Living with Clarity
Rav Moshe Landynski, the great Rosh Yeshivah of Radin, was once traveling and reviewing mishnayos ba’al peh along the way. Berachos, Pe’ah, Demai… the words of Seder Zeraim fell from his lips.
He completed Zeraim and went on to Moed and then Nashim. Then he began Nezikin, carefully enunciating each word. It was in the middle of Seder Nezikin that he stumbled for the first time. The next word eluded him, and he could not go on. He closed his eyes and tried to recall it, but at that moment, it escaped him.
Shortly, the wagon driver informed his passengers that they would soon be stopping at an inn for a short time. While the other passengers went inside to refresh themselves with some food and drink, the Rosh Yeshivah stepped down from the wagon, entered the inn and immediately asked the innkeeper if he had a set of mishnayos handy.
The innkeeper apologetically explained that he had only a single volume of mishnayos – Nezikin! Rav Moshe was ecstatic, for that was the very volume he needed. He found the mishnah he was up to, located the word he needed, and relaxed. Now he was ready to continue his journey.
When Rav Moshe reached Radin, he went to see the Chafetz Chayim and recounted the remarkable hashgachah he had experienced: “I was stuck on one word and could find no peace. Then the driver stopped at an inn that had only one volume of mishnayos – the very one I needed!”
The Chafetz Chayim listened to the story with his head down. When Rav Moshe completed his tale, the Chafetz Chayim looked up and exclaimed, “Uber Reb Moshe, in yeneh velt, ess vet nisht zein kein kretchme” – But Reb Moshe, in the Next World, there will be no inn [at which to stop to look up the missing word]!
Those who are truly in touch with reality live in this world while focused on the next – toiling not for life in this world, but for eternal life in the World to Come!
(Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash 2, Artscroll Publications, pages 92-93)
Take This Home
Busy with so many mundane matters, it’s not always easy to remember to shift our focus into Olam Haba mode. Set a timer to go off in twenty minutes, and during that time, try to let your awareness of Olam Haba drive your actions and decisions.
In Short
Harav Matisyohu Salomon gives the following mashal:
A family in Eretz Yisrael is taking a ride up North. They drive along a scenic road, enjoying the trip. Suddenly, they see a large sign that reads, “Atzor, hagevul lifanecha” – stop, the border [with Syria] is before you. Do not go there. It is dangerous.
Will the family be annoyed that the government is interfering with their good time? Should they ignore the sign and continue on, past the border? Of course not! The purpose of the sign is to protect them. When they see the sign, they will understand that it is necessary and beneficial to turn around.
Hashem loves us so much that He does not want us – our neshamos, our nitzchiyus – to be harmed, so He tells us, “Stop! Don’t eat this, wear this, look at this – because it can hurt your neshamah.”
It Happened to Me!
My Olam Haba Moment
I was not a happy camper, to say the least, to be driving my son to his yeshivah across town (again!) after he missed his bus. My morning schedule had been completely upended by this extra trip. Then I had an epiphany, and it really changed my attitude. The Gemara asks, “Nashim b’mai zachyan?” With what are women zocheh to a cheilek in Torah? Through bringing their husbands and sons to the bais medrash. Normally, I enable that to happen by getting everyone out in the morning, but this morning, I was literally bringing my son to learn Torah, and with each mile I drove, earning my everlasting share in Torah.
M.C.P.
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