Rabbi's Blog

Back to the air we go on another travel experience that I never look forward to  but always look back at when returning. An obvious rule in life is "a person has more options the sooner he makes a decision". Today, more than ever, if you snooze you lose. We need to  make decisions in a timely fashion so that we’ll be able to have the most and, hopefully, the best choices to confront. A person who waits until the last minute will have slim pickings available at best.

For many reasons that I will not share here, I took a last-minute (not literally last minute but within a week) trip to Israel. Aisle and window seats are usually selected first, leaving the middle seats to the last-minute traveler. As passengers settle into their assigned seats, the great mind battle begins as to who has the rights of the armrest. If the window or aisle passenger takes the arm rest, then the middle passenger is left with no arm rests whatsoever. When I am sitting in either the aisle or window seat, I try to leave the arm rest for the middle passenger seat, reasoning that I at least have the window/wall to lean against or the aisle to stretch out. I would hope to receive that same courtesy if I am stuck in the middle, but that isn’t always the case. Early on as the seating and boarding is going on, a quick, decisive, and bold move must be taken to conquer the space or else it is going to be a long  - and even more uncomfortable - flight. 

Many shoppers are aware that when there is a limited number of items going on sale it’s necessary to be quick to purchase. There are many good deals that are posted on websites for limited times and quantities. Certain areas of purchase have changed over time. For instance, a daily merchandise stores such as fruit stores had the best fruits and vegetables out in the morning, but by evening only the scraps remain. Today, stores are adequately supplied, allowing replenishing and restocking of shelves and bins throughout the day. In other categories, however, the saying 'first come first serve' is still in effect. A different side of this is the notion that ‘haste makes waste’;  sometimes a person should not act so quickly.  Nevertheless, there are two approaches  that  need to be addressed: on the one hand speed and the other hand not delaying. A person may not see the difference between the two, depending upon the situation.  At the end of the day how do we reconcile these important ideas of speed, not delaying yet using care and thought before doing something? Perhaps the answer lies in the famous incident of Yosef revealing himself to his brothers and instructing them what to do right now.

In this week’s Parsha Vayigash the Torah states in 45:9 “Maharu Va’Alu El Auvi Va’Amartem Eilav Ko Amar Bincha Yosef, Samani Elohim L’Adon L’Chol Mitzrayim R’Da Eiliey Al Ta’Amod”. Yosef said: “Quickly go up to my father (Yakov) and say to him, this is what your son Yosef said, God placed me as a Lord to all of Egypt, come down to me and do not stay there”. Only a few verses later Yosef says to his brothers in Bereishis 45:24: “VaYishalach Es Echav Vayeileichu, Vayomer Aleihem, Al Tirgzu BaDerech”. “And he (Yosef) sent his brothers and they went, and he said to them ‘do not tarry or quarrel on the way home”. Look at the difference in the instructions Yosef gives to his brothers. First he says ‘go quickly’ and later says ‘do not delay or do not quarrel which would ultimately lead to a slowing down’. Yosef’s selection of instructions depended upon the purpose or upon whom he was talking about. First, he tells them to go quickly.  Sforno explains the reason Yosef tells his brothers to ‘go quickly’ was to minimize the anguish of Yakov. Once he addressed his concerns for his father, he turned his attention to his brothers.  Daas Mikrah explains the word Tirgezu/quarrel in two ways. The first is to be understood as Yosef telling his brothers  not to be angry with one another, not to fight over the decision of having sold him as explained by Rashi. These words are similar to what the Navi Chavakuk said 3:2 ‘B’Rogez Racheim Tizkor’ Amid rage – remember to be merciful. Even though it is natural for you to be angry with each other, be merciful.  Take it easy on each other because it was all meant to be.  The second interpretation of Yosef’s words are ‘do not be afraid, do not be  in awe of the road which has robbers and highway men’. The fear of my ruler, of my power,is over them as well, and therefore they will not touch you. This is similar what we say in Az Yashir everyday ‘Sham’oo Amim Yirgazoon’ the nations will hear and be afraid’.

Yosef addresses his brothers and tells them to be quick and inform our father to come down to Mitzrayim. Their hesitation was the difficult, hard decision to leave Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, Yosef tells them the decision has already been made by God, that this is the plan.  They are to bring the family down to Mitzrayim. The ticket to travel is bought already, now don’t argue about anything in delaying that will make the trip feel longer, such as infighting. Pick your seats immediately;  don’t get stuck with something you don’t like.

No major decision in life should be made quickly without proper consideration and a thorough examination of its consequences. But as soon as a decision is made after everything is taken into consideration, then quick, decisive action must be taken. For example: Once a decision is made to purchase something of major importance and significance, then the purchase should be made ASAP in order not to lose out on it. This concept is consistent with Chazal’s statement of ‘Zrizim Makdimin L’Mitzvos’. Zerizus is difficult to translate, but most often it is described as diligence, industriousness, or zeal. This is a pre-requisite for doing Mitzvos. A person needs to be ready to do the Mitzva even though it may not be the time for it. Once that time comes, however, one needs to act immediately.

The lesson to be learned is once you know you are flying, buy your ticket immediately and choose your seat. If you get stuck with a middle seat, then board quickly and take possession of the arm rests, otherwise it’s going to be a long flight………………        take my word for it.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky