By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha comes once again filled with lessons to live life optimally. For example, we learn of the essential component of greatness. The Torah tells us, “And Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit…’”
The story is told in Sichot Mussar of Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt’l, a grand Torah scholar, who was once visiting his uncle who was the Rosh Yeshiva of Nevardok Yeshiva. The Rav asked the Rosh Yeshiva who was the sharpest student and was pointed to one young student. Then he asked who was the most studious, and another was identified. Then he asked who had the greatest breadth of knowledge, and a third was recognized. The Rav then asked who the best student was and yet another was pinpointed.
What made him the best young man? The Rosh Yeshva said he was a “seeker.” That student was…the Steipler Gaon. No surprise.
Sforno teaches that “a man in whom there is spirit,” means one who is “prepared to receive the Light of the Face of the Living G-d.” Greatness, we learn means having that special quality of desiring to seek, to track truth perpetually. This was Yehoshua, a seeker. Who among us today, is a seeker?
In today’s challenging times, to not be a seeker seems to leave one lost. Not even Moshe lived a life free of frustration and adversity. He faced his own disappointments and pain and insured that he would leave a successor. Hashem showed Moshe the Land of Israel and told him that he wouldn’t be allowed to bring the Jewish people into the Land. Moshe immediately said: “May … God … appoint a man over the assembly, who shall go out before them … and let the assembly … not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” Moshe places his hands on Yehoshua, announcing him to be the next leader.
With the three weeks upon us, we are in the saddest days of the year, facing our own challenges as a Jewish people, recalling the destruction of our land, our Holy Temple, our people. This is an opportunity to change our mindset to think more carefully than we ordinarily do about every way in which we can bring about the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdosh. We look around and see continuing powers attempting to make inroads into our physical and spiritual destruction. There is more depression and anxiety than in any other time in recent history. And then we have Pinchas to bring us a better, more hopeful message filled with mention of Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Succot. These holidays, following Tisha B’Av soon upon us with its haunting, sad melodies, bring us simcha, happiness. Happiness? What brought Moshe happiness? Moshe was happy filled with dignity, supreme wisdom, courage, faith, sacred acceptance, and an abiding trust in Hashem. We see Moshe confront his own humanity and solemnly accept his own mortality…with a remarkable commitment to the continuing needs of others, that brought him his happiness.
We are taught in Psalms that Kind David taught, “Light is sown for the righteous, and for the straight of heart, simcha…” Was Moshe laughing with simcha during this time of great strife? He knew that Hashem’s commandments were “straight” and brought simcha to the heart. Moshe was able to see through layers of falsehood to Hashem’s obvious truths, and perhaps he did have a physical reaction of lightness, of laughter.
The holidays that are coming for us are called moadim, an appointed time of meeting…the appointed time that we are especially focused on connecting with Hashem. We’d be wise to recognize that during these special times of joy and lightness, during seemingly dark times, a much brighter time lies ahead when the ultimate redemption will come.
A story is told, based on Rabbi Saadia Gaon, B’nei Yissachar in Iturei Torah, to highlight this point, of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria who were walking towards the Temple Mount. They suddenly witnessed a fox scurrying out of the place where the Holy Temple stood. Rabbi Akiva laughed. How could he laugh? Others were crying. Rabbi Akiva wondered how they could cry. Those who cried upon seeing the fox said that the Torah taught that unauthorized people entering he Holy of Holies were to die. Rabbi Akiva said that while that was written, it also said that “Zion will be plowed over as a field.” He noted that since that occurred, Rabbi Akiva believed that the prophecy of rebuilding would also come true and so he laughed with simcha. His straightness of heart gave him the ability to see through superficial falsehood to deeper truths…and that lightness led to his laughter.
It is said that laughter is medicine. Laughter has been shown to improve our immune system, increase our endorphins, strengthen relationships, burn calories, lead to better sleep, clear our mind and improve our moods. Not a bad payoff for seeking Hashem’s deeper truths.
While our chief sentiment during these Three Weeks are commonly aveilus, mourning, let’s remember the lessons from Pinchas. Laughter and joy rest on an optimistic view of our life, of having a “seeker’s mindset.” This leads to another way to look at Shivah Assar B’Tammuz with a much more positive, hopeful, and expectant eye. There is remarkable opportunity if we cope with, and balance our healthy sadness with our joyful emunah, believing that our lamentations can turn into genuinely spiritual triumph, bimeheirah beyomeinu.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com