STAM
TORAH
PARSHAS
LECH LECHA 5777
“THE ROAD HOME”
Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt’l, the legendary founder and Rosh Yeshiva of
Aish HaTorah, related[1]: “Years
ago my father taught me the Mishna in Avos which states, “In a place where
there is no man, strive to be a man.” In 1966 I opened a yeshiva for kiruv.
People would point at me and say, ‘There goes Noach the crack pot, the
meshuganah. He thinks he can teach Torah to secular Jews. At that time the
concept was so foreign.
“Before
I opened the yeshiva I went to speak with Rabbi Lazer Yudel Finkel zt’l, the
Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. It was common courtesy to
ask his permission to start a new yeshiva in Yerushalayim. When he asked me
what I wanted to accomplish, I explained that I wanted to teach chilonim
(secular Jews) the beauty of Torah. We had a lively debate with him explaining
why they would never be interested and me countering with arguments of how it
could be accomplished. Finally he said, “I understand what you want to do. You
want to make a factory that produces Baa’lei Teshuva. Du bist meshiguh givurin[2]!”
I replied, “Rebbe, the Torah states, “Torah tzeevah lanu Moshe miorasha
kehillas Ya’akov – The Torah was commanded to us by Moshe; an inheritance to
the congregation of Ya’akov.” On that verse the gemara states, “Don’t read it
miorasha (an inheritance) but miorasa (betrothed).” If I introduce a secular
Jew to his fiancé will he walk away from me?”
“He
looked at me and said, “If you really believe that, you’ll succeed”.”
“G-d said to Avram, ‘Go for yourself from your land, from your
relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you… Avram
took his wife Sarai and Lot, his brother’s son, and all their wealth that they
had amassed, and the souls they made in Charan…”
Rashi explains that “the souls they made in Charan” refers to their
many disciples whom they had converted to faith in G-d. Avrohom converted the
men and Sarah converted the women.
The sefer Cheshbon Hanefesh writes that Avrohom is analogous to the Acadia tree. The Acadia
has many branches that grow in all directions, those branches keep growing
until they reach the ground. Those branches then root themselves in the ground
and become offshoots of the original tree. Thus from one Acadia
tree a whole forest can eventually grow. So too, Avrohom (as well as Yitzchok
and Yaakov) were like the original sources from which branched new wellsprings
of faith, that in turn were able to develop students of their own.
In a similar vein Ramchal[3]
writes that it’s incumbent upon every person to constantly contemplate what the
Patriarchs accomplished, and what it is that G-d desired about them. It is
man’s responsibility to live for others, to assist those in his surrounding,
and to be a source of blessing.
Rabbi Moshe Scheinerman[4] notes
that at the beginning of the parsha there is repeated mention of the word “nefesh
– souls” in regards to Avrohom. “In parshas Noach the masses were referred to
as “basar – flesh”[5]. Due
to their inferior character traits and crass unethical behavior they did not
achieve a nobler encomium than flesh, which conceals their blood and limbs.
That was the generation which ultimately was destroyed in the flood. But
Avrohom and Sarah understood and valued the individual greatness of every
person. They saw each person as a noble soul with tremendous ability and
potential. It was that perspective which drew so many close to them, and
enabled them to teach so many about the truth of G-d. Avorhom’s influence was
so profound that when the wicked King of Sodom came to bargain with him even he
referred to his subjects in that fashion, “Give me the souls and take the
possession for yourself[6].”
However, at times we feel that we are not worthy to teach others. We
feel that it is not becoming for people like ourselves to assert ourselves to
teach others when we have not perfected ourselves. After all, does the gemara
not say, “Adorn yourself and then adorn others”?
At one of the first meetings of the newly formed Agudas Yisroel
organization, the elderly Chofetz Chaim addressed the assemblage about every
person’s obligation to teach others, to his family, in his city, and in his
community. Every person must give of himself with whatever talent and ability
he possesses.
Later during the afternoon, the Chofetz Chaim surprisingly requested to
speak again. He explained that during the break he was told that people were
commenting that his words were directed at the rabbis and others scholars who
have the ability to influence and teach others. But the majority of people
cannot teach others before they have perfected themselves. To counter that
argument the Chofetz Chaim related the following parable:
There were a simple Jew named Mushka who was appointed to oversee all
of the houses and fields that belonged to the Poritz. On one occasion the
Poritz came to visit Mushka and Mushka served him a glass of tea. The Poritz
noticed that half the cup was filled with tea while the rest was filled with
sand.
The Poritz shouted at the Jew full of rage, “What is this? How dare you
serve me a glass of tea that has sand in it?” Mushka sighed, “What can I do
your honor? That is how the water flows from the pipes in our city.” “Perhaps”,
replied the Poritz, “but you still can purify the water by straining the sand.”
Mushka promised to do so in the future and the Poritz bid him farewell.
Sometime later, the Poritz heard that a massive fire had broken out in
his city, and no one was putting it out. The Poritz immediately raced to the
city to investigate. He headed straight to Mushka’s home where he found him
straining buckets full of water. “You fool!” roared the Poritz, “When you are
drinking tea the water must be pure. But to put out a fire you grab any water
you can and try to douse the flames as quickly as possible.”
The Chofetz Chaim explained that there was indeed a time when the
community was holy and only the greatest scholars and most righteous people
could teach and influence others. But sadly, in our time there are spiritual
fires raging in the street. We cannot wait until the water is pure and
unsullied. We must grab whatever water we have and use it to douse the flame.
Every Jew, on whatever level he/she is on, has to use his own capabilities to
help extinguish the evil flames that burn all around us.
Rabbi Weinberg concluded the interview with these words:
“We
cannot fail; the Almighty is with us. We have a Torah that is beautiful beyond
compare. We just have to present it the right away. We have a people who are
thirsty for meaning, for truth, who are idealists in every way… they want truth
and meaning. We have to do our job. We cannot fail if we do our effort.
I pray[7],
“Almighty I know You care about this more than I do, and I know You want me to
succeed. I know that if You help me we can change the whole world. I know You
want to help me, and I know I just have to want it enough. Please help me, help
me to want it, to feel this pain the way You feel it. So that you can help me
do it!””
“The souls they
made in Charan”
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW
Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
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