Editorial

By Shmuel Tzvi Adler

Most of us have felt true moments of spiritual inspiration – such as a really meaningful Neilah on Yom Kippur – and as time passed, that experience dissipated, and a sense of emptiness may have gradually filled its space. It is important to stay connected to that holiness (see articles ahead for ways to do this); but it is at least equally important that we not despair if we feel that high level is receding. I heard from Rav Reuven Schmeltzer how important it is to realize that no matter what happens afterward, it cannot erase the closeness to God that one already attained at any given time. Moreover, we must bear in mind that there is nothing wrong going on here: It is completely natural for human inspiration to lessen, the further we get from an experience. A healthy mindset includes the need to be attuned to our human limitations, and this will bring more happiness into our lives.

Here is an example: In the past issue, I discussed the idea expressed by Rav Yehuda Mandel shlit”a, that in our generation the focus should be on the happiness of the High Holidays – so much so, that it is not inappropriate for a person to approach Elul with the same joy as Purim. I personally tried my utmost this year to do just that, and I can honestly say that the past Elul and Yomim Noraim not only were the happiest emotionally that I’ve ever had in my life, but they were simultaneously the greatest spiritually as well! Continuing on this theme, I want to share an incident that infused me with incredible inspiration. For most of the Yom Kippur tefillos, I joined a shul in Haverstraw led by Rabbi Yehuda Leib Reidel shlit”a. I noticed that the shul schedule indicated that there would be a half-hour learning seder to take place about an hour after the end of the fast, and I made up my mind that I would try to participate, at least for part of it. Motzaei Yom Kippur came and I enjoyed a good break-fast, whereafter — with my wife’s encouragement — I made my way back to shul to learn. Admittedly, in the back of my mind I was concerned that I would be the only one there, being that it was after a long tiring fast coupled with the fact that a large portion of the shul including myself are “working people.” How pleasantly surprised I was when I arrived to hear not just a few people learning but actually a few groups of people learning – energetically with a geshmak. WOW! What a kiddush Hashem. A true display of ‘Beautiful Authentic Judaism!’ Some people are zoche to learn all day, all week, all year, and those who do it right are the elite of Klal Yisroel — but until recent times this has never been the norm, or even possible for most people. Then there are those who in Hashem’s eyes are on the same level or can even be on a higher level, who work most of the day, but devote time towards learning whenever possible even when they are tired and it is challenging, be it early in the morning before work, or at the end of a long day in the office. It is clear to everyone around them what is important in their eyes and what they truly value. And this is what God holds dear to Him – this is what He truly values. Yet, one may still be deterred – isn’t this really just ‘settling for less? To this, Chazal say (Menachos 13:11) “Echad hamarbeh v’echad hamamit u’vilvad sheyechaven libo lashamayim;” It is not about the quantity, it’s about the quality! In conclusion, if upon making an honest assessment of ourselves, a person realizes that it is in their best interest to take a step back in their avodas Hashem, have no fear. Take comfort in the fact that chaz”al say that what matters to Hashem is what’s in our hearts – so long as a person is mechaven libo lashamayim, there is no end to the awesome heights they can achieve!

SURVIVING AND THRIVING THE COLD, DARK WINTER *)

by Rabbi Avrohom E. Adler

“Bbbbrrrrr! It’s sooo cold!!” As we pass through the fall season and winter creeps up on us, one may be plagued by the feeling, “How will I survive the long, cold, and dark winter months”!? The five months from Sukkos to Pesach loom ahead, and the thought of staying ‘warm’ and joyful may seem like a daunting task. As always, the Torah has a plan! It’s no coincidence that winter is preceded by the remarkable and inspiring tekufa of Elul, Yamim Nora’aim, and Sukkos. These holy days have multiple functions, and it seems that one of the features is that they provide us with the strength, joy, and inner warmth necessary to carry us through the winter. At the same time that we recognize that the inspiration and elevation of these Yamim Tovim is priceless even if there’s no lasting mark, it behooves us to try – if we can – to take some of the inspiration with us in order to transform those powerful experiences into something long-lasting.  Among the many important and meaningful messages that we can take from this season, I find the following idea particularly poignant: One of the messages of Sukkos, when Yidden leave the comfort and security of their homes to reside outdoors in a Sukkah where we are more vulnerable and unsettled, is that this conveys an experiential manifestation of the fact that our true security comes from Hashem. The Sukkah represents how Hashem surrounded and protected the Jewish people through the Wilderness, via the Clouds of Glory, and the special Mitzvah of annually residing within the holiness of the Sukkah, expresses the idea that we are constantly enveloped by the embrace of Hashem’s love and protection. This, preceded by the celebration and experience of the overflowing mercy evident from Hashem’s method of judgment on Rosh Hashana, and the moving compassion that we are graciously granted through Yom Kippur, conveys the most heartfelt love that our dear Father has for us! There is no greater comfort than the warmth of being completely ensconced by Hashem’s deep and all-encompassing parental love and care!

A few years ago, a relatively young mother in the New York area passed away, r”l, leaving behind her husband and young children. The greater community, and especially those who knew the family well, were quite shaken up. A talmid of mine went along to the cemetery and even assisted in the chessed shel emes of covering the coffin. Upon returning, he was visibly shaken by the experience; especially after witnessing the woman’s children crying by the graveside. He described the sight and asked me in a pained voice, “Who will take care of the children?” I acknowledged that we need to feel for them and be sensitive to their heartbreaking plight, while simultaneously we must recognize for ourselves that, ultimately, they have Hashem who will take care of them with expertise. He asked further, “But Hashem is usually compared to a father, these children need their mother”?! I responded with an idea that I heard from HaRav Asher Zelig Rubinstein ztk”l that Hashem is a mother par excellence as well: The פסוק (Psalms 131:2)  says “כגמול עלי אמו”, we are compared to a child nursing from his mother. The epitome of a mother’s love is when she is giving from her very self, providing the life-sustaining sustenance that her child needs to survive. B”H, the talmid was receptive to this idea, but he remained unsure. When I went to visit the family to be menachem avel, I was treated to a delightful sound. During shacharis, I heard the happy sounds of playful laughter coming from the younger children! Happy playful laughter – during shiva!! I feel that Hashem was sending a message: Yes, He is a loving mother taking care of these children, and for that matter, the entire Klal Yisroel! That is the love that Hashem has! Wow! I shared this with my talmid and he was very moved!

The message is that yes, there’s a long, cold, and possibly frightening ‘winter’ ahead of us – but have no fear! Hashem has us covered!! We are so incredibly surrounded and enveloped by His overflowing love, warmth and protection that we can be confident that whatever trials and tribulations the ‘rainy’ season may bring, Hashem will see us through it. This is the heartwarming takeaway we can carry with us from the unbelievable tekufa of the Elul and Tishrei – Yomim Tovim!! With this in mind, we will not only, with Hashem’s help, be able to survive the long, dark, and cold winter, but we can indeed thrive – through internalizing this message, especially now that we have the proper mindset and fortitude to confront it all with confidence and emerge victorious!              

*) Note: Identifying details changed for privacy

PERSEVERING THROUGH CHALLENGE 

by Yonah Sears

Everyone faces their share of challenges in life. Sometimes, we’re able to ‘charge’ through difficult moments, but there are other times when we feel that we just can’t make it through. Bearing the following in mind, may give us the extra boost we need to conjure up the necessary strength to push through these roadblocks! Chazal tell us that at the outset of Creation, Hashem undertook the project with the deepest declaration of His faith in us, essentially saying, “You’ve got this; you can do it!” And when we forge ahead against the waves that we feel coming towards us, we are affirming to Him that we are worthy of His belief in us. Where do they get this idea? Let’s start with the Book of Iyov: Like all of Tanach, the book of Iyov is full of lessons we can learn. Interestingly, it is the single place in Tanach that mentions the character known as the Satan. Right from the start of the sefer (Iyov 1:6), Hashem points out to the Satan that there is no one on Earth as righteous as Iyov. The Satan responds that Iyov’s righteousness could all be selfishly motivated – a result of Hashem providing him with so much. The Satan suggests that God send Iyov significant challenges, and then see what happens. The Satan supposes that, if pushed hard enough, Iyov would surely fail. This is the setting for the sefer. What we have here is an identifiable scene: A celestial Trial with the King sitting in judgment, and the participation of the ‘Satan.’ But, have you noticed who is on trial here? It certainly isn’t Iyov; he hasn’t done anything wrong. This is the key to the subject – Chazal see a greater underlying theme: the question of whether or not Creation was ‘a good idea.’ It is creation itself which is on trial! And ultimately, Hashem is vindicated through Iyov. Paralleling this, is the story of the Akeida: Hashem promised Avraham Avinu generations and countless descendants, but there was hardly any evidence as to the fruition of that promise. Eventually, he had two sons – one was sent away, and he was told to sacrifice the remaining son. As with Iyov, Avraham ultimately never loses faith. The prosecution had surely argued that Avraham Avinu had not proven Creation worthwhile, but he was tested ten times and remained faithful – proof that Hashem’s plan was justified!

Chazal (Sanhedrin 38b) describe that when HKB”H prepared for Creation, he created a group of angels first, and He consulted with them about the project. Upon hearing Hashem describe humanity, the angels maintained that it was not a good idea – so Hashem destroyed them. The events repeated themselves a second time, and finally Hashem created a third group of angels. These new angels replied, “Ribbono Shel Olam, the first two groups got nowhere, so why not do whatever you think best?” And Hashem created Man. When history arrived at the Dor Hamabul and then the Dor Haflagah, the malachim (among them, the Satan), said to HKB”H: “Master of the Universe, didn’t the first set of angels speak rightly before You?” And Hashem replied, “I will remain patient until ‘My hairs become grey.’ Hashem “in his infinite belief in us” will not give up on us!

This story has repeated itself many times. Jewish people have been exiled and persecuted and faced tremendous darkness and catastrophic calamities. Like Avraham Avinu and like Iyov, Klal Yisroel cannot lose faith, even in the darkest of times. This, suggests Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, is an explanation for the idea behind why we perform various acts designed to ‘confuse the Satan.’ The Gemara in Rosh Hashana (16a) quotes R’ Abahu, suggesting that the reason we use a ram’s horn for the shofar is that it is reminiscent of Akeidas Yitzchok; and Chazal enact additional Shofar blasts to be blown in order ‘l’arbev es haSatan.’ Chazal are linking these Shofar blasts with Akeidas Yitzchok, to use in order to confound the argument of the Satan, referenced in sefer Iyov, and all the way back to the dawn of Creation, when Hashem refused to listen to the angels who said not to create man – because Hashem has eternal faith that His trust in man will be justified. Notice that these additional tekiyos d’meyushav, to ‘confound the prosecution,’ were instituted a􀅌er the Beis Hamikdash had been destroyed, Yerushalayim plowed, Torah banned, and amid the Hadrianic persecutions under Roman rule. These are the Tekios of defiance amid tears, that we do not give up, even when it makes no sense to continue.

Indeed, we ourselves might occasionally wonder if Creation was worthwhile. We can look at the past 5,785 years of history and wonder if any progress has been made at all. But HKB”H believes in us, and all we can do is believe as well.

What all this means is that every time a person faces a challenge and perseveres, they attest to the fact that God made the right decision to believe in us. It is a declaration that though we may slip and fall, we will do everything we can to stay strong in reciprocating the commitment, love, and indeed faith, that Hashem has in US! May the shofar blast of this past Rosh Hashana herald the shofar of Moshiach, ushering in a redeemed world, in which Hashem’s faith in us is manifest in the most palpable way – Amen!