Rabbi's Blog

One of the first questions I received when I came to Beth Jacob was, "What do I get for my membership?" Now, seventeen years later I ask the question, "Why do people come to Shul?" The following is only a partial list of why people come to Shul, whether to attend services on Shabbos or to come for a weekday shiur or event or any combination thereof: my spouse forced me to go; the Kiddush (free food; socializing with friends and arguing with enemies; having a place for my kids to run around and wreak havoc (at least it's not my house; to get away from my kids and home responsibilities; because I've been doing it all my life I have nothing else to do; or maybe... I actually come to daven to Hashem!

Once it has been determined why people attend Shul, the next is to learn how often they go to Shul. The range of attendance is from every day to only going on Shabbos, to going for an event or holiday. Even those who only go on Shabbos tend to be a bit choosy - they may select Friday night or Shabbos morning but never all three services. Perhaps I grew up in a different generation, but Shabbos was a time when everybody went to Shul - ALL three times. During the week people are busy and have lousy excuses, but never the less, at least there is an excuse. The answer lies in the poor understanding and under- appreciation of what davening and communal prayer does for a person and his family.

EVERYTHING COMES FROM HASHEM.WE NEED TO PUT OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHICH ALLOWS US TO SEEK HIM OUT.

In this week's Parshas Toldos 25:27 the twins, Eisav and Yaakov, grow up and are described as a man of the field and a man of the tent. "Vayigdlu Hanearim Vayehi Eisav Ish YodayahTzayid Ish Sadeh, V'Yaakov Ish Tam Yosheiv Ohalim". The verse says Yaakov sat in tents - plural. The Medrash Breishis Rabbah 63 explains that these were the tents of different study halls. First, Yaakov studied with his grandfather, Avraham. Then he studied in the Yeshiva of Shem, and then he continued on to learn in the Yeshiva of Aiver. Medrash Rabbah 48:8 points out that Shem and his great grandson Aiver had separate Yeshivos. Yaakov felt it necessary to learn in different Yeshivos at different points in his life. Rav Yehuda Loewy, the Maharal from Prague, explains that Rivka, earlier in 25:22, sought advice from Shem about her difficult pregnancy. Now Yaakov leaves the study hall of Shem and goes off to learn with Eiver, who was obviously much younger than his great grandfather. The Maharal derives from here that a person can learn from anybody, even a younger person or a person of lesser stature. The most important component of deepening one's knowledge is to learn from someone whom your heart yearns to learn with. A person doesn't have the merit to learn from anybody. Rather, we each need to learn from a person who is specifically suited to our unique learning needs, even if that individual may not be the best or most famous Rebbi/teacher.

The merits of Yaakov Avinu were highlighted in the Medrash Rabbah 63:2. This Medrash tells us that Avraham Avinu was saved from the furnace that Nimrod tossed him into due tothe merit of Yaakov sitting in his tent! Yaakov's greatness was not only that the world knew of his good deeds, but that he would only show his good ways when necessary. The description as an Ish Tam, a wholesome, perfect individual, is that his speech was like his heart. Yaakov was humble and modest.He made sure to shepherd his father's cattle and to sit in the tent of Torah. The Midrash Rabbah 65:17 describes Yaakov's physical prowess as greater than Eisav's (an image or portrait that is the antithesis of what we think Yaakov was). His two arms were like two pillars of marble. No person could physically stand up against Yaakov, but he never displayed this strength unless it was absolutely necessary to fight his enemies.

We hear about Yaakov's tents later on in the Torah, as Bilaam tries to curse the Jewish people but only blessings emanate from his mouth. In Bamidbar 24:5 the Torah states, "Mah Yovu Ohalecha Yaakov..." "How good are your tents O'Jacob..." Many commentators explain that these tents were the Mishkan and the Beis HaMikdash, the place of prayer and offerings to Hashem. The Seforno in Bamidbar references the attributes of the Mishkan and Temples to Yaakov's tents hundreds of years earlier. With Yaakov Avinu learning and davening in his tents, the seeds of the future were sownso that his own children and offspring would pray and connect to God.

The Sifsei Kohain, known as the Shach, writes: "Yakov's tents were the beginning of it all, because from then on the Jewish people would have a place to ask and request their needs and aspirations, believing that Hashem is listening to their Tefillos. The study halls and Synagogues are where God resides; therefore we converge multiple times a day, making them our central places to be. Rebbi Abba in the Talmud says, in regard to Bilaam's curses, that all the blessings will revert back to curses with the exception of the Shuls and Batei Medrashim. As it states, "...that Hashem will turn the curse to a blessing, only a single curse." This means that as long as there are Shuls and Batei Medrashim there won't be any curses.

Yaakov Avinu's incredible strength was centered around the building and maintaining of his tents for himself and for his future family. The tents that Yaakov pitched were physically strong and spiritually sound. I'm sure Yaakov's tents had a great Kiddush, were beautifully designed, had a place for children to play, and also welcomed guests who came to socialize from all over the world. The primary purpose, however, was to establish a place within which a person could receive nourishment as well as nurture a relationship with Hashem that will endure. Yaakov ultimately created a place that our Neshamos yearn for in order to get closer to Hashem.

Beth Jacob, Bais Yaakov - the House of Jacob - is THE Tent that he created which we each individually and collectively utilize today. Let this come as a reminder of the many purposes and functions our Shul provides for all of us today. It is a place where we congregate to socialize with others. That socializing should not be used as a time to speak Loshon Hara but rather to support and give strength to others who are having difficulty with their observance or ritual performance. The Shul provides a safe environment for our children to play and be safe in order to give us the freedom to be able to go inside and daven. The Shul ultimately tries to provide a place that is warm and caring. It is a place which is physically and spiritually inviting for us to connect to Hashem.

Let's come to Shul and find a permanent place to daven from beginning to end. Let's not roam around and see what's going on outside or start talking during the times we need to daven in Shul. Whether we are the one who never misses a minyan or the one who only comes once a week, make every minute count when we are supposed to be in Shul davening. Let us work to create the Tent that our forefather Yaakov intended it to be.

WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF ATTENDING SHUL AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR DAVENING WHEN IN SHUL!

Ah Gut Shabbos Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky