The Power of Love
Parshas Haazinu
Posted
on October 3, 2003 (5763) By Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig | Series: Kol
HaKollel | Level: Beginner
The Shabbos (Sabbath) between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbos Shuva (return). This Shabbos offers
us a unique opportunity to focus on teshuva (repentance) in a way we cannot
during the rest of the week. What are the mechanics of teshuva?
Our Sages teach us that when one does teshuva out of fear
of G-d, then the sins he transgressed intentionally
are viewed as if they were committed accidentally, but if one repents from a
love of G-d, then his previous sins become transformed
to merits for him. How does this work? One of the greatest manifestations of
G-d’s love for His children is His desire to accept our repentance and overlook
our wrongdoing. But why does He view them in a positive light afterwards and
why is this perspective unique to when the teshuva was done out of ahava
(love)?
Michtav Me’Eliyahu (collected writings and discourses of
Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (1891-1954) of London and B’nai Brak, one of the
outstanding personalities and thinkers of the Mussar movement) explains that one
of the main components of teshuva is remorse. When a person genuinely
regrets his past deeds and repents out of fear, he acquires a new perspective
of life: he stops to think about the greatness and awesomeness of G-d and the impropriety of violating His will.
As this perspective develops and his outlook changes, he will now view his
past transgression as accidental. He simply did not grasp the ramifications of
his actions; had he, he would have never done them.
But teshuva out of love is different. True
love is about giving. By definition, we cannot give anything to G-d, but the closest thing we can do is
appreciate and express our gratitude for all He does for us. When
someone develops his appreciation for the vastness of the array of G-d’s
constant giving – from the dozen involuntary breaths he takes every minute of
every hour of every day to the breathtaking sunrise he witnessed this morning –
he fortifies his love relationship with his Creator. Thus, when he
contemplates his past misdeeds and realizes that, despite them, G-d continues His abundant benevolence, his
gratitude is multiplied. The repentance borne of this sentiment is much more
profound and builds an even greater bond.
The development of this greater love is a result of the
misdeed, so his repentance actually turned those misdeeds into something
positive in generating a closer relationship with G-d.
Shabbos is designed specifically to allow us
time each week to appreciate G-d and what He
does for us. There is a specific mitzvah (commandment)
to eat tasty foods that we do not have throughout the rest of the week to allow
us to focus on His magnificent benevolence.
The Blessings We All Hope For
Parshas Haazinu
Posted
on September 2, 2013 (5773) By Rabbi Label Lam | Series: Dvar
Torah| Level: Beginner
It’s a big wonder! The Talmud tells
us that “the entire livelihood of a person is decided between Rosh HaShana and
Yom Kippur” (Beitza 16A) and in the liturgy of those days, the Machzor and
Slichos, there is barely a whisper of a request. It’s a serious matter! Money
means a lot to most of us and here a great determination is being made it’s not
a serious part of the discussion.
How then it is decided during these days of awesome
judgments?
A young and very successful surgeon once told me of a job
interview he had with someone who was looking to join his thriving practice.
The dialogue went something like this: The doctor asked him, “What kind of work
are you looking for?” (A nice open ended question) The job candidate took the
opportunity to answer affirmatively, ”I would like to be making over $200,000
and year, and be able to take off one weekday and one weekend day each week. I
would need to have full health insurance coverage and it would certainly be a
plus if my travel expenses were covered too!”
Do you think he got the job? The doctor told me he was
appalled by the attitude. “He made no mention of what he felt he could
contribute to the practice or learn, how dedicated and diligent he was,
nothing! There was no talk about healing or helping people either.” This was a
job interview from the black lagoon. You come in demanding and requesting and
expecting this is what you want? The boss wants to know how much grit and
intellect will you bring to the workplace?! Are you worth investing time to train
etc.? How serious are you!
What do learn from the sagely statement above that the
entire livelihood of a person is decided between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur?
We are going on a job interview and a salary review.
The Machzor guides us cleverly through the process. In
Musaf we mention “Malchios”-Kingship- which helps us present our understanding
of the seriousness of the task at hand. Then we speak of Zichronos- Remembrances
which focuses on our identification with the success of those who preceded us! It’s
an expression of optimism and our confidence our ability to accomplish the
task. Then comes Shofaros- the Shofar which betrays our deepest desire and
willingness to get it done! That covers everything.
Steven Covey writes in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
that a habit (a good habit too) consists of 1) Knowledge, 2) Skill, and 3)
Will! There you have it!
Rosh HaShana is not about us! It’s not about what we hope
to earn! It’s about what we aim to do and accomplish in G-d’s world for
heaven’s sake. There’s always something to do for those who are willing to
be helpful. Givers will find a place to give, and they will be granted the
resource to make good things happen. It’s
what I call “the vacuum cleaner effect”. The cleverly designed machine is able
to pull in forcefully because it’s pushing air outward. That creates the vacuum
into which goodness flows. Maybe that’s what the Shofar is expressing by
blowing out and thereby attracting the blessing we all hope for!
Parenting By Example
Parshas Haazinu
Posted
on June 7, 2002 (5760) By Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Series: Lifeline | Level: Beginner
“Corruption is not His — the blemish is His children’s, a crooked and
twisted generation. Behold, to HaShem you have done this,
your Maker and the One who established you.” [32:5-6]
The Shaar Bas Rabim
provides a homiletic interpretation of these verses. He says that they provide
a profound lesson in parenting.
Some people, he says, behave incorrectly — and they know it
— and yet, it does not bother them. Although they do not follow the Mitzvos, they feel no guilt for their actions,
nor do they try to improve.
And yet, at the very same time, they expect exemplary
behavior from their children. They expect their children to follow the path of
Torah, to study and perform the Commandments.
And if, or when, their children deviate from that path, it
causes them a great deal of anguish.
Says the Shaar Bas Rabim —
they have been spellbound. They are making a tragic mistake.
They need to understand: just as they expect their children
to follow the straight path, the Holy One, Blessed be He, wants that from His
children as well.
The children see that their parents do not listen to the
voice of their Father in Heaven — so why should they do any differently? By not
listening to their parents, they follow their parents’ example in two ways:
through their misbehavior itself, and through their rejection of their parents’
wishes. This is exactly what they should be expected to do — so the parents
should not be surprised if their children go off course.
This is what the verse says, translating just one or two
words at a time: “his corruption” — the fact that he himself is corrupt — “no”
— this doesn’t bother him at all; but “his children” — the same corruption from
his children — “their blemish” — it is a painful blemish in his eyes. This is
“a crooked and twisted generation” — such a person is mistaken, crooked in his
thinking. “It is to HaShem that you do this” —
you yourselves are doing precisely the same thing to HaShem, Blessed
be He, and “He is your Maker, the One who established you.” He wants from you,
as His child, that you follow the good and straight path — and if you do not
listen to your Father, how can you then expect from your children that they
should listen to their parents?
If you would like to have children who are upright in their
behavior, says the Shaar Bas Rabim, then you must be
upright in your behavior. If you listen to your Father in Heaven, then your
children will listen to your own voice.
We all want our children to be good people — I think it is
natural for parents to want their children to “turn out better than we did!” We
want our neighbors and friends to be good as well.
The Shaar Bas Rabim is
telling us that the way we can influence others — especially our children — is
to influence ourselves first.
This is, of course, the ideal time for us to reexamine our
actions, and improve them. On Yom Kippur we can start anew, and set ourselves
in the right direction. We can only lead by example!
Good Shabbos, and
may you be Sealed in the Book of Life,
Rabbi Yaakov Menken
