By: Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky – Chabad Jewish Center of Doral Florida
Recently I had the privilege of spending a Shabbos in Crown Heights. It was “just another Shabbos”, not the Kinus, not Tishrei etc. As such, I had the time and opportunity to spend some time with my siblings and / or just sit around in Shul and absorb the atmosphere. In our conversations, of course the very important topic of “The Call of The Shofar” came up.
Jokingly, I reacted with a likewise weird name that I would like to call the imaginary therapy group that I’m founding. “The Shake of The Lulav!” What a great weird name! Attractive, buzzy and stimulating (you have to admit, I got you thinking!).
An interesting argument I heard from a Yungerman, got me thinking. He made the point that there are many young married guys who are thirsty for something; looking for guidance and direction. Some perhaps are even suffering slightly from detachment and disillusionment. Clearly these guys could benefit from some program, should there be one.
I was very impressed and in fact overwhelmed by the so many, various Torah and Chassidus publications available. Where ever one goes in Shul, one encounters a Dach Yomi or a Chassdidisher Parsha, reminders for Shiurim and other print matter with Chassidishe stories and information. It was so pleasing to find out that so many Shiurim are available around town, including Batei Midrash open almost around the clock.
One of my siblings shared with me, to my delight, that he recently began attending a morning Shiur at 6:15 followed by Shacharis with a Minyan. Out of curiosity I asked him how many people attend? He told me that only 2 participants attend on a regular basis – up to maybe 5.
Now, that was disappointing to hear. It would have been so much nicer to hear about better attendance at the Shiurim. I certainly cannot pass judgment or scrutiny on anyone. However, I do have the privilege throughout the work week to study with many people (who are perhaps not as close (yet) to Yiddishkiet as could be) IN THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS and during the day. It’s always amazing how they are ready to stop everything they are doing to study or hear a few words of Torah.
THE SHAKE OF THE LULAV…
While waiting standby for a plane back home, I had lots of time to think. “That’s not a funny name after all, in fact it has so much meaning.”
The Rebbe explains the reason why it is the Lulav that is the one we shake and make the blessing over. Why the Lulav stands out and is recognized over the Esrog. It’s because of the quality of Torah that it symbolizes. It is the power of the Torah that helps protect one from the various threats represented in the six directions of the world. All the challenges we face out there are thwarted off through the shaking of the Lulav (See Shaarei HaMoadim Chag Hasukos page 153).
In plain simple English: Learning and living Torah really helps one get through life! Of course there are times and situations when one may need therapy or personal counseling for various situations that mey come up in life. However, if one is “just looking for meaning” or “needs some fulfillment and sense of direction”, there’s Baruch Hashem a plethora of Maamorim and Sichos in almost every common language available for our “needs”. It’s up to the Mashpiim to provide meaningfully tailored Shiurim for various levels and crowds so that anyone can become “fulfilled” and find meaning.
Who knows, maybe this is one of the things The Rebbe meant with his heartfelt request to establish Mashpiim and guides for the community? Isn’t it so obvious that it’s not enough to just condemn the bad groups, rather we must provide a good alternative. The symptom is the fact that Yungeliet are looking elsewhere for guidance.
The actual illness is the fact that there aren’t enough varied groups and Shiurim available. Yes, we must galvanize all those great Mashpiim and common folk who are capable of delivering Shiurim with interest and excitement. Maybe even provide interestins alternatives for those who aren’t terribly excited of sitting through a boring or meaningless Farbi due to lack of the proper personalities available to step up to the plate.
One thing is for certain and I see it on a regular basis, when people learn Torah – in any capacity or format – they become closer to Yiddishkiet and life of meaning and purpose. I’m amazed at how Yidden become more observant in Mitzvos just after several Shiurim. Certainly, “our own” would benefit the same way our Mekuravim do, if not more.
So, Let’s get the Lulavs Shakin’! Let’s go to Shiurim, learn ourselves, encourage our friends to do the same and if you are capable of stimulating others with a good Shiur or program – DO SO! Just SHAKE THE LULAV!
Happy Sukkos! I mean Purim.
P.S. Dear Women. You are also accustomed to doing the Mitzva of Lulav with a Bracha. Please encourage your husbands and sons to participate in learning Torah on a regular basis – it’s your obligation and Z’chus!
Spin of the draidel or crunch of the matza what about smell of the esrog !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nicer shiurim, nicer facitilies, yes.
I took a JLI course at Chabad House in Manhattan. Looked interesting and it was. Nowhere in CH was it offered. Why not?
It was a beautiful class with Powerpoint presentations, a prepared booklet, etc. A lot of thought went into the prep. Why is a class like that not even available in CH?
sounds like a great name for a tznius program
i am “shaken” up and excited to go get em!!! so nice to read such a postive and encourging article!!!
And I am opening an organisation called the Curl Of The Sheitel. (www.curlofthesheitel.com) that’s COTS for short. Yet to determine what we represent.
That are living here with real mesiras negesh working tirelessly I get things going. But how many of you support their work. Money makes the world go round…
They can’t build, produce and grow if the funds are lacking.
i don’t know what is doing by the men however for the ladies there are shiurim going on, almost daily, b’h
the “shake” as crown heights probably needs to be shaken up a bit; and “lulav” for simcha (zmon simchasainu), not shofar, which is more the inyan of teshuva, the 10 days from rosh hashana to yom kippur and month of elul concluding with week of selichos. simcha poretz geder; we need simcha somehow to shake up crown heights, not the call of the shofar. good name, shake up crown heights somehow, to make it better. why should not crown heights be known as a chassidic stronghold, instead of a bunch of half off the derech modern young folks? why cannot… Read more »
We need to encourage our men, of course!! The women, too, need the chizuk of Torah. Good women, who can offer a shiur or lead a farbrengen in their own personal style, and especially young women, also need to step up to the plate and take leadership roles. Our girls who return from sem don’t necessarily have all their questions in life answered, and there need to be more and more people to be there for them. Our young married women face the day-to-day gashmius challenges of family and parnassa that they didn’t dream of when they were young high… Read more »
I think it is a fair article, for us (crown heights residents) to try to be introspective, in the comments. my thought is that on average, crown heights young working men are not too chassidische; and it seems it is not really their fault, but rather, crown heights itself needs some of the niceties which are out there in chabad house land. I just saw a story posted above this one, of a new childrens school in australia. it looks beautiful; nothing in crown heights looks like that. besides 580 crown shul, most places in crown heights do not look… Read more »
Gr8 article now we need to DO! Bepoel ממש!!
Women let’s encourage !!!
Well this article’s gonna shake things up…pun hardly intended!
Good one!
yup and all the loshon hara sinas chinom etc about ppl who inocently attended call of the shofar is just “THE NOISE OF THE GRAGGER” and the ppl giving others benefit of the doubt are displaying fine middosand masim tovim like “THE SMELL OF THE ESROG” and those keeping quiet and not mixing in to s/t they know n/t about are exemplifying bitul “THE CRUNCH OF THE MATZAH” this isnt a joke….there is real meaning behind every mitzvah we do….and lessons to be learned and applied in our day to day life which makes us better people… that is whats… Read more »
u first indicate that ther ae b’h so many shiurim available and you end of with that the illness is that there aren’t enuf. let us get these shiurim well attended and then think of making others. it is a must that every yungerman choses/makes a kvius how many times he can per week, starting at the minimum and then hopefully adding slowly.