A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT RICHARD M. JOEL Reflections on a Presidential Chavrusa: Lessons from the Fourth Perek of Brachos

here is a photograph that hangs between the Gottesman Library and the Glueck Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph TBeit Midrash that shows President Senior Vice President, University Richard Joel, former Vice President Jeff Rosengarten and me sitting at a table on the upper floor of “the beis.” At one point, rumor had it that it on a daily basis: the overwhelming I do not recall whether it was was a posed picture, set up to make experiential gestalt that inheres Torah immediately after that study session it look like we were learning; in fact, study in such an awe-inspiring place, or soon thereafter, but the President however, we had opened a volume of surrounded by the melodic cacophony and I committed ourselves to finding Rambam’s Mishneh Torah and were of several hundred chavrusa pairs whatever time we could to learn experiencing, for the moment, the alternately yelling at or with their together be-chavrusa in the newly- bracha that so many of our students study partners, mentors and Rebbeim. consecrated beis midrash. We chose to start with the fourth perek of Brachos for a variety of reasons, and the lessons that we shared about Torah and life could fill volumes. There are a number of lessons President Joel has taught us over the years that find resonance through this chapter as well. For now, in honor of the yom tov that celebrates matan Torah, and in honor of my mentor, friend and chavrusa, I present the following six divrei Torah.

1. Ask questions

One of the lessons President Joel constantly taught was the importance of asking questions. When we approach a Mishna, we use the same

16 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • 5777 technique; so for example, the first to the challenging statement, tefillah 4. We can both be right, even four words of our first Mishna beg begins with sunrise in order to though we disagree understanding: connect geula, redemption, with The details a lengthy debate tefillah. The question, then, in and of מתני׳ תפלת השחר עד חצות. itself provides solutions to two of our as to the source of the daily tefillos, Mishna: According to the Rabbis, the questions above: a) it sheds light for whether they were established by morning prayer may be recited until us that tefillah refers to the Amidah, or our ancestors, tefillos avos tiknum, noon. Shemoneh Esrei, not the Shema; and or whether they derived from the Which prayer in the morning b) that the day begins at sunrise. sacrificial services,tefillos keneged—תפלת is being referenced? The entire tmidim tiknum. Proofs are cited in Although the Gemara seems to morning service? Are we continuing support of both sides, but in the final be challenging and questioning, the discussion in the previous perakim analysis, both answers are accepted: it is simultaneously fleshing out about the Shema? The berachos our ancestors established the tefillos the halachah and ironing out the before and after? Yes, the third perek and the Rabbis related them to the details by suggesting and proposing parenthetically discusses some details sacrificial services. surrounding tefillah, but it is not made solutions! Though President Joel This combination of the two sides, clear at the outset what it signifies always welcomed questions and however, need not have been until we arrive at this perek. enjoyed parrying through give and take, he also insisted that we question, necessary. At one point, the question What does morning mean? look for answers, and focus on is raised for the position supporting—השחר Is it until the fourth hour or midday solutions and not just the problems. the ancestors’ origination: “from as the debates? Moreover, where do we get Mussaf (the when does the morning begin? 3. It’s not enough to be right additional service)?” In our study, Even a seemingly unassuming we suggested that it seems one could—עד word, “until,” must be examined, as The Gemara inBerachos on 28b, posit a linguistic parallel between the Gemara later wonders whether details several provocative incidents this additional prayer, Mussaf, and it means “up to” or “up to and between Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yosef, one of the descendants of including.” Yehoshua, where the former, the Nasi Yaakov, as they seem to share the of the Sanhedrin at the time, forces same root. Later, we found that the What is the definition of—חצות the latter to admit his erroneous Or Gedalyahu on Moadim (page midday? How do we even understand opposition, thereby embarrassing 146) suggests the same idea — that time? Can an hour mean something him. The situation grew so intense and perhaps we can learn about Mussaf different from one season to the next? dire that eventually Rabban Gamliel from Yosef. Thus, we might have Is time truly fixed or can it fluctuate needed to be deposed from his truly been able to derive all of the depending on the month and time of position. As President Joel points out, tefillos from the Avos. However, the year? Moreover, why must prayer be “Ok, so you’re right. It’s not enough.” Gemara did not give such an answer, delimited to a set time? Might there be It is not enough to be right, one must possibly preferring to teach that at a chance for a do-over? act righteously as well. Often people times, a beneficial solution might are blinded by their drive to win, to derive from approaching a dilemma 2. It’s not enough to ask be accurate; the lesson we can learn via two directions and solving it while questions; recommend from The Gemara , as emphasized by providing the opportunity to benefit solutions President Joel, is that one needs to from both sides. Thus on a daily also focus on how to work toward a basis, we hearken back to the original The very first words of the Gemara on united goal, not to fracture the whole prayers of our ancestors while also the aforementioned Mishna present in the process of working toward a connecting our actions and service to a challenge: ureminhu, a citation that better answer. the Beis Hamikdash. seems to contradict the Mishna, or at least introduce a dialectic not at first apparent in the earlier text. According

17 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Shavuot 5777 5. With respect 6. Tocho Ke-Varo Deriving Ethical Messages President Joel has always promoted President Joel often comically quotes from Study a harmonious approach in discourse, a UJA fundraiser who once remarked, R. Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg as he says, “to disagree agreeably.” “The absolutely most important HaDarom (Vol. 19, pg. 178), We can profoundly disagree on thing to develop is a sense of personal writes that until R. Yisrael major issues, but we must do so in a integrity. Once you can fake that...” This Salanter, ethical development respectful manner, appreciating the approach, which certainly was meant in and the study of Gemara were tzelem Elokim, the Godly image of jest, is not often lived in jest. Especially treated as two separate realms. all those with whom we engage. The when we contrast this notion to the R. Yisrael Salanter stressed the Gemara in Berachos 27b, explains Gemara (Berachos 28a) that states that importance of finding ethical that a person cannot daven behind Rabban Gamliel only let someone who messages in one’s study of his Rebbe, as this would perhaps was “tocho ke-varo” (literally “his inside Gemara, the mussar bahalacha. make the Rebbe wait for the student is like his outside”) into the study hall. This idea is consistent with to finish praying before the Rebbe President Joel would often posit that R. Yisrael Salanter’s general may finish his own Amidah. In fact, an essential leadership quality is to be approach to studying Torah. In the Gemara says that a person who honest with yourself about who you Ohr Yisrael (no. 27), he writes would daven behind his Rebbe causes are — and to share that wholeness with that the mitzvah of mastering the Divine presence to be distanced others; to make yourself vulnerable is Torah supersedes the mitzvah from B’nei Yisrael. Thus, not just one’s to make yourself truthful. In order to to constantly study Torah. The intentions, but one’s actions matter, lead, people must see you as genuine. mitzvah to constantly study and respect and consideration must be In order to advance a cause, your team Torah would not provide an given to the context within which one must trust that you are wholeheartedly allowance for someone to seek stands. committed. In order to affect others, out a means of improving the Based on this and a series of related people need to believe in you as you quality of one’s studies such as discourses in the Gemara, we truly are. This sixth lesson represents travelling to a yeshiva in another discussed the dialectic between those the value of a role model. By taking town or sleeping more in order who are b’nei Torah and those who time to learn in the beis midrash, to focus. It is only because of are b’nei yeshiva. The former is to be President Joel showed that the role the mitzvah to master Torah lauded for his dedication to Hashem’s model of “lay kodesh” that he so often that one can spend less time timeless Torah teachings and ideas; spoke about is best exemplified by studying in order to focus on but the latter attains an even higher President Joel himself. the quality of one’s studies. plane, as a ben yeshiva also recognizes With these few and humble lessons, However, this is only true when the prerequisite respect for a Rebbe my intent is to display some of my the individual is someone who is and his place within the context of the world, having merited a deep and working on ethical development place of study, the place of prayer. As meaningful relationship with a man and yirat shamayim (fear of we find ourselves leaving the period who has been a mentor, a friend, heaven). If one has mastered of Sefiras ha-Omer — a period when and a source of inspiration for many the Torah but did not use that we mourn the lack of respect of the years. As our professional relationship as an opportunity to become students of Rabbi Akiva for each other evolves I will cherish our chavrusa a refined individual, it would — and as we head to the yom tov of even more, as we continue to try to have been better to focus on our acceptance of the Torah, we must find ways to learn together. Thank quantity. Talmud Torah is not note the importance of this notion of you President Joel, not just for simply a means of collecting kavod, respect. And as President Joel transforming Yeshiva into the beacon information. It is part of a would often begin his rejoinders, it is it is today, but also for who you are process of becoming a complete worth emulating his guidance, “with and for allowing me to greatly benefit individual who lives the ideals of respect…” from a relationship with such a the Torah. remarkable person — and chavrusa. Torah To Go Editors

18 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Shavuot 5777