Editorial
By Shmuel Tzvi Adler
Judaism is beautiful! YET AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE EXISTS IN THE FRUM WORLD. THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH AUTHENTIC JUDAISM IS MISREPRESENTED. GOD, THE TORAH, OR BOTH, ARE PORTRAYED AND MISUNDERSTOOD AS HARSH AND UNFORGIVING. TRAGICALLY THIS LEADS MANY PEOPLE TOWARDS EITHER ACTUALLY GOING OFF THE DERECH OR REMAINING FRUM ON THE OUTSIDE BUT ESSENTIALLY NON-BELIEVING ON THE INSIDE. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DIFFICULT CHALLENGES THAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH. WHEN A PERSON EXPERIENCES TRIALS SUCH AS THESE THEY ARE FORCED TO SERIOUSLY CONFRONT THE LIFESTYLE AND BELIEFS WHICH THEY MAY HAVE BEEN DOING BY ROTE UNTIL THAT POINT. RATHER THAN DISTANCE ME FROM JUDAISM AND GOD, JUST THE OPPOSITE; MY CHALLENGES AND SEARCHING SHOWED ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE TRUE, REAL, BEAUTY THAT AUTHENTIC JUDAISM AND TORAH CONTAINS. INSTEAD OF FEELING HATED BY GOD, I FELT MYSELF GETTING TRULY CLOSER AND MORE LOVED BY HIM. SUCH IS THE POWER WHICH TRUE AUTHENTIC TORAH CAN HAVE ON A PERSON. THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
“ASHREINU MAH TOV CHELKEINU!!”
THE MOST FORTUNATE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD –
THE BEAUTY OF TORAH AND MITZVOS!!!
by Rabbi Avrohom E. Adler
What a seemingly overwhelming experience!! The Parshiyos of Re’eih through Ki Saitzai contain a tremendous amount of Mitzvos. In fact, this combination of parshios has more Mitzvos than virtually any other combination! So much so, that the obligation to keep all of these Mitzvos can even feel quite daunting. What can we do about that?
Perhaps one may think of a great plan – to simply just ‘forget’ about all these obligations, and live life as if it doesn’t exist (as they say “what you don’t acknowledge can’t hurt you”!). But that won’t work. Back in Parshas Shelach we find the Mitzva of Tzitzis: The Passuk (15:40) describes that the purpose of wearing tzitzis is to remind us of all of the Mitzvos that we have. The numerical combinations of the strings add up to 613, corresponding to the Taryag (613) Mitzvos that we are commanded to fulfill. Uh oh – That means that we have a built-in reminder staring us in the face proclaiming “don’t forget this seemingly overwhelming number of Mitzvos that we have!” With this in mind, the ‘Forgetting Act’ won’t exactly be effective!
What is the proper approach for this awesome responsibility that each and every one of us is charged with, whether we think we like it or not!?
I heard a fascinating story from HaRav Asher Zelig Rubinstein ztz”l, the late Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Simcha in Eretz Yisrael. There was once a group of teenage “bums” who had decided to be chozer b’tshuva. As they approached Purim, which would be their first since they began their return to Yiddishkeit, they wanted to celebrate the Purim Seuda together – the problem was that they needed an appropriate place to host it. Most of their homes weren’t large enough, and although one of their homes had the space, it seemingly wasn’t going to be of much help: You see, this young man’s father wasn’t too happy about his son’s newfound interest in Yiddishkeit. In fact, he was quite upset about it, and there was absolutely no way that he would agree to host the Purim seuda, which he was so firmly opposed to. Nevertheless, the son decided to approach his father and ask him anyway. He had nothing to lose, as his father was already upset with him. He presented their request and expected an immediate refusal (and perhaps an angry outburst as well), but to his great surprise, after a few moments, his father consented! He and his friends were overjoyed, they will be celebrating the festive Purim meal together after all. The question remained, what was going on in the father’s mind, that he actually agreed to this?!
Little did the son know, his father had a plan up his sleeve. The father knew enough to be familiar with the Jewish minhag of getting intoxicated on Purim, and he remembered quite well how in the past, when his son and friends got drunk, they did all sorts of crazy things, acting in a wild and vulgar way. He figured that he’d host the meal with a hidden video camera and video them once they got high. Then he would show them the evidence that their new life isn’t doing anything for them anyway; they’re still the rowdy bunch they were before. He happily agreed to host, adding with a sly smile, “and of course the drinks will be on me”!
The time for the Seuda arrived, and the group filed in and settled down. The father made sure that their cups were filled, refilled, and refilled again, as the alcohol went down smoothly, all the while carefully concealing both his camera and secret plan. As he expected, the boys got intoxicated and he was ready to whip out the videoing device. Although, much to his surprise and dismay, the boys did not act in a wild manner, as they did in the past. They all stood up and began dancing!! Singing the words “Ashreinu ma tov chelkeinu, etc.” (How fortunate are we, how good is our portion!) with tears streaming down their faces!! They carried on for hours, dancing and crying, singing again and again “Ashreinu ma tov chelkeinu!” Their joy knew no bounds, as they celebrated the new path of life that they most recently found!
The following day, the son was quite apprehensive about crossing paths with his father. He knew that whatever the father had in mind when agreeing to host the Purim seuda, what transpired at the meal was definitely not something he would be too happy about. He was expecting a harsh and angry reaction, so he was quite surprised to encounter his father and find that his dad had a soft demeanor. His father addressed him in a gentle voice and he couldn’t believe what his father said: “Son, you should know that my entire life I searched for happiness. I went from the heights of the Himalaya’s to the lowest of immoralities, and nothing brought me true happiness. I came to a painful conclusion that real happiness just doesn’t exist, and I doomed myself to a life of depression.” He continued, “when I saw you and your friends dancing and singing yesterday, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was seeing genuine happiness right in front of me, I finally found it! Keeping Torah and Mitzvos is IT!!!”. The father whole attitude changed, as he slowly but surely took on Yiddishkeit himself!
As said, the Parshiyos that contain this aforementioned long list of Mitzvos may be quite daunting. However, one must look at the Parshiyos that proceed this list: Parshiyos Va’eschanan and Eikev are full of descriptions of the BEAUTY and HAPPINESS of Torah and Mitzvos, and the absolute greatness of Hashem and our loving relationship with Him!
To name a few: In Parshas Vaeschanan 4:6 – 4:8 “Ki hi chachmaschem uveenaschem l’einei ha’amim etc.” … the nations will view you as smart and wise when you follow the Torah – this means they will respect us because of the mitzvos! … “Ki mi goy gadol asher lo Elokim krovim ailav etc.” … where is there a nation so great [like the Jews] who have a God whom they are so close to etc. And 7:6 – 7:9 “Ki am kadosh ata etc.” … for you are a holy nation, chosen by God to be His treasured nation amongst all the nations on earth … “Lo merubchem mikal h’amim etc.” Hashem chose and desires you merely due to His great love for you. As well as 7:12 – 7:16 “Vehaya eikev tishme’un eis hamishpatim ha’eleh … va’aheivcha ubeirachecha … vhaisir Hashem mimcha kol choli etc.” … and it will be for when you’re following the mitzvos Hashem will guard His covenant … and He will love you and bless you … and remove all sickness from amongst you etc. The Ramban (Devarim 1:1) says that the Parshiyos in Sefer Devarim were arranged intentionally in this order, where the earlier Parshiyos set the tone for the list of Mitzvos that follow. It seems that a significant aspect of this is the Pesukim that describe the amazing beauty of Torah and Mitzvos. Through that we develop the correct mindset. We are so fortunate to be Yidden, to have Torah and Hashems commandments, and the rich and loving relationship with Hashem that Torah and His commandments provide. As the father in the previous story came to join his son and friend’s recognition, there is no true happiness other than the life of Torah and Mitzvos. With this attitude, we will be dancing, crying and singing out of happiness, and then when we read about the long list of Mitzvos that we have and the awesome responsibility that we carry, we will be so joyous! The more, the merrier! We are commanded to…. provide ourselves with the most amazing, joyous and uplifting experience that we can ever have!! Tzitzis will be a constant reminder – of what? That we are the most fortunate people alive. Yes, the amazing beauty of our lives will be staring us in the face, and who wouldn’t want that!!!