Thank You Hashem by Rabbi Zalman A

The World of Lubavitch A publication of Chabad-Lubavitch, Toronto SEPTEMBER 2020 Vol. 46 No. 2 (154) TISHREI 5781 Thank you Hashem By Rabbi Zalman A. Grossbaum For the better part of this year we have been spending much time discussing and debating the ramifications of Covid 19 and how it has impacted our lives and life style. Yet, little has been said, or written about the virus, from a historical Judaic per- spective. The Midrash relates that during the rein of King David there was a mysterious plague. Each day some 100 people passed away. Recognizing that something out of the ordinary was amiss, the mon- arch invoked his divine perception and prophetical- ly foretold that the antidote for the pestilence was to praise G-d 100 times throughout the day. Indeed, after he instituted the said quota the plague ceased. This innovation carries through to this very day. Our three daily prayers as presented in the Siddur provide the requisite quota needed to comply with the edict of the Psalmist. All true, but factually the structured prayers found in the Siddur and recited throughout the day was compiled by Ezra the Scribe who led the Jews back to the Land of Israel after 70 years of exile in Babylon. This epic return occurred some five hundred years after the sovereign leader- ship of King David. Hence, this leads me to assume that back then a prayer of thankgiving was an informal spontaneous declaration of gratitude. It did not take on the form and structure of a prescribed written text. Rather it was a heartfelt expression of appreciation in ac- knowledgement of good health or fortune. The story is told about the Baal Shem Tov, who once approached a scholar deeply engrossed in his study and inquired about his wellbeing. Not wanting to engage in small talk, the academic did not respond. Again the Baal Shem Tov inquired about his health only to be ignored a second time. Not getting any feedback, the Baal Shem Tov rhe- torically asked him, “why are you taking away sus- tenance from G-d.” Now this piqued the interest of the venerable sage who now lifted his head. The Baal Shem Tov then explained, “the presence of G-d is not readily felt in the corporeal world. How- Chabad Launches ever when we utter words of praise, i.e. ”Thank G-d,” “Blessed be the Creator,” “G-d will help,” “Shofar on the Corner” etc. we draw down G-d’s presence to permeate our surrounding. Indeed, the root meaning of the He- The most important ob- brew word Baruch means to graft and merge. servance of Rosh HaShana is The Covid 19 pandemic has impacted every listening to the sound blasts aspect of society. The fear of infection and illness of the Shofar. Due to the pan- has us all isolated and sequestered in our person- demic and the numerous re- strictions and regulations im- al space. Thank G-d, by, and large, we in Ontario posed, many people will not have avoided the brunt of the raging virus. When so be attending Shul this year. many people have been infected by merely being in While prayers under prevail- the wrong place at the wrong time, it behoves us to ing conditions maybe recited express our gratitude. It doesn’t take much faith to in solitude, not everyone has recognize G-d’s benevolence towards us for being access to a Shofar nor are they spared. While it may not be an overt miracle vis- familiar with its intricate laws and customs. ible to the naked eye, our good fortune are amongst As always, in response to the hidden and concealed wonders of G-d, as the a need and concern, Chabad Psalmist notes: “His wonders are to Himself, for Lubavitch will be hosting His kindness is forevever.” Thank You, HaShem! OUTDOOR gatherings for May we all be inscribed for a blessed new year the sounding of the Shofar of good health, happiness, and the imminent arrival Continued on page 3 SOME THINGS SIMPLY CAN NOT BE ZOOMED of Mashiach. Page 2 • World of Lubavitch • SEPTEMBER 2020 The Man in Man By Yanky Tauber This day is the beginning of clare: G-d, the G-d of Israel, is Your works, a remembrance of King, and His kingship has do- the first day. minion over all. From the Musaf prayer for Thus the “Head of the Year” Rosh Hashanah coincides not with the first Actually, Rosh Hashanah The Primacy of Man day of creation, on which G-d marks not the beginning of G- brought time, space and mat- d’s creation of the universe, but ter into being; or with its third His creation of man. The anni- Within Creation day, on which He created life; versary of the first day of cre- or with its fourth day, on which ation is the 25th of the Hebrew He created creatures of instinct month of Elul; Tishrei 1, the and feeling; but with the day on date observed as Rosh Hasha- which G-d made man “in His nah, is the sixth day of creation, form, after His likeness,” im- the day on which the first man parting to him the divine capac- and woman, Adam and Eve, ity to will, choose and create. were created. For this is the day on which the Nevertheless, we say of purpose of every component of Rosh Hashanah, “Zeh hayom His creation—mineral, vegeta- techilat ma’asecha”--“This ble, animal and human—began day is the beginning of Your partner with G-d in creation.” to inclusion in a creative, tran- and bow down, let us kneel be- its actualization in the deeds of works.” This day, because The other, non-human ele- scendent, human act, thereby fore G-d our maker.’” the first man and woman. though man is the last of the ments of creation achieve ful- realizing the purpose of their Every Rosh Hashanah, we This and Thus creations in terms of chrono- fillment through man, when creation. repeat Adam’s call. We inten- The difference between logical order, he is first among man involves them in the per- This is why Rosh Hasha- sify our awareness of our Cre- these two “first days”--the be- them in terms of function and formance of a mitzvah—an act nah is the “beginning of Your ator, reiterate our acceptance of ginning of the physical creation purpose. For man alone pos- that fulfills a divine command. works.” On this day, the first His kingship, and rally all our on Elul 25 and the beginning sesses the single quality that For example, the person who human being opened his eyes, resources for the task of mak- of man’s implementation of gives meaning and purpose to writes a check to charity has beheld himself and his world, ing Him a tangible presence in its quintessential function on G-d’s creation. many participants in his deed: and chose to devote them both our lives. As we proclaim in a Rosh Hashanah — is expressed Free Agent the paper and ink of his check; to the service of his Creator. central passage of the Rosh Ha- in the difference between two Without man, the universe the natural resources and forc- His first act was to involve all shanah prayers: Hebrew words associated with is a mere machine. Every min- es he has enlisted to earn the of creation in his submission to Our G-d and G-d of our these dates: zeh (“this”) and ko eral, plant and animal behaves money he is giving; even the G-d. In the words of the Zohar, fathers: Reign over the entire (“thus”). in accordance with an ironclad mountain out of which the mar- When Adam stood up on world in Your glory.... May ev- Zeh implies a clear and di- set of laws dictated by its in- ble in the facade of the bank his feet, he saw that all crea- ery object know that You made rect association with its object. born nature, and has neither the which processes his check was tures feared him and followed it, may every creature under- When the Torah tells us that our inclination nor the ability to be- quarried. These and innumer- him as servants do their master. stand that You created it, and able other morally “neutral” He then said to them: “You and may every thing that has the have otherwise. Only man re- Continued on page 11 flects his Creator in that he pos- elements have been elevated I both, ‘come, let us worship breath of life in its nostrils de- sesses free choice: only man can will and act contrary to his nature; only man can make of himself something other than what he is, transcending the very parameters of the self into which he was born. So only man’s deeds have true significance. The indus- try of the ant or the faithful- ness of the dove are no more “moral” than the cruelty of the cat or the deviousness of the snake. The majesty of a snow-capped Alp is no more virtuous than the stench of a By Yanki Tauber each passing minute. putrefying swamp. For their The story is told of a sim- Obviously, that’s what his “positive” or “negative” traits ple, unlettered Jew who kept a The Cholent fellow worshippers are think- and characteristics are solely tavern on a distant crossroads ing, as well. They, too, have the result of the manner in many weeks’ journey from the sumptuous holiday meal await- cholent: the longer it cooks, the a cholent simmering on their which they have been formed nearest Jewish community, who ing him at his lodgings made more sumptuous your cholent.

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