Spark of Jewish Experience

The story is told of a Jerusalem Torah scholar (Yerushalmi) from Meah Shearim, who was studying a certain topic and realized that he needed a rare sefer-book that was not commonly found in most yeshivot and shuls.  He knew that in the large central library in Jerusalem there was an extensive collection of rare holy books, and decided to go there in the hopes of locating the sefer.  As this was to be an all-day outing for him, he packed himself a lunch – an egg sandwich – and headed off to the library.

In the early afternoon, he began to feel faint; that was his hunger sign.  It was time for lunch and he performed the customary of washing of the hands and ate his sandwich.  Afterward, he donned his hat and recited birkat hamazon in a loud voice and with great fervor.  This raised a few eyebrows, but this was how he prayed and it didn’t faze him a bit.  When he finished the Grace after Meal, however, the librarian, a non-religious young woman, came over to him and pointed out that he had made a mistake in his recitation.  In shocked silence he listened as she explained that in the third blessing of birkat hamazon, the text reads, “That we may not be shamed nor humiliated.”  However, as he recited quite loudly for all to hear, she distinctly heard him say, “We may not be shamed nor shall we stumble,” which is not found in any siddur.

 The Yerushalmi gentleman, who was used to saying this version from when he was a child, wrapped his payos around his ears and got to work searching through every prayer book he could find in the library.  None of them had his version.  He was shocked and dismayed, but he would not give in to this non-religious young woman so easily.  He promised the librarian that he would find his version in a siddur somewhere and when he does, he will send her a copy of the page.  Then, he beat a hasty and embarrassed retreat from the library – but he didn’t go home!  He went from place to place searching …

 It took many days of searching in many different synagogues, but he finally found an old sefer where, in the Haggadah shel Pesach, it had his version.  Triumphantly, he copied the page and highlighted the relevant words, adding red arrows around the words so that she wouldn’t miss it.  Then, he mailed it to the library, but since he didn’t know the woman’s name, he requested that the library give it over to the librarian who was working in this certain room on this particular day and time.  After he accomplished his mission, he forgot about the whole episode, and put it out of his mind.

Quite some time later, the Yerushalmi gentleman received a wedding invitation, but to his puzzlement he realized that he didn’t know the groom nor the bride.  His curiosity got the better of him and, on the day of the wedding, he stopped in to the hall, where he looked around and confirmed that he didn’t know anybody there.  He assumed it was a mistake and was on his way out.

At that very moment, he heard someone scream, “Wait!” and he turned around to see none other than the bride herself running toward him.  “Don’t you recognize me?” said the bride to the baffled Yerushalmi, who responded in the negative.

 “I am the librarian who had the discussion with you about Grace after Meal,” she said with great feeling.  “You should know that it is only in your merit and the letter that you sent me that I repented and am marrying an observant Jew who learns Torah.”  She then went on to describe the amazing chain of events that brought about such an upheaval in her life.

 “At the time you came to the library, I was dating an Arab man.  We were thinking of marriage, but despite the fact that I wasn’t religious, I was still very wary about marrying out of my Jewish faith.  He finally sent me a letter with an ultimatum.  If I did not give him a final response by a certain day and hour, then there would be nothing more to talk about.

 “When that day came, I was going insane with my dilemma, not knowing what to do.  I arrived at the library in a daze and entered my room, and saw your letter on the table.  I opened it up and saw two words surrounded by red arrows highlighted in red: ‘we shall not stumble.’  I almost fainted!  At that very moment, all my doubts were resolved.  I knew that it was forbidden for me to marry him, to stumble so sharply.  I notified the Arab – and promptly severed our relationship!”  The bride’s face glowed with an inner shine.  “Not too long afterward, I repented completely and here I am – marrying a repentant Jew!”

Why was the girl so hesitant to marry the Arab?  If she cared so much about marrying outside the faith why did she permit herself to date him in the first place? Perhaps, she didn’t perceive the relationship would progress to such an extent. Nevertheless, she wasn’t religious and it wasn’t important to her. Why then did guilt enter the picture?  Could it be that she really didn’t love him and subconsciously was finding an excuse to break off the relationship. Did she really feel it was a sign from heaven or just fishing for an excuse?  However, one can deduce that her feelings were genuine for she became and married a ba’al teshuva. So what then propelled her to react that way when she received “THE SIGN FROM G-D?”  Perhaps, if we look in this week’s Torah reading, the story will be more clear.

The parsha begins: “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant you rains in their season…”

 That is the standard translation of this opening verse. But a more literal translation would begin not, “If you follow My laws,” but rather, “If you walk in My laws.” Most translators understandably choose the word “follow” over the literal “walk” in this context.

 But the Midrash takes a different approach. It retains the literal “walk,” and links it to the phrase in Psalms 119:59 which reads, “I have considered my ways, and have turned my steps to Your decrees”. After linking the verse in our Torah portion with this verse from Psalms, the Midrash continues, putting these words into the mouth of King David: “Master of the universe, each and every day I would decide to go to such and such a place, or to such and such a dwelling, but my feet would bring me to synagogues and study halls, as it is written: ‘I have turned my steps to Your decrees.'”

What essentially King David is saying is an integral part of our relationship with G-d and a valuable lesson in life. For we were designed “to walk the walk and talk the talk”. It’s our nature to be constantly “on the GO”.  Remember those lyrics from a famous song:

Woke up, fell out of bed

Dragged a comb across my head

Found my way downstairs and drank a cup

And looking up I noticed I was late

Found my coat and grabbed my hat

Made the bus in seconds flat

 That is our mission in life. We are not Angels who are described and labeled “OMDIM” -“standing”. Their essence is a non-growth role. On the other hand: our essence is “HOLCHIM”- “to go” as hinted in numerous places in the Torah.

Interestingly, we follow a book of laws, the Shulchan Aruch and we’re always commenting “that is the HALACHA”.  It comes from the same root as our subject; it means “the walk”. That is a strange phrase to describe our holy book of laws, don’t you think? “What is the halacha?-what is the walk?” It seems a little odd. What can we deduce from the various times the expression “walk” is presented in the Torah?  The lesson is through our walking and performing the laws, for it is HALACHA to do so. This is the essence of our function in life. Quality walking is essential.

 It’s also no coincidence that one of the first commandments given to the first Jew, Avraham was LECH LECHA- go to you”. In other words – “go, discover you essence”. G-d is instructing him to understand the reason why he was put on this universe. So he instructs him to go. Where should he go?  G-d led him to land of Israel. The Kli Yakar writes in his commentary, “G-d was referring to the Temple Mount for that is the root, for that is where the souls are constructed”. This is where he and his offspring will receive the proper frequency and spirituality for the Temple Mount is the factory of which the whole world is formed. No wonder everyone is fighting over it.

 Now, how will Avraham achieve such growth? How will he reach such a lofty level?  Seemingly, he will reach it through life’s journey and discovering the world. He will go where no man has gone before; he will travel and explore through his experiences.

Rashi informs us in the beginning of the parsha that the achievement – the walk has to be chaperoned with the guidance of the Torah. This is what we should be guided with in our journey. As it says in the famous SHEMA which we are commanded to read twice daily-UVELECHTECHA BADERECH – when you walk on the road.

 However, what is inevitable is that life is not always smooth sailing. We all have our ups and downs. One should know what the psalm referring to King David is saying that there is a homing device in each one of us which sets off an alarm. There is a text alert to go back and grab your heritage. There is a satiating desire to join a shiur and drink a nice cup of tea. There is a longing in all of us to explore our heritage. The homing device made sounds where the librarian screamed in her heart “wait, I’m confused”. In her situation there was a spark from G-d’s messenger “Do not stumble”. The message was to follow G-d’s ways.  There are many times when one doesn’t feel worthy to touch base with his Jewishness, therefore the message that the librarian saw “do not stumble” applies to all of us. One should not despair; one has to pick up the pieces and continue his walk.

 There is a touching story about the Imri Emet- Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter (December 25, 1866 – June 3, 1948). Rabbi Avraham would take the long route to get home from Yeshiva every day. His students asked him why you don’t take the known and popular shorter cut.  He answered, “In the route that I walk I pass by an outdoor workplace where many Bolsheviks work. Many of them are Jews. Although we wish all Jews to return to their heritage, it seems like they’re committed to their cause. “

Rabbi Avraham was a Rabbi who looked the part and when he walked into a room everyone felt his presence. “I walked past the Jewish Bolshevik’s workplace and they tip their hat out of respect. Perhaps that is the only good deed, the only merit they will have when they eventually depart this world. Or, perhaps, they might be curious about something and approach me. Therefore, I have to do my part. I have to do my walk for one never knows where it may lead”, he said.

Interestingly, the Yerushalmi Gentleman that infamous day went on a mission. He did his walk, walking with the Torah banner, lunch and all. The rest G-d arranged…………We have to do our part and the rest is up to G-d!