DIVERSIONS OF LIFE

  It is written; 

"Everyone is a bore to someone. That is unimportant. The thing to avoid is being a bore to oneself.” 

 The conscious reflection on oneself, and the conscious effort to perfect oneself, is a true component of the spirit that is inherent in man. To be spiritual requires man to reflect on himself and the more he is involved in the task of improving himself the more spiritual he becomes. 

  I remember reading an insightful remark by Dr. Abraham Twerski that gives a remarkable understanding of the role of man as he pursues the ultimate goal of spirituality; 

 "We are all adept at diversion, at amusing ourselves one way or another, but we are still unable to relax. We entertain ourselves by reading, watching television, playing golf and listening to the radio. To be entertained is to be diverted, for that is what all these activities are, they are all diversions. What happens when we divert our attention from everything? We end up diverting from ourselves.”

 Today, it seems that in life, we ultimately divertourselves from observing who we are and in doing so we ignore our need to be introspective, which results in a lack of true spirituality. 

  As we will read the Parsha of V’eschanan this Shabbat,  we will stand in awe as the Aseret Hadibrot will be read, the ultimate directive of Yahadut. 

 At this moment, as I speak of diversion, one of the Ten Commandments comes to mind. That is the directive of, לא תחמוד, you shall not covet. This commandment seems to direct our attention to our subject at hand, the problem of diverting our attention away from ourselves, and loosing the essence of the ultimate goal of achieving the highest form of spirituality, by focusing on what others possess.  To an extent we are not satisfied with our own achievements and possessions. We begin to lose sight of the dictum, 

איזהו עשיר השמח בחלקו, who is rich both physically and spiritually, is one who is satisfied with their lot, that Hashem has Blessed them with. 

 The more that one is not satisfied with himself, the more he diverts away from himself and lacks the realization of  his ultimate goal of heightened spirituality. 

  I wonder when it comes to our observance as a Jew, what part of our lives do we portray on the outside and what part do we push to the subterranean level of our personalities? 

  It seems our portrayal priorities need to be put into order in a way that we will begin to recognize that the mitzvah of לא תחמוד, will be a reward rather than a commandment. If we live right, if we really keep the first nine commandments, we will be spared from the cravings that otherwise will consume our souls, preventing our growth, spiritually. When we have a deep abiding אהבת הי, then we will have no room in our hearts to desire what others have, but rather our self satisfaction and appreciation of Hashem’s Blessings will become a reality. 

Chazal teach us “If Klal Yisrael will observe two Shabbatot, the Mashiach will come. The question is which Shabbatot are we talking about? The answer given is  Shabbat Chazon and Shabbat Nachamu. Why we may ask? My answer is; “We need both aspects in Yahdut. We need a Hashkafah that mourns the past, realizing that our past will give us the spiritual impetus for a glorified future.  We, also, need a life of Nachamu, a life that sees Yahadut in a state of consolation, in a state that sees a future where peace and serenity will prevail – where all Jewry will be united under the banner of Torah, and where all Jews will live in harmony and brotherhood.  Then and only then will our salvation take place.

   

EMUNAH

 At the conclusion of one of my classes this past week, a young man approached me with a truly profound question. “The word Faith seems to elude me, and I am not sure what this word really means, in a more experiential way?”  I then, began to ask myself, “How many people really understand all the nuances to the word Faith?” 

Permit me to share some ideas of Faith;

Faith - straight ahead, highway of life clear. 

Faith - road closed, travel at your own risk with success 

Faith - surrounds you with a scenic route and beautiful views. 

Faith - always keep your chin up. 

Faith - be patient in life, with yourself and with others. 

 Very often it is easier said than done. 

 

   Permit me to invite you on a road down the primrose path of Faith - Emunah, an ingredient in life that will always sustain us. 

  As we approach the solemn day of Tisha B’av, let us remember a word that, when punctuated differently, has two very meaningful connotations for life. 

  The word in Hebrew is איכה. This word is found in this week's Parsha of Devarim, uttered by Moshe, and was also said by Yirmiyahu in Lamentations. 

 

   In these two places, the word איכה bewails the situation and the circumstances in a very dire manner.  In a sense, crying out, “Why is this happening?” 

  This self same word is used in a different context, in Sefer Breishis, when, after Adam sins in the Garden of Eden Hashem calls out to him, “Ayecha?” Spelled the same way, but pronounced differently and means "Where are you?"

 

  With this idea in mind, I have come to a fascinating conclusion;

  When we answer the question of Ayecha, in a positive way, knowing well that we are living life to the fullest, inspiring our families and our friends to choose the true Derech  Hachaim we will no longer need to use the term Aycha in a bewailing way.

 

  These are times that we need to be more introspective and not fear to search for greater meaning to our lives.  In doing so, we can and will enhance our lives with greater Blessings and greater feelings to reach our true Tafkid - the projected expectation that Hashem has for us. 

  This is the goal of how we can counteract the frightening prognosticating idea of B'Chiyah L'Doros.For this is a propitious time to assess our personal state, realizing that with a life of Kedusha, the road to our ultimate  Geula is open to us. With this awareness, the knowledge of who we truly are will become known to us and with, our strong Emunah,our journey in life will be more dynamic and beautiful. 

   This reminds me of the famous story recorded inGemorah Makos.  

It happened that Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria, Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Akiva went up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies and they started weeping.  Rabbi Akiva laughed.

They said to him: "Why are you laughing?"

He said to them: "Why are you weeping?"

They said to him: "A place, so holy, that it is said of it, the stranger that approaches it shall die and now foxes traverse it, and we shouldn't weep?"

He said to them: "That is why I laugh. For it is written, “I shall have bear witness for Me faithful witnesses”—Uriah the Priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.' 

Now, what is the connection between Uriah and Zechariah? Uriah was in the time of the First Temple, and Zechariah was in the time of the Second Temple! But the Torah makes Zachariah'sprophecy dependent upon Uriah's prophecy. With Uriah, it is written: “Therefore, because of you, Zionshall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the Temple Mount like the high places of a forest” With Zachariah it is written, “Old men and women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem.”

"As long as Uriah's prophecy had not been fulfilled, I feared that Zechariah's prophecy may not be fulfilled. But now that Uriah's prophecy has been fulfilled, it is certain that Zechariah's prophecy will be fulfilled."

With these words they replied to him: "Akiva, you have consoled us! Akiva, you have consoled us!"

 Let us approach life in the same optimistic way that Rebbe Akiva saw the future of Jerusalem and when doing so we will continue to bask in the sunlight of our redemption.

   May we have the Z’chut to see the coming of the Mashiach in our time. 

 

 

 

AHAVAS CHINOM

"Some people see things that ARE and ask 'Why?’

I see things that NEVER WERE and I ask 'Why not?’

There are times in life when we are to take our hopes and dreams into the future and create a life of productivity.

  This Friday we will observe Rosh Chodesh, Menachem Av.  It is a time that ushers a mournful period as we remember, with anguished hearts, the destruction of our holy Beit Hamikdash. As we keep these memories alive in our hearts, we equally realize that the name of this month Menachem Av, uses the word Menachem which, while emphasizing the trials and tribulations of the past, we are so hopeful and so confidant in the saving power of G-D, that we add the word  Menachem - that all our tribulations will turn into months of comfort and joy. In fact, Chazal says that on Tishah  B'Av, the Mashiach was born. What an amazing optimistic feeling. We all need to take to heart whenever we are faced with difficulties and look to heaven for inspiration that will bring a glorious Bracha to our personal lives and to the lives of the entire Jewish People.

   Let us remember, well, that the calamities that befell our people were due to Sinas  Chinam, an attitude that has been our downfall from time immemorial. We have been entrusted with the opportunity to become a Tikun for K’lall Yisrael with our Ahavas Chinum. 

    More than anything in the world we must always remember that we have each other.  As Jews our Arevut will sustain us at all times. 

    We are to learn to magnify our blessings instead of exaggerating our troubles. 

     In one of his letters, Robert Southey, the nineteenth century English poet, tells of a Spaniard who “Always put on his glasses when he was about to eat strawberries, so that they might look bigger and more tempting". In the same way we should put on our spiritual glasses when viewing our blessings and maybe we will begin to appreciate and be thankful for all our blessings that are too often taken for granted.

   We watched, with great trepidation, at the miraculous intervention and saving of the young boys and their coach in the cave in Thailand.  When all were freed it was a moment of great exaltation and reaffirmation of the worthiness of life and the need to cherish the blessings of the life sustaining forces in our midst. 

  True, this may be a sorrowful period on our calendar, but with the realization of our blessings, a greater feeling of optimism will overpower us and we will, then, cherish the words of our Prophet Isaiah, 

   רחצו הזכו הסירו רע מעלליכם מנגד עיני, "Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes,” says Hashem. 

   אחרי כן יקרא לך עיר הצדק קריה נאמנה, "Then, you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city". 

   As we commence the nine day period of mourning, and by setting an example of true human values, and with faith and righteousness, Israel's radiant influence will lead the world back to a sane order and peace will reign on earth and together we will gather to celebrate the coming of the Mashiach.

 

      

  

THE COVENANT OF PEACE

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain". 

Is life worth living? It all depends on the the one who is living. 

It is with this idea in mind that I,turn my attention to a most enigmatic biblical personality, Pinchas. 

Here is Pinchas faced with a very devastating moral delemna as he observes an Israelite having intimate relations with a Midianite woman, in front of the entire Jewish People. Pinchas observes this dastardly act and realize that no one is stepping  up to the plate and he jumps into the fray and acts with a most zealous fashion to rid the people of such a forbidden act and thrusts his spear and kills them both, savings so many Jewish lives who would have perished in a horrifying Makefah. 

  Hashem is so grateful for Pichas' action and as a reward הנני נותן לו בריתי שלום "I hereby give him My covenant of peace". 

   There are many questions, that are presented in face of the action that Pinchas took at such a crucial time in biblical history. At the outset it seems that what Pinchas did was not only justified, but reading how Hashem rewarded him, his act was truly praiseworthy. For with this zealot act he saved the Jewish people from being totally annihilated. It seems that G-D appreciated the action taken by Pinchas, for He rewards him with the Covenant of Peace and the Kehunah for everlasting time. 

    In fact there is an interesting Midrash that points out that the word בריתי שלום, the word שלום, is written as a vav katurah, a split vav, a sort of dissected letter Vav. Why did the Torah write it this was you may ask? The Midrash is trying to tell us, that indeed Pinchas action may have brought some kind of peace, but sorely it was a flawed peace. True there are times that a violent act may assuage a horrendous situation, but it often only brings about a flawed peace. True peace has to be negotiated initially and only when that does not work then we may need to solve the problem in a zealot fashion, as Pinchas did, and to be sure G-D rewarded him with the ברית שלום, a Bris of Shlamut. 

  In fact the Nesiv, warns us that any act of killing, even  for a proper cause can lead one down the path of violence in his future acts, and this cannot and must not be tolerated. One must never get used to violence. 

   Golds Meir said it well, "“We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children". 

    A sense of humanity seems to be lost when ,even for the most lifesaving reason requires us to act in a violent way. This was the message says the Netsiv, for G-D bestowing the blessing of peace on Pinchas, a message for man to remain gentle and peaceful,in his dealings with humanity. 

   הי יברך את עמו בשלום, May G-d not only Bless us with peace, but more so to live within ourselves in peace.