Drunkards and Highways

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Bs"d

Drunkards and Highways

One nice day, the Russian czar decided to make a surprise visit to an army base somewhere in Russia. Dressed in civilian clothing, he trudged through the snow. When he finally reached the base, he found it neglected and empty. A Russian himself, the czar knew where to find his men: in the tavern.

Indeed, the tavern was full of soldiers making merry and drinking hard. The czar stood at the side, waiting.

Finally, about two hours later, one soldier stood up and reminded his comrades of their duties and how they better go back before the general would arrive to the base.

Hanging on each other for support and balance, the drunken soldiers began the mile-long trek "home". Foot by foot, step by step, men were falling. What had begun as a group of two hundred soon dwindled down to a mere handful. And the czar didn't do a thing.

About five feet before the gate, a soldier collapsed. The czar walked over to him and made a red mark on his neck. Two feet ahead, another soldier collapsed. Only three soldiers made it to the base.

The next day, the whole division was informed of an imminent inspection by the czar. The soldiers quickly got into high alert, cleaning and polishing. This was no joke.

The czar walked through the rows of soldiers, oblivious to the cleanliness and effort of his men. He was looking for something; he was after the mark.

And he saw it. He ran up to the soldier, raised his hand and slapped the lad over and over, mercilessly.

With the last ounce of his strength, the beaten soldier begged for an explanation. The czar replied that this was a consequence for him going to the bar.

The beaten soldier was at loss. "But, but…. everyone else went!" he sputtered. "Besides, I deserve credit for making it so close to base."

The czar looked at him thoughtfully and said, "We are humans, and humans make mistakes. Am I upset that my soldiers left their posts? Yes, but I can understand and forgive them.

"Why do I forgive them? Because when those drunken soldiers fell to the floor, I watched how they fell with their head towards the base, proving their commitment and loyalty to the place where they want to be – my army. Okay they failed, but their hearts were in the right place.

"You on the other hand made it almost all the way – your body was in the right place, your heart however was in the wrong place. How do I know? Because when you fell, you fell backwards, your head away from the base. Thus, your true loyalties were revealed."

What a lesson for life!

It's now so much where you reach in life; it is where you are headed. As long as we are on the right road, G-d can forgive us for the reverses. However if we're on route 95 instead of route 75, the more we travel, the further we are from where we should have begun…

'Massei' – journeys is the name of our Parshah in which the 42 journeys of the children of Israel are discussed in detail. Note how we refer to those 42 steps as journeys, not as stops.

Forward. One step at a time…

Moshiach Now!

(Rabbi) Levi Avtzon 

 

 

A Story to Touch Your Soul

Friday afternoon July 18^th Wal-Mart Honesdale PA.

As the only Wal-Mart in a thirty mile radius, it attracts many shoppers who come looking for unbeatable prices and a great variety of goods. Each person minds his/her own business, locked up in their own world of bargains and maxed out credit cards.

The boys of a local Yeshivah are here to shop for cheap soda and water. But they have another mission as well: to reach out to another Jew and do a Mitzva with him.

The number of Jews in the area is relatively small, so the challenge to "grab" a Jew is quite a challenge. After a long time, the work paid off. A Jew was found! Well he's almost sure he's Jewish. His maternal grandmother had a real Jewish name something like Horowitz, and he remembers how his grandma would make cinnamon luckshin kugel every so often… a sure sign!

No time to lose. Did he ever put on Tefillin? No! Wow a Karkafta (a newbee), it's pretty rare you meet an unwrapped Jew, and the feeling is quite satisfying. In a second he was totally wrapped with the Jewish antennas, and was praying tearfully to G-d.

A warm handshake and "Shabbat shalom" and it was over. Just another typical Friday afternoon occurrence for a Chabad student.

Shabbat afternoon July 19^th Lackawaxen PA, (25 miles away from Wal-Mart).

After serving the Shabbos meal, the Yeshiva's waiter Dovid decided he needed a break. How about a shabbos walk he told himself, so off he went to the river down in the mountains. The weather was great, the view was breathtaking, and immediately his mood was uplifted.

Upon reaching the river, he sees a car parked on the side, by the river stood a couple fishing. "Hey!" he called out to them. "Good afternoon to you", they smiled.

"Oh by the way, said the man, are you the boys I did a Mitzva with yesterday in Wal-Mart?"

David who had heard about the "Karkafta", responded that although he wasn't the one who did the Mitzva with him; he was from the same group of boys just down the road. And no, although they both have beards, they are not brothers, and not even related!

"Wow! What a coincidence, said the man who by now had introduced himself as Bob, I live thirty miles away, who would ever imagine we would meet again?"

Dovid smiled, "This is not a coincidence; this is divine providence."

A conversation ensued, with Dovid enlightening Bob on Judaism, and Bob 'enlightening' Dovid on fishing…

After an hour or so of conversation they started saying their goodbyes. Dovid reminded Bob to strengthen his Jewish observance; Bob wasn't sure, "I didn't grow up like this…"

Dovid smiled as he slowly walked away, "It's never too late…"

Bob shrugged as he began lowering himself into the water for a dip. He first put his hand into the water, his hand felt something, he grabbed it and pulled it out of the water for all to see…

It was a kippa (skull-cap) … a soaking wet black kippa. Without a moment hesitation he put it on his head.

The water dripped down his face but he didn't seem to mind, he was in a trance. His wife and Dovid just stood there awestricken by the unbelievable event that has just transpired before their eyes.

After a long moment of silence, Bob smiled "This is the second sign from heaven, two days in a row, telling me to finally come home."

Having just been taught some of the laws of Shabbos by Dovid, he knew that fishing was not permitted. "G-d had just told me to keep Shabbat", he smiled as he walked out of the water. His wife just nodded her head in agreement.

Later that day in Yeshiva Dovid told his story, a story of a lone Jew in the hills of Pennsylvania and his great father in heaven.

This story is not over, if fact it has barely begun…

Thunderstorms

As a staff member in a summer Yeshiva in Pennsylvania, I accompanied the boys on a bike trip yesterday afternoon (Thursday). It was to be a peaceful 25 mile drive with scenic views of rock formations and waterfalls. Weather.com "promised" a sunny 92 degrees day. All seemed perfect.

At the starting point we split into a few groups, the fast-finish-first, the intermediates and the slow-take-it-easy drivers. Each group was accompanied by a staff member. I was with the last group.

We were a small group of three plus a guide, and we were taking our time taking in the scenery and enjoying ourselves. After driving for a while we checked the map to find our present location, and we were pleasantly surprised to know that we had already covered over fifteen miles. Eight miles remained.

Eight miles I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Out of nowhere – Boom! The skies opened up in a downpour and hailstorm I have yet to experience. The lightening, the thunder was unlike anything you can imagine. Later the guide would tell us that he cannot remember such a storm in his 31 years as a guide on this trail. (The other boys ahead had already made it to the destination and were waiting for us impatiently on the bus.)

Due to the forecast of sunny weather, I had smeared on my face a large amount of sun screen. Now thanks to the rain it was blinding me. I had to close my eyes for three seconds then wipe my eyes, open one eye for a split second to check if I was still on the trail! I drove like this for over twenty minutes! (driving off the trail more than once) Until all the sun screen was totally washed off my face.

At one point we almost flipped over a fallen tree right in middle of the path. We later confirmed that it was not there just a few minutes earlier…

We were scared. Terrified.

With hail slapping across our faces and hands, and powerful winds throwing us to all sides, all we could think of was:

"We must go on! No stopping! We much reach the destination! No time for complaining! No one can come and save you here, you must do it alone! Yes, it's painful and scary, but if you don't go forward it will only make things much worse.

One step at a time, one foot at a time. Look ahead and go ahead. Go! Go! Go!"

The three of us learned the greatest of life's lessons in that hour stretch…

p.s. just a few minutes after loading the bus to come home, the clouds parted and the sun came out… as if it all happened for us to learn these lessons…

Showing: A Movie by Heaven

Abe goes to see his boss and says, "We're doing some heavy house-cleaning at home tomorrow and my wife needs me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and hauling stuff."

"We're short handed, Abe," the boss replies. "I just can't give you the day off."

"Thanks, boss," says Abe, "I knew I could count on you!"

***

3.

2.

1.

Action!

The camera zooms in on... the donkey on which the main actor Bilaam sits.

Two seconds later the donkey opens her mouth... and begins schmoozing with her boss,

"Hey, - - Am I not your loyal donkey, why did you beat me these three times?"

"Had I been able to, I would have killed you!"

Suddenly Bilaam sees an angel with a sword in his hand...

Director: Cut! Job well done. Scene went perfectly.

3.

2.

1.

Action!

Main actor with a sinister look on his face stands atop a mountain. In front of him lies a large valley filled with 2 million people. Hundreds of thousands of tents are spread over the landscape creating truly an awesome sight to behold.

He closes his eyes, throws back his head and begins his prepared speech.

"How great are you... I cannot curse you!"

Director: Cut! Hey actor, did you forget? You are supposed to be the bad guy!

Actor: Oops. There I go again for the third time! This must be the hand of G-d!

It's all here in our weekly Torah portion. Talking donkeys. Jews in unity and Jews in sin. Bilaam was hired to curse and he ends up blessing the Jewish nation, and finally he hints to the final days before the Redemption.

G-d's movie.

Oh, by the way, did you know that Moshiach our final redeemer will be a descendant of Balak the guy who hired Ballam to curse us?

Yup. With G-d writing the script, we can expect such an ending.

Please Hashem: No more Questions!

Son: why is the sky blue?

Dad: How should I know?

Son: Why does the sun shine at night and the moon during the day?

Dad: I have no idea.

Son: What is the secret of creation?

Dad: Could you stop bugging me already?

Son: Dad, do you want me to continue asking questions?

Dad: Why, of course. How else will you gain knowledge?

***

Dear Rabbi,

I'm sure you heard about the terror attack that took away from us 3 of our brothers and sisters. Just a few months ago eight Yeshivah students were murdered in cold blood. And I ask: How is this possible?

And second of all: How is someone supposed to move on and concentrate on their own lives when they are too busy trying to figure out this answer?

Confused

Dear Confused,

The question of why things happen to good people is as old as pain itself, and although asked many a time, going way back when to Moses' cry "why do you make bad to your nation?" to the modern "Why six million!", it remains unanswered until this very day.
And that is the way it should be.

Think about it: Do I really want to know the answer to pain? Do I want to know the reason of the holocaust? And if I get the reason will I then be in peace with pain?

The answer is a resounding 'No!' We don't want and we don't need an answer to the question. What we need is an end to the questions.

You asked, 'how is this possible?', and I ask 'Dear G-d: Why are there so many questions? Are six million questions not enough? Are 5768 years of sacrifice and pain not enough to take away the questions? Enough questions!

You ask 'how' to move on? And the answer is, not to search for answers, but by doing all we can to remove the question. We should not try to "justify" G-d, No! We don't want explanations; we want an end to pain. We are not searching for answers; we are demanding an end to the questions!

*

P.S. This coming Sunday will be 14 years since Gimmel Tammuz 1994.14 years that the world has not heard the voice of the leader of this generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Dear G-d: 14 years of this painful question is more than enough. Please give us such an answer that will remove the question all together, with the revelation of the Rebbe who will lead us out of exile, to a time when we will know of questions no more.

May questions be wiped off the face of the earth speedily in our days!