Who's counting?

I was expecting an important piece of mail for a few weeks, and was anxiously awaiting its arrival.

This Shabbos, I was right behind the front door when the mail fell through the mail-slot. One envelope fell onto another. I could not tell if the piece I was looking for had arrived, but another important looking envelope lay on top of the pile. It was from my mortgage bank...

I am set up for paperless billing, and e-notifications, so my heart raced. My bank only writes to me when there is a problem.

I worried that my last payment did not go through. That would mean the check bounced and there would be a fee from the mortgage bank and my regular bank.

Or was it something else?

I had recently renewed the fire insurance policy, and my broker ensured me that all was in order. Was there a lapse? Did the policy expire? 

Hauling Ice Cream

While on a trip this summer, we were driving on a long stretch of interstate highway. These stretches usually offer interesting sights and much time to think about them.

During one particularly long stretch, I passed two trucks that carried ice cream.

One was a long 18-wheeler, and was probably on its way to a warehouse or supermarket, hauling pallets and pallets of yummy, frozen treats.

The other, less intimidating one, was a traditional, city-street ice cream truck, probably on its way back to the garage after a long day's work. 

As I continued driving, I noted another, far more interesting contrast between the two ice cream haulers.

Winds of Change

"Though it is a clear day and the sun shines brightly, one feels a change in the atmosphere; the air is different. The Elul air is palpable; a Teshuva wind begins to blow..."

In this Sicha from 5694, the Frierdiker Rebbe describes what Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Elul felt like in the town of Lubavitch.

In another Sicha, the Frierdiker Rebbe describes waking up with a start, upon hearing the Shofar on Rosh Chodesh Elul, from the 6 o'clock Minyan.

Torah: Chip or Drip

Once, Akiva stood near a well and asked the bystanders, "Who chiseled this rock?"

The people answered, "The water which consistently falls on it every day."

Akiva thought: "Something so soft, has shaped something so tough. The words of Torah, which are strong as iron, can certainly penetrate my heart which is merely flesh and blood."
(אבות דר"נ נוסח א פרק ו)

What is unique about water, and its effect on a hard rock, that has taught Rebbi Akiva about the power of Torah?

***

A stone-cutter patiently chips away at a huge boulder, and can take a break, even for years at a time, and his work will not be undone during the passage of the break-time. The chip in the rock remains, and the work can be resumed at any time.

One Step

A group of people were once travelling through the forest. In the darkness, one person veered off the path - only slightly - yet, before long he was deep in the wilderness, far, far away from the path. 

Needless to say, the person who got lost didn't just end up in the wilderness with one step. His being in the wilderness was a result of the very first step he took off the path, and his continuing on that trajectory, without correcting his first, tiny misstep. 

***

Entering the wilderness of life does not happen with just one step. At a moment of temporary darkness, our focus veers from the light and truth of Torah, and so long as it is dark, we continue taking steps away from the Path of Life, G-d forbid.

When the light of Torah illuminates our lives again, the error is discovered, as does the direction and path of return.

One step at a time. 

The Rebbe. The Train. The Smoke.

This article was originally published in honor of Yud Shevat - 5776 

The date, Gimel Tamuz 5687. The place, Leningrad, Russia.

The dusty streets of the city were awhirl with the sounds and sights of the hundreds of Chassidim who thronged to the train station to bid farewell to the Frierdiker Rebbe, who was on his way to Kostroma.

The station platform, packed with Chassidim, was also swarming with KGB agents and spies, their eyes and ears alert to the conversations and expressions of the Chassidim. Along the length of the station stood soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, arms locked, with bayonet tipped rifles, clutched tightly against their chests.

On a far side of the town, a Chossid could be seen, shlepping his young son along with him, as they ran through the narrow streets and alleyways, taking every shortcut possible, in order to come to the station before the Rebbe would depart.

Gathering a Nation

ובהקהיל את העם תתקעו ואל תריעו

Hashem instructed Moshe: When gathering the Yidden, blow a Tekiah, not a Teruah.
(Bamidbar 10:5)

What is the significance of the Tekia sound, vis-a-vis the Teruah sound? Why is Tekia the sound that gathers the nation?

***

For most immigrants coming to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was extremely rare to find a job that did not require one to work on Shabbos. As such, many frum Jews were in constant search of a livelihood, often losing their jobs before or immediately after Shabbos, as a result of their not working on Shabbos.

The story is told of two families who struggled with Parnassa, yet fought valiantly to stay steadfast to a Torah lifestyle. Every week, each father set out to find a job, only to lose it at the end of the week, for their commitment not to work on Shabbos.

Interestingly enough, when the children of one family grew up, they stayed committed to a Torah lifestyle, while the children of the other family did not.

Setting a Trend

In previous generations, it was the custom to wear Tefillin throughout the day. Even after Davening, Tefillin was worn when going about one's business, in the street and at home. However, in later generations, Yidden had lost a certain degree of commitment to the Mitzvah of Tefillin (along with other Mitzvos). 

Rebbi Shimon Ben Elazar said: Mitzvos for which the Jews gave up their lives - in the time of a government decree - are still upheld with a strong commitment by the Yidden, such as: Bris Milah and not serving idols. And all those Mitzvos for which the Yidden did not give up their lives, still lacks commitment and is "weak" by them... such as Tefillin, which is still "weak" by the Yidden. (Shabbos, 130a)

Who's Driving?

A wealthy man was once riding along the countryside and saw a crippled beggar sitting on the side of the road. After receiving a few coins from the wealthy man, the cripple asked him for a ride into the city.

The wealthy man felt compassion for the cripple, and helped him up to the horse, giving him the front seat and even allowing him to hold the reins. The cripple was most appreciative. The wealthy man got up behind the cripple, and together they rode the horse into the city.

Strangely enough, upon arriving in the city and into the crowded marketplace, the cripple turned to the wealthy many and said: "Now you may get off the horse, and I will ride myself to my house."

Inside Outside

מה בין תלמידיו של אברהם אבינו לתלמידיו של בלעם הרשע

(Avos 5:19)

The Mishna enumerates key differences between the character of the students of Avraham and the character of the students of Bilam.

The question is asked: Why doesn't the Mishna just enumerate the differences between Avraham and Bilam themselves? Certainly, the difference would be just as obvious as the difference between their respective students!

In a Sicha, the Rebbe explains that, on the outside, Bilam espoused to be like Avraham: he put on a nice show of righteousness, kindness and nobility. Yet, Bilam's true character and deepest aspirations were quite the opposite of Avraham's.

And it was the unspoken, intangible, yet ever-present reality that had the ultimate and greatest impact on his students. Thus, much like Bilam himself, his students were haughty, had an evil eye, and flagrant character.

Mind the Young - the Young Mind

Unlike other nations who sought to physically annihilate the Jewish people, the Greeks enjoyed the Jewish people and their contributions in the social, financial and intellectual arenas. In fact, the Greeks had a real appreciation and deep respect for the Torah and Jewish philosophy.

However, the Greeks could not tolerate the Jews' blind faith and submission to a Higher Power. For the Greeks, everything had to make sense, logically. Thus, Kabolas Ol was something the Greeks could not comprehend nor accept.

“Do Mitzvos, learn Torah!” the Greeks argued, “we will even help you build your Yeshivos! Just go about your learning as an intellectual pursuit, but not with a blind submission to Hashem!”

Food for Talk

Someone once concluded a letter to the Rebbe saying that, in essence, he is a Jew who wants to fulfill the Mitzvos of the Torah, yet, he is not [yet] religious and does not keep Shabbos, etc.

The Rebbe addressed this apparent dichotomy in his response: As it is with one’s physical life, talking about the benefits of food, and even having a strong belief in its importance, is to no benefit. One has to actually eat the food. Furthermore, if one does not actually eat food, he will become so weak that he won’t even have strength to talk about it...

So too, with regard to spiritual “food”. One can talk about and have strong beliefs about the importance of Mitvos, and may even espouse to have a strong desire to fulfill them; nevertheless, the Neshama will not be nourished from talk and belief alone. One has to actually do the Mitzvos.

המעשה הוא העיקר

Igros Kodesh Vol 9 – Rosh Chodesh Elul 5714

Green Stems and Red Petals

A teacher once instructed her students to take out their crayons and paper for "drawing time".

"We are now going to draw," she said.

The students took our their supplies and were just about to begin...

"Wait!" the teacher said. "I will tell you when to start..."

The teacher waited till all of the students placed their crayons back on their desks.

"Today we are going to draw a flower," she instructed.

The children picked up their crayons...

"Wait! Like this..." the teacher said. 

Walking over to the blackboard, the teacher began to draw a green stem and a flower with six red petals, and instructed the students to do the same.

The students dutifully copied the teacher's flower.

And so went art instruction in this class.

One day a child from this class visited a school in another town.

In Hot Pursuit

“Please let water be taken to wash your feet, and recline in the shade of the tree. Let me take for you some bread…”

Once they accepted his invitation, Avraham served the three angels a meal fit for a king, replete with the choicest meat, fatty cream, fresh bread and milk.

Our Chachomim learn from this that a Tzadik says little and does much. Hence, Avraham’s offer for “a little bread” was, in the end, much, much more.

The question is raised: For a Tzadik who spoke little and did much, why did Avraham elaborate so much in the beginning of his invitation. “Please let water be taken, so that you can wash your feet, and rest under the tree.” Surely, a short, “Please come wash your feet and rest” would have sufficed.

Clean Those Lenses!

So once upon a time there was a man who had a pair of lenses he would wear. One day, he got a smudge on his lenses and he didn't bother wiping it off. The next day, another smudge. He was too busy to clean them. The smudges continued to accumulate until it came to a point that he forgot that the world was actually clear and had straight, smooth lines and features. He started to believe that everything didn't just appear smudged to him, but rather the world itself was actually and truly blurry.

Until one day, someone pointed out his problem to him. He was shocked and overjoyed to realize that he had only forgotten about the importance of cleaning his lens on a regular basis. Sure enough, now he could see things as they really were and from then on, he made sure to clean his lenses anytime they got smudged, so that the accumulation wouldn't happen again. He did not want to get used to that false reality ever again.

Now of course, you have probably figured out that this story is a parable. Obviously people don't think that the world itself is blurry just because their lenses are perpetually dirty. However, I have come to realize that in fact, it is very easy for us to get smudged lenses in a different way.

Appealing Apples

The little bird was perched atop a high branch enjoying the summer breeze. Suddenly, the tree began swaying, as a bear began to climb the trunk.

“What are you looking for?” asked the bird.

“Don’t mind me, Birdie,” answered the bear. “I came up here to eat apples…”

“But Bear, this isn't an apple tree,” the bird pointed out. “There are no apples here!”

“That’s ok,” answered the bear. “I brought my own apples.”

***

Rebbi says that the desired path in life for man to choose for himself, is one that serves to beautify its followers, and brings beauty to those around him. (Avos 2:1)

A number of questions arise at first glance:

Three Jews, One Truth

A Chossid once consulted with his Rebbe, “I heard that it’s a good segulah for Parnasa to say Parshas Hamon (the portion of the Torah that describes the Jews’ eating the Mon in the desert).”

His Rebbe answered: “True, it is. But only if it is said before eight o’clock in the morning. After eight o’clock, you need to go out and work…”

***

Parnasa comes from Hashem. And, Hashem tells us what we need to do in order to receive it: וברכך בכל אשר תעשה. Parnasa will come in that which you do. Meaning, Hashem is commanding us to make a vessel in nature, a conduit through which His blessings will reach us.

The Hidden Mitzvah

The Chofetz Chaim once traveled with a Talmid in a taxi cab. After paying the driver, the Chofetz Chaim pointed out to the Talmid that he just did a Mitzah.

“What Mitzvah?” the Talmid asked, “He provided a service, so I had to pay him!”

The Chofetz Chaim explained:
You just fulfilled the Mitzvah of ביומו תתן שכרו, to pay a day-laborer on the day he did the work for you.

Rabbi Chananya Ben Akashia said:
רצה הקב"ה לזכות את ישראל לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצוות
Hashem wanted to give us opportunities to be meritorious (or, to refine us), therefore He gave us many Mitzvos. (Makos 23b)

The Fool's Vacation

Regardless of the importance of what we do, we cannot ignore our need to eat, drink, sleep… even breathe.  Hashem created us with certain physical limitations, and in order to focus on our Tafkid we must take the time, however short or long, to tend to these “limitations”.

It follows, that “taking a break” or vacationing, is not something that a Yid chooses to do, per se. A Yid takes breaks so that he can continue his work afterwards with refreshed energy and focus.

Taking a break, while ignoring our true “needs”, can actually have the opposite effect on the very health we sought to improve...

Thriving vs. Surviving

It was the summer of 5626-1866. The Rebbe Rashab, who was a young boy at the time, had a debate with his older brother Zalman Ahron about the uniqueness of a Jew. Zalman Ahron argued that Yidden are special because they learn Torah, Daven, etc.

“But what about those who don’t?” asked the Rashab, “What is special about them?”

Zalman Ahron did not have what to answer, and the conversation came to the attention of the Rebbe Maharash.

The Rebbe asked the Rashab to call the servant Bentzion. The conversation, as retold by the Frierdiker Rebbe, went like this:

The Rebbe Maharash: “Bentzion, did you eat?”

Bentzion: “Yes.”

The Rebbe: “Did you eat well?”

Bentzion: “What does ‘well’ mean? I am satisfied, Boruch Hashem.”