Whenever school was in session at Pigeon Creek, Abe Lincoln hiked four miles there and four miles back. On Shabbos, when I walk to synagogue, I clock about three miles. Others I know go four and five miles. We hike it for prayer, family, friends, community, learning, growing, and for some, the love of our rabbis.
How can you not love someone who is trying so hard to help make you a better person?
I am blessed with having a plethora of rabbis to learn from. Some I know personally and some I only know from their books. “Man is Not Alone” by Abraham Joshua Heschel was a life changer for me. After reading it, I was convinced there was a God.
Rabbi Elazar Muskin of Young Israel of Century City is my rabbi. I am wholly disappointed when he’s out of town and I don’t hear him speak on Shabbos. He makes me laugh, cry, question, and, best of all, opens my heart. He is considered by many one of the best pulpit rabbis. If you go by me, he is the best.
Recently, I heard the terrific Rabbi Mahler of YICC’s Young Community Minyan speak. He said, “We need things in our lives that are non-negotiable.” He said, “It might be learning Torah, taking a class, being kind.” For me, it’s doing what my wife says. Now that’s a real non-negotiable.
Now we come to Rabbi Zev Wiener. Along with Rabbi Muskin, Rabbi Zev is one of my non-negotiables. He is the resident Maggid Shiur (rabbi that lectures). He’s 38, trim, with a very friendly face. He does not have a disarming smile because he’s never trying to disarm you. His memory would put most elephants to shame. Rabbi Zev is a rabbi, psychiatrist, husband, father, son, and a deep thinker. He has a rare, everyman ability to be able to simply convey his deep thoughts to an average person. At least I think he does.
When I tell him an idea I’ve come up with, I always walk away thinking he enjoyed it and learned something. Enjoyed it maybe. Learned something, I should live so long. He does it all with warmth and humility. When Rabbi Zev teaches, it never comes across, “Look how smart I am.” He seems like any other guy who’s telling you a story at the gym.
In the traditional world on Shabbos afternoons, there is a third meal called Seudah Shlishit. Along with the food, there are always words of Torah spoken. It’s generally not nearly as well attended as the morning service. But that’s all changed since that became Rabbi Zev’s spot to teach.
Since he started teaching, the afternoon crowd has almost tripled. It’s not the egg salad or Diet Coke that’s yanking us back. For many, it’s that he is brilliant and ends most of his talks with a life-affirming message that almost always leaves you with more hope than you came in with. Even his parents hoof it back almost every week.
Since Rabbi Zev started teaching, the afternoon crowd has almost tripled. It’s not the egg salad or Diet Coke that’s yanking us back.
When I pray, I usually sit within three or so seats from him, and two of his children. I like sitting near good people, hoping they rub off on me. I watch how, when he prays, he seems to dive into the deep end of the pool. With his eyelids shut tight, he seems to be trying to meet God head-on. Flanked left and right of him, his young son and daughter stand within inches of him.
Very soon Rabbi Zev and his family will move to Israel for about a year. Maybe longer. Maybe forever. When he told me he was moving, my heart sunk. I said, “That’s great.” But I didn’t mean it. I don’t want him to leave. I want him to stay for me and for all the others who love him. I suggested to him that he send a video every week, even if it’s 10 minutes long, so we don’t lose track of him completely.
But now, more than ever, I have a great reason to head off to Israel. One of my rabbis is going to be there. I need to go and learn with him. And I need to tell him some of my new deep thoughts.
Mark Schiff is a comedian, actor and writer, and host of the ‘You Don’t Know Schiff’ podcast.
