Page 13 - HaMizrachi Australia Rosh HaShana Yom Kippur 5781

MIZRACHI SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE TORAT MIZRACHI

3. Marriage and Family the test of time – Torah, Eretz Yisrael, repair and improve. No matter where
and the sanctity of the Jewish family. you have been the past year. No
In Devarim, we receive many instruc-
tions on married life and the educa- ddd matter what your Elul looked like.
tion of our children – the questions Here, in just another second, we will
children will ask, the answers we will hear the shofar, and together we will
give, and the manner in which we Two Thoughts anoint G-d.
should educate them.  Some data about the past year:

And it is precisely here, in what we on the Shofar Every 60 seconds the world watches
think is our comfort zone, we are more than four million videos on
called upon to find something new.  Before blowing the shofar, we recite YouTube, sends 156 million emails,
chapter 47 of Tehillim seven times, asks Google 3.5 million questions and
Under the chupah, we say, “Behold, רֹומְז ִ מ ח ַ רֹ ֽ ק־יֵנ ְ ב ִ ל ַ חֵּֽ צַנ ְ מ ַ ל, “For the sons of sends about 20 million WhatsApp
you are now holy to me, with this Korach, a psalm...” It is a very special messages. What was once called the
ring, according to the religion of moment. Information Highway is now the
Moshe and Israel.” A hundred years Information Intifada, attacking us
ago, Rabbi Tzvi Kunstlicher, in “Be’er So why at this very moment must with constant bombardments of data.
Tzvi,” asked why we emphasize we remember Korach’s sons? Korach No human brain is capable of absorb-
“according to the religion of Moshe started the controversy against ing so much information.
and Israel.” He answered that our Moshe and Aharon. A controversy
marital relationship should be the about honor, pride and personal gain, The main mitzvah on Rosh Hashanah
same as our relationship to the Torah ending in tragedy – Korach and his is to hear the shofar – “Yom Teruah.”
given by Moshe to Israel – a relation- whole congregation were swallowed Other nations mark their new years
ship of daily renewal. That is, “every up in the ground and died. with street celebrations, a loud count-
day should be like new,” as new as the down, drinking and eating – while
day you stood under the chupah. Here But what about Korach’s sons? They we gather inside to be silent and
too, we would be wise to devote time, did not die. At the last minute, they listen. As the outside world becomes
thought and creativity to renew our regretted their actions. To this day, louder and louder, this silence for the
most important relationships within we learn from them that one should shofar takes on added meaning and
the intimate surroundings of home. never give up hope of repentance and significance.
returning to G-d.
ddd We are resetting the system. Stop
Have we prepared for this moment talking and shouting and arguing.
Our Sages defined the biggest chal- of blowing the shofar? Were we in a Remain silent and listen to a voice
lenge of our times in this way: we mindframe of learning and teshuva above words, texts and videos:
should not take our greatest gifts – and reflection during Elul? For many “Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King
Torah, the Land of Israel, our families of us, the first day of Tishrei, Rosh of the Universe, who has made us holy
– for granted. The prevailing culture Hashanah arrives uninvited, as if we
broadcasts a message that loyalty to a never knew it was upon us, and we through His commandments, and has
text (Torah), a Land (Israel), or fellow find ourselves standing in somber commanded us to listen to the sound
members of a covenant (family) are silence waiting for the shofar to blast. of the shofar.”
values that have vanished from the What can we do to compensate for Stop making the noise. Listen!
world. This culture sees newness as our lack of preparation? “For the sons
external to ourselves and not some- of Korach, a psalm...”
thing to be sought or attained within.
You can always connect and fix
On Rosh Hashanah, we are called things, even now. It’s never too late. Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir are
upon to find new meaning in those This is the message for this one-time popular Israeli media personalities and
elements of our lives that have stood moment, once a year. You can always World Mizrachi’s Scholars-in-Residence.

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