FEATURE I The Person Behind...

Rabbi Ben Tzion The Force Behind ‘The BY YOSEF GESSER

18 August 17, 2011 Many people have seen car magnets or bumper stickers with “The Shmuz” proudly displayed on them. Others might be familiar with Ben Tzion Shafier’s n Shafier recordings of “The Shmuz” on CD or the Kol Haloshon telephone line. Perhaps they’ve even read his new book, The Shmuz on Life – Stop Surviving, Start Living. Yet others may have had the opportunity to attend one of Shmuz’ Rabbi Shafier’s inspiring shmuessen, which he has given in cities across America and beyond. Who is this relatively new marbitz whose work has galvanized thousands to rethink their connection with Yiddishkeit, their relationships with others, and their view of themselves?

Inyan Magazine 17 Av 5771 19 Beginnings determined to address this vital deficit. find a way of taking these yesodos, Born and bred in the Kew Gardens Rabbi Shafier’s own yeshivah training fundamentals, and bringing them into Hills section of , , Rabbi prepared him well for this challenge. their world,” he explains. His method Ben Tzion Shafier is a product of places a strong would prove beneficial not only for the , having learned emphasis on the study of mussar, which yeshivah’s talmidim but ultimately for a in its main center in Forest Hills and in stems largely from the fact that Rav much larger audience. its Rochester, New York, branch. He is a Leibowitz’s father, the founding Rosh Rabbi Shafier began to prepare and talmid of its esteemed Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Yeshivah, Rav Dovid Leibowitz, zt”l, was deliver shmuessen to the high-school Alter , zt”l, who one of the foremost talmidim of students, with their needs in mind. In headed the yeshivah for about sixty Slabodka. Slabodka was one of the fact, the first thirty or so lectures of “The years and was one of the builders of major yeshivos of the mussar movement, Shmuz” were basically presentations he Torah in America after World War II. which was established by Rav Yisrael had made to these bachurim. Shortly after his marriage, Rabbi Salanter in the 1800s to foster character Shafier and his wife settled in Rochester, development and yiras Shamayim. New Surroundings, New Mission where he learned in the Chofetz Chaim Rav Dovid Leibowitz’s son and After a twelve-year stint in Rochester, kollel and delivered the eleventh-grade successor, Rav Henoch, strove to preserve the Shafiers moved to Monsey, New York, shiur in the . this derech. To this end, his talmidim where Rabbi Shafier became a rebbi in In those days (the situation has delved into sifrei mussar such as Mesillas the new Chofetz Chaim branch there. A changed since then), Rabbi Shafier’s Yesharim and Chovos Halevavos. pivotal point in his life occurred when shiur consisted of sixteen- and seventeen- Rabbi Shafier wished to bequeath to Rav Leibowitz summoned him to discuss year-old bachurim who were from solid his students this sublime path of serving an issue of great concern. frum homes. They were learning and Hashem. However, he realized that these The Rosh Yeshivah explained that davening, but many were lacking in their enduring mussar classics would not there were many yeshivah graduates in knowledge of some of the basics of inspire teenage minds if he simply read the workforce who were unconnected; hashkafah — issues such as why Hashem and translated the words for them. The they were out of touch with their wants us to do mitzvos and what our timeless messages had to be former rebbeim and purpose is in the world. This affected the communicated in a way they would quality of their avodas Hashem. find meaningful. “I was fighting robotic Judaism,” “I had to recalls Rabbi Shafier. He was

(Right) Rabbi Shafier delivers The Shmuz in Lakewood.

20 Hamodia August 17, 2011 were not maintaining regular Torah concentration of this core group lived. ‘The Shmuz’ study sessions. They davened in various He asked the talmid to contact his The concept that had taken root that shuls but identified with none; they had former classmates. weekday evening about eight years ago no relationship with a Rav. In short, they That first week, the shmuess drew has expanded into a worldwide were unanchored. This lack of fourteen young men. The next week phenomenon that has touched connection to a spiritual guide and there were more; many of the talmidim thousands of Jews from all walks of life. chevrah put their ruchniyus and that of had been inspired by the lecture and The reason for this success is that the their families in danger. brought along a friend. The group began material Rabbi Shafier provides supplies Rav Leibowitz felt that Rabbi Shafier growing, attracting young men from his talmidim with an essential vitamin — was equipped with the tools to forge a Queens and Monsey as well. a solid grounding in hashkafas haTorah, link with these young men. The Rosh After a while, there were enough a worldview based on Torah. Yeshivah requested that Rabbi Shafier interested parties to warrant a separate Many of these young men strongly stop teaching and devote his time to shiur in each location. In the context of desire to know more about the reason for establishing a program to strengthen these groups, Rabbi Shafier was able to keeping mitzvos, the power of tefillah, and inspire this crowd. He wanted Rabbi fill another crucial need — helping those how to fortify their yiras Shamayim, Shafier to provide them with the anchor seeking advice and direction. Both single strengthen their emunah, and they so needed. and married young people began understand the deeper meaning of In his quest to carry out his rebbi’s gravitating toward Rabbi Shafier with Shabbos and the Yamim vision, Rabbi Shafier told one of his their issues regarding shidduchim, former talmidim from Rochester that marriage and the like. he planned to deliver a shiur in , where the greatest

Inyan Magazine 17 Av 5771 21 Tovim. They are thirsting for answers on deals with one of the most formidable noted this problem in a presentation he these topics and on many other aspects tasks facing a human being: rectifying gave at this year’s Torah Umesorah of Yiddishkeit, and Rabbi Shafier slakes undesirable character traits. The Vilna convention. He found his audience of their thirst. Gaon says this is a person’s main mechanchim, some with many more Rabbi Shafier points out that the purpose in life. Conquering anger or years’ experience than he has, very problem is not new. Hundreds of years uprooting envy may seem daunting, but receptive to his call. In fact, the supply of ago the Ramchal and Rabbeinu Bachya interpersonal relationships, especially his new book, Stop Surviving, Start Living, discussed the need for chizuk in matters within the family framework, are which he had brought to the convention of yiras Shamayim and ahavas Hashem. dependent on such victories. Sifrei mussar sold out. Rabbeinu Bachya, in his introduction to offer a system for how to better ourselves The success of The Shmuz lies in Chovos Halevavos, writes that a Jew must in these areas, and Rabbi Shafier passes Rabbi Shafier’s transmission of these serve Hashem both externally and along this essential information to his timeless truths in a way contemporary internally. The first type of Divine service listeners. audiences can easily relate to. is accomplished through mitzvos we As an example, in “Anger perform, such as tzedakah, mezuzah, Management” (Shmuz #30), Rabbi Developing the Approach tzitzis, and sukkah. The second type Shafier points out that if one becomes The mussar system Rabbi Shafier was involves acknowledging Hashem’s aware of his anger when it is a mere exposed to under Rav Leibowitz in Oneness, cultivating emunah in Him, flicker, he can catch it and extinguish it Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim prepared him fearing Him, and humbling ourselves before it becomes a raging fire. He offers for The Shmuz. before Him. a practical piece of advice: carry an “The strength of The Shmuz is that Rabbeinu Bachya writes that he index card and mark down each time the Rosh Yeshivah, zt”l, taught us how to penned his sefer because of the scarcity you’re stirred to anger. If you have understand a Chazal,” says Rabbi of works that explain how a Jew should resolved to combat this tendency, you Shafier. The same goes for a comment think and feel — the obligations of the will automatically find your anger made by Rashi, Daas Zekeinim, Sforno or heart and mind. Although such reduced. By reducing the frequency of other meforshim, which are approached knowledge constitutes yesodei kol your anger, you will develop the habit of using the teachings of Rav Henoch’s hamitzvos — the bases for all the mitzvos avoiding it, and you will be on the road father, Rav Dovid. — we often practice mitzvos routinely to eradicating this tendency altogether. The method of presentation is much and neglect their foundation. Countless listeners lament the fact the same as that in a shiur or chaburah. The Shmuz also that they were not taught such vital, life- It begins with a question on a Gemara or changing concepts in their yeshivah other source, continues to develop the years. Rabbi Shafier topic, and culminates with an answer that enables one to understand the

Continued after Kinyan Magazine

(Left) Rabbi Shafier with his Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Alter Henoch Leibowitz, zt”l. (Above) Rabbi Shafier with Harav Noach Weinberg, zt”l, who spoke at a melaveh malkah for Tiferes Bnei 22 Hamodia August 17, 2011 Torah several years ago. Continued from page 22 in Inyan Magazine organization's efforts to disseminate his work — testimony to the fact that people meaning of Chazal or Rashi’s comment. are eager to acquaint themselves with an The statement is not merely a point of authentic Torah worldview when it is departure for extraneous discussion, but presented in a palatable way. an entry into the depths of its meaning. Rabbi Shafier currently gives regular Rabbi Shafier’s approach is unique in Shmuz shiurim in Monsey, Lakewood, that he utilizes examples from the world Passaic, and Baltimore. He has spoken in around us to illustrate Torah principles. other communities around the country as We live in a material world, with the well. And this past February, he toured mindset that what exists in front of us is Eretz Yisrael, lecturing at yeshivos and real and everything else illusion. We live seminaries. His presentations during the in a world where monetary success is tour — at one point he spoke in fifteen esteemed and spiritual pursuits devalued. locations in four days! — were very well Yet Chazal tell us, “Better one hour in received. Many young people returning to this world filled with teshuvah and acts of the States from yeshivah and seminary in goodness than an entire life in the World Eretz Yisrael face transitions upon their to Come; and better one hour of spiritual return, and The Shmuz materials enable bliss in the World to Come than the entire Rabbi Shafier’s them to retain the idealism they life of this world” (Pirkei Avos 4:22). How most recent book. developed in the Holy Land. does one conceptualize the pleasure to be “Selling” Torah should be the easiest experienced in the World to Come? lacked written goals. The message that job in the world, says Rabbi Shafier. Our Rabbi Shafier cites the story of a emerges is that by writing down generation is confronted with formidable business magnate who made billions, realistic goals, one will accomplish challenges, and people are searching for using it to illustrate the idea of the much more in his learning. guidance in overcoming these obstacles unimaginable reward waiting for a and infusing their lives with joy. The person in the next world based upon his Disseminating the Message blaring messages of materialistic pleasure Torah study and mitzvos. Of course, this According to Rabbi Shafier, each and transient happiness trumpeted by the reward is beyond any sum we can Shmuz has been listened to secular world leave people disappointed. imagine. approximately ten thousand times, taking “When you learn and grow, you feel a In a Shmuz on the centrality of Torah into account the various listening options sense of satisfaction and a real sense of study (#90), Rabbi Shafier posits that in (the Kol Haloshon line, CDs, cassettes, and accomplishment, which makes you happy order to accomplish in one’s Torah online). This, he says, is a sign that people and shows you how to deal with learning, it is vital to set goals. Success, crave Torah guidance today. challenge,” Rabbi Shafier says. Thus, one he points out, leads to greater success. A relatively new series of recorded of the messages that resonates in Stop He drives home this idea by citing a shiurim is the Bitachon Workshop, a set of Surviving, Start Living is that living a life study involving graduates of a business CDs consisting of thirty twenty-minute permeated by Torah and mitzvos benefits administration program at a shiurim in which Rabbi Shafier discusses us in Olam Haba — and enables us to prestigious university. The graduates the fundamentals of emunah and bitachon. enjoy this world so much more, too. were asked if they had set clear career In this series, he elucidates the basic Rabbi Shafier’s message is perhaps goals. Three percent reported that they principle that Hashem directs the world aptly summed up in the maxim that had prepared written goals, 13 percent and explains practically how we can place appears on the stylish, popular car had set goals but had not written them our trust in Him, citing difficult situations magnet that has been designed to down, and 84 percent reported they we confront in life such as earning a promote “The Shmuz”: “Because the way had no goals in this area. livelihood and finding a shidduch. you think becomes the way you feel … Ten years later, the study’s organizers Rabbi Shafier has thus far released becomes the way you are. Forever.” followed up with these graduates. three books discussing the lessons The message is clear: internalizing the Astonishingly, they discovered that the contained in the two-hundred-plus eternal truths of the Torah affects how we 13 percent who had goals were earning recordings of The Shmuz: The Torah view ourselves and the world around us, an average of twice as much as the 84 Lifestyle, The Shmuz on the Parsha, and most transforming our essence into one that is percent who had none. Furthermore, recently, Stop Surviving, Start Living. in consonance with those truths. Rabbi the 3 percent who had written goals The release of Stop Surviving, Start Living Shafier’s strength is his ability to transmit were earning an average of ten times as sold five thousand copies before it even those eternal messages in today’s much as the other 97 percent who reached the bookstores through his vernacular — with warmth and heart. ❚I

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