the conclusion of the Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln noted that
they could not consecrate the land upon which the battles were fought. The
soldiers who gave their lives fighting had already done so. The only thing left
for them was to ensure that they did not die in vain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That is now our task as well. It’s up to us to ensure that they did not
suffer or die in vain!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-10012495359135396522023-11-03T09:25:00.004-04:002023-11-03T09:25:16.313-04:00Parshas Vayeira 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayera <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">19 MarCheshvan 5784/November 3, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ONE PLUS ONE </span></u><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shortly before I married, I spent a Succos in a yeshiva for Russian boys
in Copenhagen, Denmark. After Succos ended, I had the opportunity to visit a
couple of nearby countries in Europe. One of the places we visited was
Amsterdam. While there, we saw Anne Frank’s house, including the annex where
she and her family lived until they were discovered and deported to Auschwitz
in 1944.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the gift shop afterwards (yes, there is a gift shop) there was a quote
on the wall which said something to the effect of “The only reason we can go
about our day is because there’s only one museum depicting the life of one cute
girl. But if there were six million such museums and six million such diaries,
we wouldn’t be able to function.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Joseph Stalin quipped that if one person dies it’s a tragedy. But if a
million people die it’s just a statistic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, noted that the Nazis didn’t kill six million
Jews. Six million becomes one terrible, albeit digestible number. Rather, the
Nazis killed one plus one plus one, six million times. Each one was a child,
spouse, parent, friend, neighbor, etc. Each one was an entire world snuffed
out. When one begins reflecting on the Holocaust with that perspective, the
tragedy becomes far more magnified and impossible to deal with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When the calamitous accident occurred in Meron on Lag BaOmer in April
2021, our hearts broke for every one of the families of the 45 people who died
there. The flyer that circulated bearing the pictures of all 45 faces and the
knowledge that so many families were broken and in pain, shattered us. We
didn’t see it as one collective tragedy, but as 45 individual and painful
tragedies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the Shir Shel Yom recited on Wednesday (Tehillim 94) Dovid Hamelech
cries out to Hashem asking how long He will allow the wicked to prosper and
gloat. “Your people, Hashem, they crush, and they afflict Your heritage. The
widow and the stranger they kill, and they murder orphans. And they say that
G-d will not see, and the G-d of Yaakov will not understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is noteworthy that
Dovid Hamelech does not say our enemies create orphans and widows through
murder. Rather, he says that they murder orphans and widows. In light of the
horrors of the massacres that took place on Simchas Torah, we can suggest that
these individuals became orphans and widows at the behest of our savage
enemies. Moments later, the enemies murdered the orphans and widows as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 2011, one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was returned from captivity
by Hamas in exchange for 1,027 terrorists who had been in Israeli jails.
Leaving aside all political and theological questions regarding the exchange,
it was and is an incredible testament to the value we have for every single
Jewish life. Our enemies are well aware of that and exploit it mercilessly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The war being fought now is between two completely different worlds. Our
enemies dance joyously and hand out candies when a Jew is murdered. We danced
and gave out candies when Ori Megidish, an Israeli soldier taken hostage by
Hamas, was rescued and returned home. They celebrate murder and death, while we
celebrate life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the Al Hanisim recited on Chanukah we thank Hashem Who, “Gave the
strong into the hand of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the
impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous,
and the malicious into the hands of those who engage in Your Torah study.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Many note the
discrepancy between the first two contrasts - the strong and the many into the
hands of the few and weak, and the other three. Why is the fact that righteous,
pure, Torah scholars overcame wicked impure and malicious enemies part of the
miracle?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">These days, the answer to that question is painfully apparent! The
righteous and pure supremely value life. Those who engage in its study
internalize the Torah’s lessons about sensitivity, compassion, and love. For
people of such noble character, it is challenging for them to seek the
obliteration of their evil enemies without hesitation. Our enemies, however,
glorify murder and death and therefore have no compunction to terrorize and
murder. The fact that the forces of good overcame wantonly evil people is
indeed part of the miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Torah teaches us about the inestimable value of human life. Other
than certain circumstances of Kiddush Hashem, nothing - even observance of
Shabbos Kodesh - takes precedence over saving or preserving life. It is often
noted that as great as it is for one to give up his own life for Kiddush
Hashem, it is far greater to live a life of Kiddush Hashem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Every soldier, every captive, every victim, every survivor, and every Jew
is precious and beloved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">May Hashem protect each one. May our soldiers return home healthy and
strong. May Hashem raise the pride of our nation, and may we merit to witness
great days and salvation that is coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-59029177736009567282023-10-26T09:23:00.003-04:002023-10-26T09:23:27.622-04:00Parshas Lech Lecha 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Lech Lecha <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">12 MarCheshvan 5783/October 27, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-ligatures: none;">לז"ן זקנתי מרתי שפרינצע בת אברהם יצחק</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This Musings
is dedicated in memory of my beloved Savta, Mrs. Minnie Staum, whose yahrtzeit
is 17 Cheshvan </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">TIMELESS WORDS </span></u><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">When I think about my
Bubby, Rebbetzin Fruma Kohn a”h, my mental image is of her reciting Tehillim.
Until her last years, she would read the entire Tehillim every week. No doubt,
I and my family have benefited tremendously from those repeated recitations. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Someone once presented
the Chofetz Chaim with the Tehillim of his mother. The Chofetz Chaim caressed
its pages and with tears in his eyes remarked, “Who knows how many tears my
mother shed over this Tehillim that I be a faithful Jew.”</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The gemara (Sanhedrin
92b) relates that when Nevuchadnezzar witnessed Michael, Chananyah, and Azariah
emerge unscathed from the furnace he had them cast into, he was overwhelmed. At
that moment, he began to recite beautiful words of praise to Hashem. His words
were so magnificent that if an angel had not slapped him, his praises would
have put to shame the praises and songs of Dovid Hamelech in Tehillim. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">If Nevuchadnezzar
uttered beautiful praises, why was it fair that he be silenced just because he
was going to upend the praises of Tehillim? </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Kotzker Rebbe explained that the greatness of Tehillim is not due to its ornate
prose and distinct vernacular. In that regard, it’s very possible that
Nevuchadnezzar was more eloquent than Dovid Hamelech. The greatness of Tehillim
and the reason Dovid is called, “sweet singer of Yisrael”, is because he never
stopped calling out to and praising Hashem. Even during difficult times of
persecution and challenge, and even when Dovid suffered personal adversity and
national defeat, he never stopped calling out to Hashem.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
only way to measure whether Nevuchadnezzar’s praises were greater than Dovid’s
would be by seeing what happened when Nevuchadnezzar received a slap. When
Dovid suffered the “slaps of life” he never ceased calling out to Hashem.
Therefore, the angel slapped Nevuchadnezzar to see how he would react. When
that happened, he immediately stopped praising and he began blaspheming. That
was a clear demonstration that the praises of Nevuchadnezzar didn’t compare to
the praises of Dovid Hamelech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">During
the early 1970s, my rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, directed the Orthodox Union’s
kashrus department. On one occasion, he was aboard a small plane together with
a shochet flying to inspect a slaughtering house. There was terrible
turbulence, and the plane was shaking violently. Rabbi Wein admitted that even
for a seasoned flyer as he was, it was unnerving. Still, he tried to appear
calm so as not to make the shochet nervous. The shochet, who was holding on for
dear life and feverishly reciting Tehillim looked at Rabbi Wein and quipped,
“You know, even a rabbi can say Tehillim sometimes!” </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav
Shimshon Pincus explained the power of reciting Tehillim with a parable:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There
was once a great and powerful king, who was beloved by his subjects for his
benevolence and leadership. There was a high-ranking general in the king’s army
with whom the king spent a great deal of time. Over time the king and the
general developed a close-knit friendship. From security issues they began to discuss
philosophical and theological matters. They sought each other’s advice and
confided with each other, and their friendship deepened.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They
began to meet every day, and no one was allowed to disturb them during that
time.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One
day the king was informed that a rebellion had broken out at the edge of his
kingdom. Fearing that the rebellion could gain traction, the king needed
someone he could trust to be absolutely loyal to him to immediately squash the
rebellion. It was a painful decision, but the king realized there was no one
better for the job than his beloved friend.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
general did not hesitate, and he and the king tearfully bid each other farewell.
The general was able to crush the rebellion quickly, but he had to remain there
to ensure that it would not erupt again.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As
time passed, the king missed his friend terribly. Then one day a letter arrived
in the mail from the general for the king. The king excitedly read the letter
in which the general expressed how deeply he missed the king. The general wrote
about how he thought of their daily meetings, and longed to see the king again.
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Each
week after that another letter arrived in the mail and reading them became the
highlight of the king’s week. But then after a few months the letters stopped coming.
At first the king thought a letter or two had gotten lost in the mail. But
after a month, the king nervously sent a delegation to find out what had
occurred.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
delegation returned looking somber. From the look on their faces the king
understood that his dear friend had died. The king was crestfallen and
inconsolable. He returned to his daily affairs, but everyone around him could
see that he was not himself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
few days later, one of the king’s ministers approached his majesty clutching a
box. He explained to the king that the box contained all of the 150 letters the
general had sent him. The minister asked the king’s permission for him to read
one of the letters. The king agreed. As the minister passionately read the
letter, eliciting the emotions from within its words, tears streaked down the
king’s face. It evoked deep nostalgia from within him. At the same time, it
gave the king a measure of comfort enabling him to again feel the deep
connection with his late friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each
week afterwards the minister would again return to read another one of the 150
letters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hashem
had a dear friend, as it were. Dovid Hamelech was unyieldingly devoted to
Hashem throughout his difficult life. Dovid constantly spoke about yearning to
be close to Hashem and feeling His presence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
Dovid left this world, no one could ever fill his shoes and relate the praises
of Hashem in the same passionate manner. But Dovid left behind 150 “letters”;
the 150 chapters of Tehillim. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
begin pesukei d’zimrah each morning by declaring, “With the songs of Dovid
Hamelech we will praise you”. In addition, there is a beautiful tefillah
customarily said before reciting Tehillim in which we ask that Hashem, “turn
mercifully towards the words of Tehillim that I will read, (and consider them)
as if Dovid Hamelech, peace upon him, himself uttered them…” When we recite
chapters of Tehillim we are not only reciting the words of Dovid Hamelech, but
we are also hoping that in heaven Hashem hears the words we utter as if/when
Dovid himself recited them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">There is
an old Jewish joke about a Jew running away in despair from a potentially
disastrous occurrence shouting: "We can no longer rely on miracles.
Therefore, let us now begin to recite <em><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Tehillim</span></em>!"
The truth however is that Jews see the recitation of Tehillim as a natural reaction
to a troubled time and not only as an appeal for miracles. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
timeless words of Tehillim symbolize that no matter what the situation, one can
and must always look to Hashem for guidance and salvation. The words of
Tehillim reverberated joyously in the Beis Hamikdash. They were recited
tearfully by our ancestors during times of persecution and pain. They are
recited during times of joy and times of challenge. There is no emotion in the
world not expressed in the timeless words of Dovid Hamelech. We find expression
of our innermost hopes, longings and prayers. They grant us solace, hope and
comfort as no other words ever written can. And it is with the words of
Tehillim that we will greet Moshiach very soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-43554333720115186112023-10-19T09:03:00.004-04:002023-10-19T09:03:31.658-04:00Parshas Noach 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Noach <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5 MarCheshvan 5783/October 20, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">UPHOLDING & UPHOLDEN</span></u><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Like everyone else, after the unspeakable atrocities that occurred in
Eretz Yisroel on Simchas Torah, I was and am looking for all the chizuk I can
get. I have listened to quite a few lectures from various rabbonim to hear
their reflections and thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I find it incredible that each speaker cites a different Torah source to
relate to the tragedy and serve as a source of chizuk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Some pointed to tragedies that occurred to Dovid Hamelech and how Dovid
responded. Others quoted the ominous predictions in Shiras Ha’azinu.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One speaker drew a parallel between the snakes that unexpectedly attacked
Klal Yisroel in the desert, mentioned in Parshas Chukas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Many quoted from the Rambam about the need to be part of the tzibbur
during times of challenge, or various other passages from the Rambam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There were those who quoted the opening words of the Torah when
primordial darkness was overwhelmed by celestial light. In Eretz Yisroel too, a
horrific and sinister darkness descended upon our people. Yet, the Jewish
response was by generating heavenly light through acts of selfless kindness,
love, giving and generating feelings of national unity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My rebbe, Rabbi Berel Wein, noted how after Kayin murdered Hevel, Kayin
seemed to be in pretty good shape. The first murderer was given a seven-generation
reprieve and enjoyed seeing generations of descendants. They populated the world,
and the murder seems to have been forgotten. Meanwhile Hevel and the forces of
good seem to have been obliterated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But that’s because we have a narrow-minded and impatient view of life and
world events. In the bigger picture, Kayin was eventually killed by one of his
descendants and all his descendants were destroyed in the flood. Meanwhile the
legacy of Hevel lives on in Avrohom and his children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the short term, evil can indeed prosper. But the broader view of world
history demonstrates that evil does not endure and eventually dissipates into
the ashbin of history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So will be the fate of our current enemies as well. But the road is long,
painful and bitter and we need to have patience, fortitude and faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One of our greatest sources of chizuk is one that we unfortunately do not
take advantage of. The Gemara relates that during the era of prophecy there
were hundreds of prophets. However, only prophecies that have eternal meaning
were recorded for posterity. The Prophets didn’t only speak to their
generation. The words of the prophets, particularly those in the weekly
haftorah, contain timeless words that continue to reverberate. Sadly, we often
fail to pay attention to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the haftorah of Bereishis (incidentally, we didn’t read that haftorah
this year, because it was Erev Rosh Chodesh), Yeshaya HaNavi tells us that we
are to be a light for the nations. He acknowledges that in exile we are a
downtrodden and plundered nation. He reassures us, however, that in the future
Hashem will mete retribution out upon our enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One can close his eyes and listen as the Navi declares to us: <i>“But
now, so says Hashem, your Creator, Yaakov, and your maker, Yisrael, do not fear
for I will redeem you. I called you by your name to be Mine. Even if you pass
through waters, I am with you, and through the rivers they will not drown you.
Even in a raging fire you will not be singed, and flames will not burn you…
Since you are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you… All b’nei
Yisroel are called by My Name, created for My honor… You are my witnesses, says
Hashem, and my Navi, whom I have chosen…”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The haftorah of Parshas Noach contains similar themes, discussing
Hashem’s eternal love for His people, and the glory that awaits us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I find it incredible that despite the fact that we are speechless about
the tragedy that occurred, we are able to draw comfort and chizuk from numerous
sources throughout the Torah. The Hamas attacks occurred on the day when we
celebrate our eternal and inextricable connection to the Torah. These days we
are reminded of how true the following is: While we dance and physically carry
the Torah, it is the Torah that spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically
carries and guides us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And just as the Torah is eternal, so are its people who uphold it and are
upholden by it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt; width: 33.0pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 850.5pt;" width="1134">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-77873287325906146262023-10-12T12:51:00.004-04:002023-10-12T12:51:39.117-04:00Parshas Beraishis 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bereishis <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mevorchim Chodesh Cheshvan <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">21 Tishrei 5783/October 13, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">FOR HIM<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I don’t remember the last time I was able to so relate to a powerful
story I heard, in a manner I never could have imagined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I was asked to share divrei Torah in my neighborhood Shul before hakafos
on Simchas Torah evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As I was walking to the bimah to begin speaking, I was told that we would
be saying Tehillim first. At the time I had no idea why.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The wife of one of the Shul’s board members is a Physician’s Assistant
and keeps her phone on in case she is called with a medical emergency. On
Shmini Atzeres afternoon, her phone had been buzzing incessantly. Although they
couldn’t see anything more than flashing headlines, it was enough for them to
realize that there was a serious terrorist attack in Eretz Yisroel. After we
said Tehillim, he informed me of the developments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">With two of our children in Yerushalayim, it was quite unnerving to say
the least. We also have many family members living in various communities
throughout the country, and many students and friends in various yeshivos
there. That’s aside for the fact that, like every Jew, my heart is with Klal
Yisroel, particularly in Eretz Yisroel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As I stood by the bimah and the assemblage waited for me to begin
speaking, I had a strong urge to apologize and say that I was unable to
proceed. But I knew that would be demoralizing and disheartening. So instead, I
said a silent prayer asking Hashem for the strength and guidance to say the
right thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I also thought about the story I had heard a day earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As I have done the last few years, during Chol Hamoed Succos, I had the
great zechus to facilitate a beautiful learning program called Greater
Adventure. Each Chol Hamoed morning, after a 45-minute learning session, we
heard divrei chizuk from an esteemed Rav in our community. That was followed by
an exciting raffle with many great prizes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On Hoshanah Rabbah morning, the grand finale, our speaker was Rabbi Daniel
Coren, a noted lecturer in the Monsey community (who also has many shiurim
posted on Torahanytime). He related the following story:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“About thirty years ago I was the mashgiach in a Jewish owned old-age
home in Riverdale.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“One year on Simchas Torah I was together with ten elderly men in
wheelchairs from the home, helping facilitate hakafos “dancing”. They took
turns holding a Sefer of Nevi’im (used to read haftorah) because it’s smaller
and lighter than a Sefer Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“One of the residents, Mendel Steinberg, was an Auschwitz survivor. At
one point during the dancing, Mendel shared a recollection from his days in
Auschwitz. “One miserable day, they were sitting together in the barracks, when
suddenly one of their fellow inmates got up and started dancing. They looked at
him like he fell off the moon, but he told them that it was Simchas Torah. When
they retorted that even on Simchas Torah, one cannot dance in Auschwitz, he
ignored their rationalizations and continued dancing. “Eventually, people
started joining in, until a large circle had formed. They sang together the
famous niggun to the words, “<i>Utzu eitzah v’sufar dabru davar v’lo yakum ki
imanu e-l</i> - They (our enemies) make plans that are annulled, they
speak words that never come to fruition, because G-d is with us.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20734%20-%20Bereishis%20%20.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“The Nazi guards heard the spirited singing and burst in. But when they
saw what was happening, they didn’t know what to make of the inmates’
unbreakable devotion and they turned around and left. Mendel said it was the
most emotional Simchas Torah he ever had.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“My friend, Rav Shmuel Stauber z”l, worked with me at that old aged home.
After I was no longer employed in that nursing home, Rabbi Stauber related to
me that when he was informed that Mendel was very ill he went to visit him.
When he arrived at Mendel’s room, the attending nurse told him that Mendel was
in a coma, and it was clear that he didn’t have much time left. It was a waste
of time to even visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Despite her words, Rabbi Stauber walked over to Mendel, leaned close to
Mendel’s ear and began to sing, “<i>Utzu eitzah v’sufar dabru davar v’lo yakum
ki imanu e-l</i>”. As he sang, Rabbi Stauber saw a tear trickle down Mendel’s
cheek. Mendel passed away a few minutes later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“I often think about Mendel on Simchas Torah and that helps me dance more
enthusiastically.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabbi Coren concluded by quoting the Satmar Rebbe who noted that the
word <i>rikud</i> - dance has the same letters as the word <i>meraked</i> -
to sift (one of the 39 forbidden melachos on Shabbos). When one dances with
energy and excitement, he sifts negativity from within himself. By exuberantly
demonstrating his desire for spiritual connection and growth he breaks through
spiritual blockages within himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As I stood at the bimah on Simchas Torah, I was encouraged by the thought
of a Mendel’s fellow inmate in Auschwitz dancing despite his surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After I proceeded to share some thoughts about the significance of
Simchas Torah, I noted that we were about to dance for the honor of Hashem and
His Torah. Therefore, it was incumbent upon us to display joy, even if we
weren’t feeling it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Like many others, this past Simchas Torah was by far the most difficult
Simchas Torah of my life. But I tried to bear my own words in mind, and I
continued to dance in the circle. I ignored the deep pit in my stomach and
pushed myself to keep dancing, knowing it was a zechus for Klal Yisroel,
particularly at that time. We don’t dance for our own gratification, but for
the honor of the heart and soul of our people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During our hakafos on Simchas Torah we made sure to sing <i>Utzu eitzah </i>as
well.<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mendel’s message, eloquently shared by Rabbi Coren, must resound loudly
in our ears and souls. Our enemies hurt us terribly and caused us untold
anguish and pain. Yet, we know we will ultimately prevail<i>, “Ki imanu e-l</i> -
For G-d is with us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May Hashem comfort Klal Yisroel. May all our captives and
soldiers return home in peace and serenity and may we merit great salvations
for our holy people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/yitz/Desktop/Rabbi's%20Musings%20734%20-%20Bereishis%20%20.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="https://youtu.be/G-vBm48kI34" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; letter-spacing: .75pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://youtu.be/G-vBm48kI34</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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</div>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-3738729155852486742023-10-05T19:54:00.000-04:002023-10-05T19:54:00.731-04:002nd Days Succos 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hoshanah Rabbah - Erev Shabbos Kodesh Shemini Atzeres<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">21 Tishrei 5783/October 6, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ANNUAL INVESTMENT<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A few weeks ago, our family joined our
yeshiva, Heichal HaTorah, for a “yeshiva Shabbos” on the grounds of Camp
Nageela in Fallsburg, NY. After a beautiful Shabbos, we headed to the nearby
pizza shop for melava malka before heading home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">While we were there, the store was
relatively quiet with only a handful of other customers coming in to pick up
orders. I struck up a conversation with the frum worker who was managing the
store. He noted that only a few weeks earlier the store was packed on Motzei
Shabbos. But now that the summer season had come to an end, most of the summer
frequenters had returned to their communities, and business was much slower.
Although there were occasional holiday weekends during the coming months when
business picked up, for the most part it remained relatively quiet during the
winter. Essentially, the store generated sufficient revenue during the summer
months to make it worth staying open all year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When I asked the manager if it was
worth it, he replied “we’ll see!” He added that this is the fourth year that
they have remained open, so it seems that it has been worth it so far.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Every Yom Tov we daven, “<i>Vhasiainu
Hashem Elokainu es birchas moadecha</i> - Load us up Hashem, our G-d, with
the blessing of Your festival (lit. set meeting).” Every Yom Tov has its own
spiritual focus and blessing. Yom Tov is not merely a break from our regular
routines. Rather, it is meant to be a time of investment when we can “stock up”
on the endemic blessing of the holiday so that its spiritual revenue remains
with us all year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Yechezkel Sarna zt”l would say
that when reciting Aleinu at the end of davening daily, he would mentally
connect with the sanctity of the Yomim Noraim, when Aleinu is recited during
the sublime moments of Mussaf.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A friend related that throughout the
year, whenever the Torah is being taken out, as he recites the words “<i>Ki
miZion tetzei Torah</i>” in his mind he sings the words in the tune jubilantly
sung on Simchas Torah. He does the same with the pesukim recited as the Torah
is being returned. It gives him a momentary throwback to the intense joy of
Simchas Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In addition, throughout the year,
whenever we reference the mitzvah of remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim at the end
of Shema, it should spark within us a feeling of connection to the august
nostalgia of Seder night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Yitzchak Hutner zt”l was legendary
for his incredible <i>ma’amarim</i>, deep and penetrating constructs of
Torah outlook and thought, masterfully developed and elucidated. The <i>ma’amarim</i> were
long and deep, and required constant focus and understanding. (They have been
recorded for posterity in the seforim, Pachad Yitzchak.) Each <i>ma’amar</i> provides
its own foray into a nuanced explanation of the meaning, essence and depth of
one component of each Yom Tov. If one was able to comprehend the profundity of
a <i>ma’amar</i>, his understanding of the holiday was revolutionized and
galvanized forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Hutner would convey those
fundamental thoughts specifically during the Yomim Tovim of the year. He felt
that such depth of thought could only be appreciated and internalized when one
is in a heightened state of spiritual joy, <i>romimus hanefesh</i>. That
state could only be achieved on Yom Tov, including Chanukah and Purim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Our Yomim Tovim themselves demonstrate
the greatness and uniqueness of Klal Yisroel and the Torah. I convey to my
students that there will never be a Pachad Yitzchak about Thanksgiving or Labor
Day. One can relate the history of turkey on Thanksgiving, but there isn’t much
to say about the deeper symbolic meaning of how eating turkey connects
Americans to their ultimate mission and purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In short, secular holidays are days
off; Yomim Tovim are days on!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We ask Hashem to please help us lock
in the blessings of the beautiful Chag. We hope we can maintain a spark of the
spiritual elevation we feel, so that it continues to inspire us and elevate us
throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Piska Tava
& Git Kvitel</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Gut Yom Tov
& Chag Sameiach,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5164745045038332944.post-39950080299848006632023-09-28T10:54:00.004-04:002023-09-28T10:54:40.970-04:00Succos 5784<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Erev Shabbos Kodesh Succos<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">14 Tishrei 5783/September 29, 2023</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<h1 align="center" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LOOSE SCREWS<o:p></o:p></span></u></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A couple of hours after I broke my fast following the end of Yom Kippur,
ignoring my fatigue and aching feet, I ventured out to the Motzei Yom Kippur
tisch of the Nikolsburg Rebbe. It has become a yearly ritual for me. I enjoy
the spirited singing and dancing, celebrating our efforts during the previous
holy day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As I pulled next to the curb outside the Nikolsburg Beis Medrash, I heard
a pop. The tire air pressure alert immediately appeared on my dashboard. The
front passenger tire on my car looked like it had been slashed with a knife and
was clearly unsalvageable. I called Chaverim, and within minutes two righteous
members pulled up and got to work. It should have been a five-minute job for
for them to replace the popped tire with the donut from my trunk. But one of
the screws was rusty and wouldn’t come off. They had to call for backup from a
more experienced member. Still in his Yom Kippur garb (minus kittel and
bekeshe) he began sawing off the screw with some sort of sophisticated electric
tool. Sparks flew in all directions until the screw finally snapped and he was
able to pry off the old tire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">By then it was past midnight. I went into the tisch for a few minutes
before heading home. The following day my car went to visit our mechanic,
helping to fulfil the mechanic’s prayers on Yom Kippur that he merits
good <i>parnasah</i> this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On Yom Kippur we resolve to change our negative habits. The problem is
that those habits become second nature to us. Despite our best intentions to
change them, we often find ourselves reverting back to those negative traits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Changing requires not only firm commitment but also a plan of action and
a great deal of patience. But it begins with a willingness to go out if his
comfort zone to develop new habits and behaviors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part of the challenge is that when trying to progress and improve in any
endeavor, there is a delay between expectations and actualization. We work
tirelessly and then become frustrated and confused when results don’t align
with our expectations. The reality is that progress isn’t linear and desired
results are often delayed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A stonecutter hits away at a rock 100 times without making a dent. And
then, on the 101st hit, the rock splits in half. Everyone celebrates the 101st
hit because it’s the moment of breakthrough, but it was the 100 prior hits that
caused the rock to eventually break.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In his New York Times Bestseller, Atomic Habits, James Clear, refers to
the delay between expectations and results as the Plateau of Latent Potential,
or Valley of Disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Great accomplishments result from humble beginnings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Clear writes that, “Complaining about not achieving success despite
working hard is like complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated
it from 25 to 31 degrees. All the action happens at 32 degrees…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He adds that, “You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory
than with your current results.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Valley of Disappointment could be reframed as the Valley of Vision or
the Canyon of Resolve because it takes vision to stay the course
pre-breakthrough, and it requires resolve to maintain consistent effort when
the desired result takes its time to mature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Avos D'Rebbe Nosson relates the poignant story of Rabbi Akiva, the
40-year-old shepherd, who was an ignorant and frustrated spiritual failure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One day, while sitting by a stream, he noticed a steady drip of water
against a rock. It was only a drip, but it was constant and relentless. When
Rabbi Akiva noticed a hole beneath the spot where the water dripped, he
concluded that if water can slowly erode solid rock, undoubtedly the iron-like
words of Torah could affect an indelible impression upon his heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That marked a turning point in Rabbi Akiva's life. He recommitted himself
to Torah study, and eventually became the greatest sage of his generation, and
one of the most prominent teachers of Torah of all time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How apropos it is that the Yom Tov of Succos requires us to leave the
familiar surroundings of our homes. We have to literally leave our comfort zones
and embrace a new life, devoid of the amenities we enjoy throughout the year.
Beyond that, we are charged to rejoice in our unfamiliar surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Change is a slow process. The proverbial screws of our past become wedged
in place and don’t come off easily. More often than not, we have to work hard
before we can extract the screw. But it holds the key to eventual progress and
growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part of the extreme joy of living in the succah is the knowledge and
recognition that one is not enslaved by past habits. He can traverse them and
grow beyond the previous confines of his lives. The sky above - the knowledge
that G-d will bless his efforts - is limitless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Gut Yom Tov
& Chag Sameiach,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>R’ Dani
and Chani Staum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>stamtorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11316658205752929670noreply@blogger.com