On the eve of Simchat Torah, many synagogues auction the three major honors of the day, with proceeds benefiting the synagogue or other Jewish institutions.
On the eve of Simchat Torah, many synagogues auction the three major honors of the day, with proceeds benefiting the synagogue or other Jewish institutions.
While on a summer vacation on the East Coast, my family and I visited some spectacular sights in northwestern North Carolina, especially near Ashville.
The midrash in the Yalkut Shimoni uses this insight to provide a beautiful homily. The midrash points out that the one who flees from positions of honor and authority, achieves honor and authority.
The great violinist, Itzhak Perlman, suffered from polio as a child and ever since has been in a wheelchair. On one occasion, while performing a violin concerto, one of the strings broke. It occurred in the very first movement with an audible ping. Everyone waited to see what he would do. With astonishing virtuosity, he continued as if nothing had happened, playing through to the finale using only the remaining three strings.
While studying for rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University in the late \’70s, I was at the main study hall dedication where the late Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik spoke, honoring the great philanthropist, Joseph Gruss, who underwrote the project.
Chauvinism, of one kind or another, probably has always been with us. This week\’s Torah reading, Parshat Vayera, for example, appears to lend itself to the charge of male chauvinism. The Torah tells us that the three angels who came to visit Abraham brought news that Sarah would give birth to Abraham\’s son. Sarah laughed when she heard this, whereupon God chastised her, saying to Abraham, \”Why is it that Sarah laughed … is anything too hard for the Eternal?\” (Genesis 18:13-14).
Recently, I came across a story about a man who made the \”unforgivable\” mistake of missing his wife\’s birthday. When the wife expressed her anger, the quick-witted husband responded, \”Sweetheart, how do you expect me to remember your birthday when you never look any older?\”
If only that were true, and we could find the secret elixir for everlasting youth, we would all be happier. Although some French winemakers would like us to believe that imbibing one glass of French wine each day will do the trick, most of us realize that, considering the alternative, aging is a blessing.
Did you ever notice how we tend to make up our minds so quickly that we become closed to ideas that might change our opinion?
Recently, I came across the following sign prominently displayed on an executive\’s desk that succinctly summarized it: \”Don\’t confuse me with facts — my mind is already made up.\”
If that is true about life in general, it is even truer about the way we judge people. We rarely give people much time before we decide what we think of them. It is this very point that Judaism teaches in a fascinating fashion in this week\’s Torah portion.
What makes a good parent? Once, while waiting on line at Passport Control in Israel, I overheard two American couples talking.
Each was describing how much luggage they had brought. Finally, one said to the other, \”We brought nothing for ourselves. The truth is we could have done just fine with a carry-on case. All our oversized bags are filled with items for our children and grandchildren. We took orders for whatever they wanted and shlepped it here.\” Then she added the ultimate Jewish thing. \”Isn\’t that what parents are supposed to do?\”
The other couple, nodding in agreement, replied, \”Yes, and may you do so for 120 years.\”
Suddenly from all over the hall came, \”Amen!\”
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