Dovid Ha’melech writes in Tehilim that Yerusholayim is an “Ir sh’chubra la yachdav” a city that unites. Rashi comments that “there is a Yerusholayim in heaven, and the Yerusholayim on earth is destined to be like it.” We can and must play our part in preparing the ground for this to happen. If we can create the unity, then Hashem will see we are ready for Him to come back home.
There are many areas that we can improve, below is one example.
Awards are given to people who do great things. We get a buzz from hearing or reading about people achieving beyond the ordinary. We also enjoy seeing their picture on the pages of our heimishe magazines and newspapers. Generally, honours are bestowed on those who are the most generous patrons, best parents, supreme masmidim.
When we grant honours, we presumably are also making clear what really matters to us. Afterall we are not honouring the parent with the fanciest car, or those who made the most sumptuous kiddush. We understand what our Torah priorities are all about, or so we think!
This week, I would like to encourage those who organise prize giving ceremonies to consider a different category of prize winner. This prize will go to the person or people who had a fixed learning seder that was so short that even on the craziest of days the learning took place. By learning, I mean actually present and alert, not simply attendance at a shiur or listening online. Of course, every one should be koveah itim , fix a time for Torah study every day. But when it comes to awarding prizes or recognising achievement, we need to create a level playing field where everyone can participate regardless of G-d given academic ability. Those who have been gifted a brilliant mind capable of memorising mishnayos , blatt Gemoroh or Shulchan Oruch by heart should certainly do so.
But those who have received different abilities by Hashem, the less academic or cerebral also need to be recognised and appreciated. They too should be included and encouraged to feel worthwhile. Everything I have written is actually based on Rashi’s interpretation of poskuk 11 in chapter 13 of Mishlei.
“Wealth may dwindle to less than nothing, But he who gathers little by little increases it.”
Rashi comments: Wealth, One who makes his study in bundles. shall be diminished For he will forget it little by little.
Our truth wealth is Torah knowledge. But if we try and cram too much in, then Rashi tells us we are likely to forget it too. Therefore, Tzadikim suggest that we should take tremendous pride in learning just a very small amount, but consistently. One or two mishnayos daily, two halachos in Shulchan Aruch, one aliya of the weekly sedra with Onkelos are all achievable goals and should take no more than ten minutes to complete. The significance of this approach is the daily commitment, whilst taking into account the chaos moments and unpredictability of daily life.
The next stage in this programme, is when the learning takes place. One could easily learn this little amount during a meal or just before going to sleep. Once this amount has been covered, then each person must then honestly ascertain how much more they can learn. The idea is to create a level playing field where every one can achieve some amount of Torah study. It is also important to note that life is a seesaw, we all experience ups and downs, moments of spiritual awareness and moments of disconnection. This rhythm is part of creation. Seasons shift, day turns to night, things change, ups and downs are part of the way Hashem created our world. It is ridiculous to deny it or run away from it. When we don’t achieve our aims, we should not get angry or depressed. Negativity has no place “oz vechadva bimkomo” with Hashem is always happiness. Misery is not piety, but a sin. Rather, our low moments are an opportunity to start again and reassess where we are going. Maybe there is room to award prizes to students who began again when things went wrong , who managed to arrive at a shiur late, despite the struggles of doing so. To put these ideas in the language of Kabalah we can say that good ideas and commitment often happen when we have gadlus hamochin- expansive consciousness and awareness. However, these moments are often a gift from Hashem or perhaps happen during a holy time, maybe Shabbos. We don’t remain on these exalted levels of awareness.
Therefore, reality is often very different from our desired reality. So, we must learn to be gentle to ourselves and learn to love our actual selves whilst striving to better ourselves. Rebbe Nachman teaches that the moon complained to the sun and wanted to receive a covering, some insulation. Afterall, the moon functions during the long cold nights whilst the sun is out in the day and during the summer. The sun replied that no covering is possible as the moon is sometimes large and at times small. The Jewish people are compared to the moon as this is our reality too; times of success and times of challenge. Like the moon, there is not a one size fits all Judaism. We need to adapt to the situation. When we can, we must study more and when times are more constrained then we need a learning schedule that is equally significant and appropriate , but one that takes into account the reality we find ourselves in.
There are members of our beautiful communities who feel that they don’t fit in. They have been taught to think that we are only worthwhile if we can stand and focus for a 7 minute Shmone Esreh, learn without talking or getting up from a chair for hours. Or perhaps sit and recite each day’s selection of Tehilim or prepare food to Michelin star quality, multi level Kugels, that truthfully nobody needs to eat. In the past we were terrified by an external enemy that threatened the safety of our kehilas, lamentably, we are now doing a great job of being our own enemy. We need to get some perspective and create safe spaces for every single Jew. Then we need to value everyone’s contribution large and small. We are called Hashem’s children and we have to act that way. No parent likes seeing their children squabble, or being divided by pettiness. How about we open our hearts and reach out to each other as one big family? Then Be’ezras Hashem, Hashem will bring us all back to His home in Yerushalayim as one united family.
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