HARMONIZING THE DAYS OF AWE WITH THE DAYS OF SIMCH


                      [ IT IS NOT ALTITUDE BUT ADDITUDE THAT
COUNTS: ]     

 

             Picture the
following typical scene as you enter the large airport terminal that is packed
with people from all different backgrounds: Upon hearing the loud speakers calling
out the latest flights schedules, everyone listens carefully to hear of any
updates regarding their flights and take off times.                     

           After checking in your suitcases, with
passports & tickets in hand, you enter the security sector where every
passenger passes through a metal detector one at a time – shoeless, hatless and
coatless beginning to feel slightly intimidated. (If, you are one of the
“lucky” ones, you may also “win” a turn to pass in front of a full body scan
x-ray at no additional charge, which only adds to the aggravation).

               After a final
check of tickets and boarding passes at the gate, you enter the plane and are directed
to your seat, which you will be reminded is where you should stay throughout
the flight.                   

            Finally upon the
airplanes landing the passengers in unison applaud briefly and quickly head
towards the planes exists.

              Since everything
that exists in the physical realm has a spiritual counterpart, perhaps we can
cull some interesting connections (or disconnections as it be) between plane
flights and our spiritual preparations and “flight” which spans the days from Rosh
Hashanah through Simchas Torah.

           On Rosh Hashanah we
also listen intently but not to the loud speaker at the airport but in the Bait
Kenesset we listen with rapt attention the kol shofar beckoning us to the
spiritual “gate” known as the Shary Shamaim.

               On Yom Kippur we also enter the “security
sector” but instead of passports and tickets in hand, we each have our makzors
filled with our hopeful prayers in hand.

             On Yom Kippur we
also remove our shoes and take off our outer weekday garments but instead of
passing through a metal detector and x-ray machine to see if we are hiding
something with bad intentions, we wear white garments of spiritual transparency
that is an unspoken tefillah that we hope that all our thoughts and actions are
seen to be pure and white as snow.   

             On Succos we also sit, but instead on sitting
on a plane travelling horizontally from one physical place to another; we are sitting
– “traveling” within the succah vertically through the supernal universes.

            On Succos we are also
breathing the air around us, but the passengers on the plane are breathing re-circulated
air, while we throughout our seven day spiritual “flight” in the succah are
breathing in the joyous “atmosphere”  of
this Divine mitzvah. 

               Then on Simchas
Torah we also clap our hands, but instead of clapping that the flight is over
so that everyone can get off  the plane
as quick as possible, we spend as much of the day of Simcahs Torah as we can clapping,
singing and dancing joyously hoping to draw this month of Tishri treasury of  holidays, that are filled with inspiration, into
the rest of the year. (May this year we all be blessed with a one way ticket to
the final Geula)                    Shana
Tova

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

REJOICING WITH THE MITZVOS

                How would one feel if their doctor, after medical testing, told the patient that the bad news is that there is an impediment in his heart, but the good news is that it is that it can be removed non-invasively? How much would the patient be willing to spend to refurbish any one of his vital organs? For most people there would be no limit to money, time or effort!!!

               Wondrously, the Creator has imbued within the mitzvah of taking the arba minim the power of a supernatural metamorphosis during days of Succos. How so? Every year we are given the opportunity to acquire a rejuvenated and reinvigorated spiritual heart which is alluded to through the mitzvah of taking esrog, a renewed mindfulness through our lulav, an insightful clarity with our vision alluded to by our hadasim and an enhanced ability to express ourselves, as alluded to by our aravos.

               Likewise just as the four species serve as spiritual channels to help us purify and renew the gifts of our souls, so also through the mitzvah of dwelling seven days in the Succah with the seven Ushpizin, our surroundings are transformed thereby elevating us into a higher state of kiddusha and simcha, that can hopefully continue to bestow upon us throughout the rest of the year feelings of renewal and inspiration.

               How is this achieved? The sukkah is a, so to speak, metaphysicalx cocoon that can help us remove any “roofs” of perceptual limitation and replace them with the supernal s’chach –which allows us to peer through the gaps thereby widen our spiritual horizons.      

           Then on Simchas Torah we are able to dance with even greater joy and enthusiasm being grateful with our connection with all the mitzvos of our holy Torah.

                                                              Simchas Yom Tov 

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

CHAZAK V’AMATZ – ON STRENGTH, COURAGE & TESHUVAH

                                                                                                                                                                                  
Of the normal fears that people
have, one of the most insidious is the fear of failure. ‘What if I don’t
succeed? What if I will be perceived by others and my myself as a failure?” How
do we ask ourselves these questions. They come up in major life decisions all
the time – for example:” Which profession should I enter? Where should I live? To
which school should I send my children?” We usually ask these questions in
trepidation wondering if our choices will lead to success or failure. 



 The Torah clearly
addresses, for us throughout the ages, the prescription for overcoming fear and
doubt when Moshe Rabbinu reassures his disciple Yehoshua saying: (Parshas
Vayeilech 31: 7-8) “Chazak v’ematz,” – “Be strong and courageous! Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains: “Remain
firm in taking the knowledge of your tasks from the Torah and be strong in
overcoming all obstacles in carrying them out. Firm in principles and strong in
carrying them out are the first demands made on a leader.” This means we need
to put our full trust (strength) in Hashem’s Torah acknowledging that everything
that transpires emanates from His will. Only then can we successfully overcome
all obstacles.

   This Torah section then continues with the
words: “…, for you shall come with this people to the Land that Hashem swore to
give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. Hashem – it is He that goes
before you; He will be with you; He will not release you nor will He forsake
you; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.”  An obvious question arises when pondering these
pasukim. How, after such assured statement of security that Hashem will cause
them to inherit the Land, go before them, be with them and not forsake them, is
there any room for possible fear or dismay?

 Perhaps the
Torah here is teaching us all a deep psychological   insight about human nature that even
substantive intellectual knowledge will not automatically eliminate fear and
anxiety. Therefore, the Torah directs us to be strong in following its
teachings and courageous in fulfilling it, in that case Hashem promises us that
He will be with us; He will not let go of us, nor will He forsake us. This foundational
paradigm should serve as a pillar of idealism to all of us that in any task that
we are assigned in life, we will be able to approach it fearlessly and
courageously putting all our trust in Hashem.



            Let us now continue to highlight some unusual
words or phrases in-order to bring us to a higher awareness of how these
pasukim can also apply to us in our lives.

                   The first question
is why the Torah begins with the word     
 Vayikra – And Moseh summoned
Yehoshua, rather than simply saying Moseh said to Yehoshua before the eyes of
all Israel
¼? To this we will bring a comment from the Ramban on the first word of
Parshas Vayikra. ‘After the Mishkan had been completed as the dwelling for the
(Shechinah) Divine radiance, Moseh Rabbanu was fearful to enter it due to the
its holiness; therefore Hashem called out to Moseh to reassure him that the
Mishkan had been made to benefit them through their entering and doing the
proper (avoda) service’. So perhaps we can say that the choice of the word Vayikra
here too was to reassure Yehoshua that his active role in leading the nation
was desired by Hashem. 

              Let us now ask what
is the difference in meaning between the words 
Chazak V’Amatz – be strong and courageous? Strength is a great
virtue but when it stands alone it can be kept at a level of confinement only
being used as a protective attribute. Courageous on the other hand is a
proactive (meda) attribute but doesn’t necessarily contain within itself the
quality of strength; therefore Moshe blessed to Yehoshua to be able to unite
both these qualities so as to be successful in his duties as leader of the
Jewish nation.



           The Torah’s declares that not only
will we be successful if we follow the Torah, but ‘Hashem will cause us to
inherit it; it is He that goes before us; He will be with us; He will not
release us or forsake us’. We can see this as a reassurance to all of us, that
if we listen and adhere correctly to the will of Hashem, he will lead and guide
us through our challenges in life.

          There is also another
profound thought woven in these words of the Torah. If Hashem leads us and
assures us that we will conquer all our enemies, then what are we actually
doing? To this the Torah tells us to be strong – in following the Torah
and courageous – in overcoming our inner personal fears, anxieties and
doubts. That is to say that the strength and courage that the Torah is
referring to is in cultivating the proper (emuna) faith and (betokanan) belief
in Hashem. This means realizing, that on our own the nations of the world and
natural cause and effect would swallow us up, but by being attached to Hashem
through the Torah, He will fight our battles, making us successful.



          At the end of the
Parsha (in pusack 23): Hashem commands Yehoshua ben Nun through Moshe saying:
“Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the children of Israel to the
land that I have sworn to them, and I will be with you.” In the Sifri on Sefer
Yehoshua 7:10 it is Yehoshua leadership that will cause them to inherit the
land, which seems to mean that only if Yehoshua will go before them will they
will succeed. The obvious question is why should the success of conquering and
inheriting the land be so dependant on Yehoshua? If he failed to fulfill his
duties, Hashem could simply replace him with another and yet the commentators
imply that he is irreplaceable.

            This question we will
answer with an extremely powerful lesson in ones personal obligation in life.
In the mention of Yehoshua’s specific unique role in conquering and inheriting
the land in Parsha Va’eschanen chpt. 3 pasukim 25 – 28, Parsha Vayeilech chpt.
31 pasukim 7 – 8  and in Sefer Yehoshua
chpt. 7 pasuk 10 the commentators say that Yehoshua’s personal initiative was
absolutely necessary and that if he relied on others to do the job, he would
not have Divine assistance.                              This declaration of personal
obligation is something that we all can gain tremendous value from. Each one of
us has been brought into this world to fulfill a unique purpose therefore it
behooves us to



 approach that uniqueness as if
the success or failure of it is dependant on our efforts, with of course the
help of Hashem.

         Perhaps another explanation of why
specifically Yehoshua was designated to lead the Nation into the Land and then
conquer it can be seen in his name. Yehoshua is a contraction of two words
meaning: Hashem will save us. This is let us know that the battle for
holiness can only be successful through our recognizing and accepting our
dependence on G-d’s help. This means we have to make our best effort but
simultaneously realize that all our power and success comes from Hashem, then
He will guide and protect us in all our ways.

            May we all imbue our
lives with the true strength of faith and courage of belief only in the Torah,
thereby serving Hashem with all our hearts, with all our souls and all our
possessions.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

DUST OF THE DAWN – YOM KIPPUR

 

 

 

 

                                                   

           One of the most famous confrontations
in history has an interesting “footnote”. 
We are informed by the Midrash that the battle between the angel of
Eisav and Yaakov was so intense that the “dust” it raised reached the Kisei
Ha-Kavod., and then we are told wondrously that all the successes of Yaakov
Avinu, in business ventures and in battle (challenge) as well as the success of
all of his descendants throughout the ages comes in the merit of this “dust of
contention”.
(Shir Hashirim Raba: 3:6:2)

              These puzzling and profound statements warrant
further attention in order to look into the spiritual molecular structure of
this “dust”.

           We begin our analysis with the understanding
that every human being is a composite of soul and body, intellect and emotions,
the spiritual and the physical. When we make choices in our everyday activities
– those choices can either align us with Hashem’s purpose for us or send us
floundering in the opposite direction. It is through seeing and living life
through “soul perspective”, which is “cosmic view” of the world, that allows us
to traverse safely the occasional bumpy “terrain” of life’s challenges.                                                      

               As is well known, Esau, who came
with four hundred men to confront Ya’akov,
symbolizes the yetzer hora’s efforts to try to upset this synergistic balance. That
night Yaakov returned over the Yabuk to collect – pachim ketanim – small vessels
and had a dramatic encounter with the angel of Esau. Near the end of the battle,
Yaakov’s gid hanasheh, the cord/sinew that coordinates balance and movement and
allows us to effect a change in physical position, was dislocated. Perhaps
we can say that the gid hanasha not only represents the pivotal point for
movement but also symbolizes the moral direction we choose.

            Interestingly, the exact size army that Esau
came with is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word for straw (KaSh) spelled  – Kuf Shin. The nature of straw is that each
strand itself is easily broken, but when many strands of straw are bound
together they become strong and resilient. So to in life, each individual small
incident, like a piece of straw, can be seen as relatively insignificant and be
easily torn (discarded), however if one allows themselves to “bundle up issues”
until the sum total of them looks and feels as strong as the army of Esav then
even these minor but now bundled confrontations within daily life can seen and
felt as overwhelming.

The conflict
between Yaakov and Eisav symbolizes the quintessential battle between selflessness
and selfishness. The Zohar in Parshas Toldos informs us that everything that
Yaakov Avinu did was for the sake of Heaven (l’Sham Shamayim). The Midrash
tells us that Yaakov is the symbol of the Yetzer Tov while Esau corresponds to
the Yetzer Hora. At the end of the titanic struggle that lasted until the break
of dawn, Yaakov Avinu was able to triumphant over the angel of Esau. Our forefather
Yaakov, like his predecessors Avraham and Yitzchak, was able to successfully realign
his spiritual genetic propensities thus enabling us to be the perpetual
beneficiaries of this treasury of moral refinement.

           May we all merit to transform each
challenging situation from the “dust of potential confrontation” into
the “gold dust of actualized conciliation” thereby meriting to bring
closer the final redemption (geula) – may it be soon in our days.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

THE TIMELESS TICK OF THE ETERNAL CLOCK

                                               

           Even though we make schedules and
appointments, using time and place as the logistical coordinates for fulfilling
our desired planned agendas, we are all too often humbled when our “watches”
don’t seem to be synchronized with the “time clock” of our destiny.

            For example those “times” when we
accidentally drive the wrong direction on a highway whose first exit is many
miles up the road, or those times when we get a flat tire and need to wait a
lengthy amount of time for a repair man to help us, or those times when we miss
a bus, train or plane, through no fault of our own, and thereby are delayed for
hours. These and numerous other situations in life although appearing
frustrating and inconvenient are golden opportunities to realize that perhaps
the inner message is that there is something about the use of our time that needs
to be “reset”.

        Let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing
our true priorities in life to be “re-scheduled”, spending our time instead
“dancing” to the “beat” of our hearts rather than “rhythm” of our souls? Do we
lose out on the eternal potential hidden within time”, instead replacing it
with the artificial tastes of “momentary” pleasures?

           Let us ask ourselves who do we blame for the
perceived “bad timing” in our lives? Do we blame our spouse, friends, the tire manufacturer,
the transportation company or do we instead see these events as blessings in
disguise as G-d’s compassionate “agents” who are reminding us to reinterpret
these seemingly “ticks of teva” as being specially designed “pulse beats” that
can nourish our neshomos.

               May we all this year be inscribed
for a healthy meaningful life.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia