Gevald or Gevaldik

Chaim Yankel was beside himself. He phoned the police to report that thieves had been in his beloved car.

"Gevald! They've stolen the dashboard, the steering wheel, the brake pedal, even the accelerator," he moaned.

Five minutes later the phone at the police station rang again. It was Chaim Yankel.

"Gevaldik!" Chaim Yankel exclaimed joyfully. "I just realized I got in the back seat by mistake."

***

The Ba'al Shem Tov teaches that the forty-two journeys that the B'nei Yisroel traveled between Mitzrayim and Eretz Yisroel are a metaphor for the journeys that are traveled by a Yid throughout his lifetime.

The question is asked: some of the journeys involved events that were displeasing to Hashem, and some were outright acts of rebellion against Him. How can we say that also these negative-experience journeys are a part of The Plan?

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)

Speed Trap

Have you ever been on a highway and saw flashing blue and red lights up ahead?

If you're like most drivers, your first instinct is to hit the breaks and slow down. As you near the source of the lights, your speed slows to exactly within one MPH of the speed limit, as does the speed of the other cars sharing the road at that stretch of the highway.

Then, as the glaring lights fade into dots in the rear-view mirror, your speed climbs back to the (hopefully safe) number it was before encountering the lights in the first place.

As technology evolved, a driver may receive a prompt "police reported ahead", soliciting a break in speed, even before seeing the police, albeit not as drastic as when seeing the lights, but significant nevertheless.

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.