Page 4 - The Jewish Voice - October '20

Page 4, The Jewish Voice

From the Rabbis from page 3 his qualities suddenly became very long as she gushed about Appreciate what you have while you have it: Don’t dwell
what a stellar husband he was and her long list of shortcomings on the past and don’t fret over the future, just live in the
Why Dead People Get More was all but forgotten! present and savor the moment!

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had the courage to switch these
May we all learn to give flowers while our loved ones are

Flowers Than the Living lists around: to have long lists of qualities for the people we still living.
love while they are alive, and to save the shortcomings for Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler when they are gone? Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show.
Isn’t it odd that we tend This powerful idea is shared with us in the Torah recently Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com
to appreciate our loved ones as we learn about the declarations of gratitude that the Jews
far more when we no longer would recite as they brought their “first fruits” to G-d in A Window to the World
have them? the Temple in Jerusalem. They would recite a beautiful
It reminds me of the wife affirmation (similar to the narrative at the Passover seder) By Rabbi Paul Arberman
who had a long list of her gushing with appreciation for all the good that G-d had done God says to Noah: Build
husband’s shortcomings, for them to allow them to reach this milestone of reaping the an ark — with very specific
and a very short list of his fruits of their labor. Specifically, they would thank G-d for requirements, including
qualities. When he died having saved them from Lavan, the wicked father-in-law of the length, the height, the
suddenly, an amazing thing Jacob, and from Pharaoh in the Egyptian bondage. building materials, and how
happened: Her short list of Though there are many other events and enemies for to construct the ark. Noah
which we could have praised G-d, these two were specifically is also commanded to create
selected because they enhance the joy of the moment: Our some kind of a light, “a
Rosh Hashanah Meals Distributed from page 1 goal isn’t to emphasize the greatest miracles we experienced, tzohar,” perhaps a window,
but rather those that help us feel grateful for growing our own at the top of the ark. No
gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, carrots, potatoes, string beans, fruits on our land. In both cases we were settled comfortably reason for this commandment
honey cake, honey, and apples were in the baskets, which in the land, only to have it snatched from us at the last minute, is given, but we assume it was so Noah and the people and
were picked up at the agency’s West Palm Beach and Lake by a cunning Lavan and an evil Pharaoh. the animals on the ark would be able to know the difference
Worth offices. Alpert JFS case managers and volunteers, When we realize what we lost then, we’re able to better between day and night, and so they could tell when the waters
following established safety protocols, made deliveries to appreciate what we have now. were pouring down, and when the flood had ceased. And then
recipients unable to drive. The baskets were assembled and As human beings, we don’t appreciate what we have until the Torah tells us that Noah did as God commanded.
decorated by residents of the agency’s Melvin J. & Claire it’s taken from us. After 40 days and 40 nights of constant rain; after 40 days
Levine Jewish Residential & Family Service (Levine This is the reason why G-d denies us certain luxuries or and 40 nights in which every house, every tree, and every
JRFS) group homes and apartments. privileges from time to time. The Baal Shem Tov explains that person on the earth was swept away by the flood, the waters
Clients receiving Rosh Hashanah baskets from the habit becomes second nature and we therefore take for granted began to dry up on the earth, we are told: “Vayasar Noach
Alpert JFS Kosher Food Pantry were very appreciative. the blessings that recur in our lives and we no longer appreciate et michse hateyva, vayar, vihiney charvu piney ha-adamah,”
As Olivia Tartakow, Alpert JFS Director of Community them. When Hashem sometimes takes blessings away from us, Noah removed the covering of the ark, and he saw that the
Directions, shared, “As a client received her basket, tears we tend to appreciate them more and not take them for granted. surface of the earth was beginning to dry.
in her eyes, she said, ‘You don’t know how much this We take the blessings in our lives for granted; but when we What covering? Where does it say that God commanded
means to me and my family. Without this, we wouldn’t encounter the curses, we indignantly ask, “Why me?” Noah to put a covering over the ark? It says the opposite.
have been able to have our family Rosh Hashanah meal. Appreciating what we have only when we don’t have it is Noah was commanded to put a window on the ark, so he
Thank you so much.’” a truth that we all have come to painfully learn over the past could see what was going on outside. And instead, on his own,
six months of this pandemic. with no instruction to do so, Noah put a covering over the
How many grandparents used to complain about the ark. Why? One possibility is that Noah could not bear to see
grandkids coming over and making such a mess: What the world go under. He could not bear to watch every house,
wouldn’t they pay to have them come now for a visit? every street, every person, and every animal, everything he
How many parents who complained about their kids’ knew from infancy on, go floating out to sea. And so what did
schooling would do anything to send them for a full day at he do? He put up a covering so he would not have to watch
school again? it happen. He put up a screen or a curtain so he would not
How many employees who would complain about their have to see the whole world he knew go under.
salary or workplace would do anything to be able to go back We are all a little bit like Noah. We would all rather put a
and have their job security again? covering over our ark or over our eyes than confront the fact
We have just begun a New Year. Not all our loved ones made that there are so many people around us who have significant
it. Never take for granted the people you love. We appreciate our needs. Noah turned the ark into some kind of a cocoon, into
loved ones when they’re dead; the challenge is doing so while some kind of a shelter where he could be oblivious to the
they are still alive! suffering that was going on outside. And yet we are meant
Don’t show them how much you care by showing up at their to see the needs of others. The tzohar, window, is not just to
funeral; show them how much you care by calling to say hi! let the light in — it’s to see what is happening in the world
We are surrounded with blessings, but sometimes we around us.
need to lose some of them in order to realize how fortunate Rabbi Paul Arberman is spiritual leader at Temple Beth
we really are. David in Palm Beach Gardens

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