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.

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.

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)

Making the Extra, Ordinary

According to many opinions, the question about reclining is only asked at the Seder nowadays; it was not asked during the time of the Beis Hamikdosh. This is because the prevailing custom in those days was to recline during all meals, not only on the night of Pesach.

As such, reclining on the eve of Pesach was not an anomaly; it was as normal and "ordinary" as making Kiddush - something the child was accustomed to seeing. And, since reclining on the night of Pesach was considered usual conduct in his family - something the child took for granted - seeing his family recline did not pique his interest; it did not seem out of place. Hence, it did not beget a question.

This is just what we do. 

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.

A Jew in the Stars

When Pharaoh’s astrologers predicted the birth of the Redeemer of the Jewish People, Pharaoh ordered all Jewish newborn baby boys to be thrown into the Nile River. On the actual day of Moshe’s birth, Pharaoh extended this decree to the Egyptian baby boys as well.

Why did Pharaoh included also the Egyptian baby boys in his decree?

Rashi explains that the astrologers were unable to see in the stars if the newborn Redeemer was a Jew or an Egyptian.

The question remains: If the astrologers were able to determine that the Redeemer was a boy, and by reading the stars they were able to update Pharaoh when Moshe was thrown into the Nile, why were they unable to get a more detailed description of the Redeemer of the Jewish People? Why weren’t the stars accurate enough to include the crucial detail of his being a Jew?

Three Oils. One Hero.

A Chanuka Dvar Torah

When the Greeks came into the Beis Hamikdosh, they deliberately defiled the oil that was designated for the purpose of kindling the Menorah. Later, when the Chashmonaim sought to rededicate the Beis Hamikdosh, they could not find any pure oil. Eventually, they found one flask, still intact with the seal of the Kohen Gadol. However, there was only enough to last for one day... (Shabbos, 21b)

***

There were three "grades" of oil used in the Beis Hamikdosh. Oil that came from the first drop (squeeze) of the first harvest of olives, oil that came from the second drop, and oil that came from the third. 

Our sages explain that given the expense involved in harvesting and preparing the highest grade of oil, this "Grade A" oil was reserved for the Menorah, which required only 3.5 Loig per day. The lesser grades were used for the Menachos. Since Menachos require much more than 3.5 Loig on a daily basis, the costs of using only Grade A oil in such great quantities was prohibitive.

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!”

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.

Education On the Way

"Remember what Hashem has done to Miriam on the way when you have left Mitzrayim."

Why does the Torah tell us when Miriam's punishment took place?

Wouldn't it have sufficed to just remind the Yidden of the punishment alone?

***

The Chofetz Chaim was once travelling in a train. He watched a woman get up and open the window near her seat. A minute later the woman's daughter got up to close the window. The woman got up again to open it, and her daughter came shortly thereafter to close it.

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:

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.”

No Compromise

In honor of Yud Beis Tammuz – the Frierdiker Rebbe’s birthday and day of liberation from Soviet prison. 

When the Russian government systematically shut down the Jewish infrastructure in Russia, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent his students to reopen the Mikvaos, schools, etc. Without regard to personal suffering or hardship, these holy students carried out this mission, oftentimes giving up their very lives in doing so. HY”D.

Undeterred by the relentless efforts to of the Russian government, the Frierdiker Rebbe forged ahead.

Disregarding the terrible danger he was putting himself in, the Rebbe single-handedly ran the operation of keeping the Jewish flame alive in Russia.

One Baby, One Message

In one of the most famous court cases ever recorded, Shlomo Hamelech was asked to rule on a truly difficult case: the two women who each claimed that the baby belonged to them. The wise king ruled that the baby should be split (!), and each woman would get one half of the baby. 

Immediately one woman cried out in protest and said that she gives up her claim to the baby, lest the baby be hurt. Shlomo Hamelech then granted the baby to her, because she was obviously the natural mother, having exhibited the true motherly love to a child.

While the logic seems pretty straightforward, there is something puzzling about the ruling. How did Shlomo Hamelech take the risk of ordering to "split the baby"? Is it not possible that the other woman would have protested and ask not to cut it? Or, perhaps the real mother would be so shocked, that by the time she realized what was happening, her baby would be...?

How did Shlomo Hamelech take this risk?

Testing the Waters - Part 2

In Testing the Waters – Part 1, we discussed the importance of delivering Torah to our children in its original, pure form.

What inspections can we do on our pipelines to ensure a pure, undiluted delivery? And if we find fault in our pipelines, is it wrong to continue teaching that with which we (still) have challenges?

Let us first address the second question:

Hashem created us with our shortcomings and gave the Yetzer Hara the job of adding to them. Yet, having blessed us with the responsibility of educating His children, Hashem expects us to deliver, despite our shortcomings. And while we must continuously strive to overcome and correct our shortcomings, they must not hold us back.

Are we lying by teaching when we still have challenges or questions? As long as we are honest in recognizing that these are our challenge and not a fault in The Source, the answer is: No. We are not lying. Hashem expects us to keep our personal struggles to ourselves, and keep doing our best in educating our children Al Taharas Hakodesh.

Let us explore a few areas to inspect:

Testing the Waters - Part 1

There was once a man who owned a well that had the most refreshing and delicious water to be had… anywhere. For years he happily shared the water with his neighbors and with the many visitors who came from far and wide to partake in the refreshing water.

Eventually, the neighbors asked to become distributors of the special well-water from their own homes, so that it would be easier for more people to enjoy it. The neighbors planned to build pipelines that would draw water to their home, directly from the source, and they would share the water from there. And in the future, they would offer their neighbors to draw water with their pipelines, and share it with others… and so on.

The owner agreed, but with a few conditions: All materials used for any pipeline must be from the highest quality, and guaranteed to protect the water against rust and contamination. As well, each distributor must commit to test the water frequently, ensuring that the water received by the end user was as clean and fresh as it is found in the source.