Rabbi
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi,
Kehillat New Hempstead
Social
Worker, Yeshiva Bais Hachinuch/Ashar
STAM
TORAH
PARSHAS
TOLDOS 5773
“SAME
OLD ME[1]”
Sir Moses
Montefiore[2]
was one of the most famous British Jews of
the 19th century. He was born in Leghorn ,
Italy and grew up in London
One Shabbos, the Chasam Sofer[3]
stayed in the home of Sir Moses. Sir Moses was overjoyed to have the honor of
hosting such a great Torah scholar and he honored his guest in every way,
physically and spiritually.
Sir Moses was a humble man and was always looking to
grow in his observance. After Shabbos he asked the Chasam Sofer if there was
anything he did over Shabbos that was not fully in accordance with halacha.
The Chasam Sofer replied immediately, "I saw
nothing here this Shabbos that was in accordance with what is written in the
Torah!"
Sir Moses was stunned. But the Chasam Sofer smiled and
continued, “It says in the Torah, “And
Yeshurun became corpulent and kicked[4]”. Rashi explains this
means that when the Jewish People became rich and prospered because of G-ds
kindness they neglected their responsibilities towards their Creator.
“I have spent a Shabbos with someone who has been
blessed with great wealth. Yet he has not rebelled or kicked. In fact the
opposite is true; everything is done exactly according to halacha. Isn’t that
contrary to what the Torah says would occur?”
“The
man became great, and kept becoming greater until he was very great.”[5]
Rashi notes that the Philistines became so
enamored with Yitzchak that they declared “Better the manure of Yitzchak’s mules
than the gold and silver of Avimelech.”
At first glance it seems Yitzchak was
banished by Avimelech out of resentment and envy over Yitzchak’s successes.
Despite the fact that Yitzchak’s presence was a boost to his country’s economy,
Avimelech couldn’t bear the honor Yitzchak was receiving above him.
What is more surprising is that the verse
seems to attribute the greatness of Yitzchak to his financial achievements.
While such an attitude is prevalent in society it is inconceivable that the
Torah would base Yitzchak’s greatness on his financial worth. What then does
the Torah refer to?
Rav Shmuel Berenbaum zt’l[6]
explains that true greatness is not measured based on how one conducts himself
in public or based on magnanimous actions, but rather on how one conducts
himself out of the limelight and in the privacy of his own home.
It
is well-known that Rav Yisroel Salanter zt’l considered Rav Zundel Salanter to
be his foremost rebbe. What is not as well known is that Rav Yisroel didn’t
even know Rav Zundel until after his marriage. In fact Rav Zundel was virtually
unknown at all until Rav Yisroel ‘discovered’ him and publicized his
righteousness and sagacity.
In Salant Rav Zundel was known as ‘Zundel
hessig macher (the vinegar maker)’. The custom was that when someone in the
city made a wedding, everyone from the village would attend. At the wedding Rav
Yisroel noticed a simple man – Rav Zundel - eating in the corner at one of the
tables. Rav Yisroel watched in amazement as the unassuming guest conducted
himself with incredible precision and meticulousness to every detail of
halacha. Rav Yisroel recognized the man’s hidden greatness and immediately
accepted him as his own mentor.
The story demonstrates that Rav Yisroel
recognized greatness in the simplistic behaviors of Rav Zundel, how he acted
when (he thought) no one else was looking. Anyone can appear spiritual and holy
when he is davening or learning Torah. The true measure of a person can be
viewed based on how he conducts his physical affairs – how he eats, drinks, and
deals in business.
A Jew has a responsibility to be moral and
upright in every nuance and facet of his life. He doesn’t only learn Torah but
he must live Torah. Even when he goes shopping it should be apparent from his
conduct that he is a Torah Jew.
This was the profundity of the initial test
of Avrohom - ‘Lech Lecha’. If G-d assured Avrohom that hearkening to his
command would guarantee him wealth, prestige, and success, what was the test?
It is far easier to be a good Jew when one
is comfortable at home, can daven with a minyan when he wants, has seforim at
his disposal, and everything is very convenient vis-à-vis his Judaism. The
question is if he can be as devout and dedicated when he is on the road, and things
aren’t too convenient? When he is successful in business and lucrative offers
tug at him and it’s time to serve G-d, is he able to adhere to his spiritual
responsibilities at the cost of greater personal gain?
The test of lech lecha was whether
Avrohom could maintain his level of allegiance and dedication to G-d on the
road when he was harried and uncomfortable, as when he was settled in his
homeland with all of its amenities and comforts. In that sense, the test of lech lecha was a profounder testament to
the greatness of Avrohom Avinu than the akeidah, because it entailed
maintaining his level of spirituality while involved in the most mundane
activities, and despite being unsettled.
This too is the underlying idea behind the
greatness of Yitzchok Avinu. When the Torah states that he became exceedingly
great, it was not because he had become wealthy, but rather it was the
remained righteous despite his newfound wealth. Yitzchak now had many
responsibilities that precluded him from isolating himself in Torah study and
spiritual pursuits all day. He now had to deal with his wells and financial
interests. Still-in-all, the surrounding Philistines recognized that he did not
compromise on his morals one iota, but remained faithful and upright. They
therefore flocked to Yitzchak and preferred to engage in business with him than
with their own king. It was the contrast in moral standing which made Avimelech
appear inferior to Yitzchak, and caused him to banish Yitzchak from his
land.
There are certain individuals who command a
level of respect which causes others to behave more dignified when they are
around. People who speak in a coarse or somewhat unbefitting manner will not do
so in the presence of certain people whom they respect.
The Philistines recognized Yitzchak as an
ethical person and they realized that they acted and spoke differently when
they were in his presence. They admiringly hated him for giving them that
conscious, and they ran him out of town.
A person who exudes such sensitivity in
behavior and speech is a walking Kiddush Hashem – a sanctifier of G-d’s Name.
He does so through his daily conduct, even without saying a word.
As we usher in the month of Kislev we begin
to anticipate the holiday of Chanukah. At the end of the Al Hanisim
prayer recited throughout Chanukah, we repeatedly mention the word ‘gadol
– great’. Greatness entails overextending, to reach above and beyond the
standard norm.
The Maccabees merited miracles during the
time of Chanukah because they acted with heroic courage beyond the norm, and so
G-d in turn performed miracles for them beyond the norm.
Two years ago Yeshiva Bais Hachinuch was
graced with a visit from the then one hundred year old eminent Torah-leader Rav
Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg zt’l. Though he was visibly weak, when he spoke to the
students about the regality of living a Torah life his voice rose with passion.
Rav Scheinberg explained that G-d exhorts
us, “Klal Yisroel, remember behave like you have to, because I take pride in
being your King.
“We have brought honesty to the world. Our
ways are different from the nations of the world. We are not the same as the nations.
There is a way we eat – oh, how wonderful is the way we eat, and the way we
sleep. All that we do is wonderful. We are showing the world that we - Klal
Yisroel - have given everything to the world. They have taken it from us. It
was we, we, WE! Who are the ones who give it to them!”
Rav Scheinberg concluded by passionately
quoting the verse in Yeshaya, in which G-d tells Klal Yisroel ישראל אשר בך אתפאר"
- Yisroel, in you I take pride.[7]”
He repeated the word “בך – in you” four times, each time stressing the word with greater
conviction!
“The man became great and kept becoming
greater”
“Yisroel, in you I take pride”
[1] Based on
the lecture given at Kehillat New Hempstead, Shabbbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos 5772
[3] Rav
Moshe Sofer (1762-1839) was the leader of Hungarian Jewry, and one of the
foremost leaders of Orthodox Jewry in his time
[4] Devorim
32:15
[5]
Bereishis 26:13
[6] B’korei
Shemo
[7] Yeshaya
49:3
__________________________________________________________________
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos
2 Kislev 5773/November 16, 2012
In case you are concerned that this country has a lack of faith, especially with recent efforts to take G-d out of the Pledge of Allegiance, let your heart not be troubled. Insurance companies are insistent that they will not compensate for ‘an act of G-d’, which includes the recent hurricane. [Isn’t blind faith beautiful?!]
I was told that the morning after the storm, the headlines on one of the local newspapers read “G-d hates us!” While it is definitely encouraging to note how they believed it to be in act of G-d, one must wonder what happened to all the agnostics. Shouldn’t the headline have read “Random hates us!” In addition, on a beautiful summer day when the markets were up and things seemed peaceful, was there ever a headline that read ‘G-d loves us!’
But it seems not everybody believes in G-d. This week when we received our bill from the electric company we noticed that they charged us a late fee for last month. Guess why we paid late? Because we had no electricity! What a brilliant tactic! So while banks are allowing a grace period because of the storm, the electric company is not. I guess they live by the old creed ‘In G-d we trust; all others pay cash!’
As believing Jews we turn to our faith as we helplessly hear about the trauma and tragedy that ravaged the homes of our brethren in Far Rockaway, Seagate, Bayswater, and other communities. The beauty of our people shines through as busloads of people from surrounding communities, and even as far away as Baltimore, altruistically gave of their time and efforts to help fellow Jews. But for those who have to be the recipients of that altruism the pain must be overbearing. We must at least think about their pain and keep them in our tefillos. At least our lunch shouldn’t taste as good knowing how much they have lost.
I believe that the best perspective on the recent events was summed up by R’ Eli Oelbaum, one of my in-laws’ distinguished neighbors in Lakewood, who – when asked during the week of the storm if he had power – replied, “I have electricity, but I learned this week that I have no power!”
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
720 Union Road • New Hempstead, NY 10977 • (845) 362-2425
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