Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz – Long-Distance Call

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Operation Inspiration

 

Some of my younger readers may not remember the times when a long-distance call, not just international, cost extra money. While today you can call New York to Los Angeles for the same price as Boro Park to Bensonhurst, it wasn’t always that way. The fees were increased based on the distance, and also the hours of the day. Primarily these costs reflected the number of operators and amount of infrastructure necessary to complete these calls, which today’s technology has drastically reduced.

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If it cost so much money, why did people do it? Why, to speak to your loved ones far away, of course! Or for business reasons. Or whatever. The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes a message comes from far away.

I recall a story from Jewish Poland in the 1600’s that I’ve heard many times. It was originally told, they say, in the early 1800 by R’ Simcha Bunim of Peshischa.

Izaak Jakubowicz, a pious but poor Jew, dreamed that there was treasure hidden under the royal bridge in Prague. Without delay, he made his way there. On arrival, it turned out the bridge was guarded by a squad of soldiers and digging was out of the question.

Izaak told the officer about his dream, promising him half of the booty. The officer retorted, “Only fools like Polish Jews can possibly believe in dreams. For several nights now I have been dreaming that in the Jewish town of Kazimierz there is hidden treasure in the oven of the home of the poor Jew Izaak Jakubowicz. Do you think I am so stupid as to go all the way to Cracow and look for the house of this Isaac the son of Jacob?”

Izaak returned home immediately, took the oven apart, found the treasure and became rich. He became known as, “Izaak the Rich,” and was a banker to the king of Poland! In 1644, he funded the building of a shul in Cracow which still stands today.

After this story, it was said: “There are some things which you can look for the world over, only to find them in your own home. Before you realize this, however, you very often have to go on a long journey and search far and wide.”

It is reminiscent of the story in Chovos HaLevavos of the Jewish businessman who traveled to a far-away country, inhabited by tribesmen who were discussing the gods they worshiped. The man laughed, saying that he served Hashem, Creator of all and Sustainer of all. The tribal chieftain said, “Your actions contradict your words. Does your G-d need you to come all the way out here to support you? Can’t he do it where you live?”

The man was shocked by the truth of these words and returned home, never again pursuing his livelihood to such extremes. Hashem could certainly support him at home, but he had to travel to a distant land to realize it.

Well, the message for this week comes from far-off Africa! Rabbi Daniel Coren is a rabbi and teacher from Monsey, New York who also travels the world with his chavrusa learning from the niflaos haBorei, the wonders of our Creator, and trying to elevate sparks of holiness wherever he goes.

One thing he does is send out pictures and videos, at the request of a wonderful fellow, who sponsors them l’illui nishmas his father, R’ Shmuel Baruch ben R’ Chaim Tzvi Dov a”h. I don’t always get to watch them, but when I do it’s something special, and today was no different. In fact, I’d started to write another column but had to share this with you all.

Today, I got Rabbi Coren’s video from Kenya. The guide showed him warthogs. R’ Daniel asked if they had split hooves, and of course, they do, being from the pig family, underscoring the truth of what the Torah says about pigs showing outward signs of kashrus. Then the guide said something amazing.

“When they run, they always pick up their tails.” He explained, “We have tall grasses here. The tail is a “follow me” sign, so the young ones can follow the parents.” I was stunned. Not just by the wondrous world Hashem created, in which this animal lifts its tail to guide its young (and it’s all of them, not just one) though some would blindly call this “evolution,” and logical.

I was stunned by the message it held for me, and in turn, for all of you. We live in a world of “tall grasses.” There are constantly things that obstruct our view of HaKadosh Baruch Hu and could make us lose sight of Him. However, what I learned from this warthog (OK, from Rabbi Coren,) is that Hashem knows the urgency of ensuring we have signs and ways to keep following Him and spotting Him in the world despite the camouflage.

I always say that Hashem constantly sends us messages, and now He sent one from halfway around the world, but I didn’t need to leave home to get it. It is a long-distance call in the best sense of the word, and I’m glad I received it – and with no extra cost.

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