Make It Your Own
A Reflection from Rabbi Nebel, Jewish Family Services Director
Baruch Hashem, we surpassed our goal for the Passover Pantry appeal! Thanks to everyone for making this possible.
With Passover in the rear window, we have moved into the sefirat omer (49 days), heading into the Shavuot holiday. Beginning on the second night of Passover, we started counting the omer—the sheaf offering that was brought to the Temple, in praise to Hashem for the new crops. Originally a happy time, this period turned to one of sadness, when 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akiva’s (1st century) students died in a plague that lasted for a 33-day period.
The Rabbis explain that this plague was due to the students not conducting themselves properly with their peers. I must admit that I always found this hard to understand. Our Torah teaches how important it is to have respect for others, regardless of their station in life. After all, we are all created in Hashem’s image. As a result, we must live up to that standard. That being said, how can we understand the Rabbis condemnation of the students who were immersed in Torah learning? How could they have made such a grave error?
When I attended college. I took a course entitled, “Food, Science and Nutrition.” The professors teaching the course had literally written the book. Yet, when it came to their personal lives and what they would ingest, it seemed that they forgot their research. Some doctors even smoke today, while telling us that it could lead to cancer. Back in the 1960s, Camel cigarettes were heavily promoted as the choice of doctors, with the slogan “More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette.” Why the seeming disconnect?
I believe the disconnect is due to lack of internalization. We can learn a lot of things, but until we begin to use that knowledge and make it our own, it remains in the abstract. The Rabbis tell us that it takes a month to inculcate changes in our repertoire. But, when we internalize the habit or message, it becomes a “reflex” to act in that manner.
For example, everyone recognizes the need for exercise, yet many people have difficulty incorporating a routine into their daily life. The same could be said for eating a proper diet, personal care time, spiritual life, decluttering, etc. We all understand the importance of these things in the abstract, but when it comes to actualization, it is hard to implement. Again, I would suggest that until one internalizes the significance of any of the items just mentioned, nothing will change.
That is what I think happened to the students. While they could probably quote all of the writings about how to treat their fellow man, when it came down to it, it didn’t translate into action. Our Rabbis saw the flaw and warned the future generations that it is not enough to learn; action is the most important. As it states in Pirkei Avot—The Ethics of Our Fathers- “Study is not the main thing, rather practice is.”
As a result of the tragedy of the students dying, during the omer period, we don’t cut our hair, participate in marriages, or happy events, listen to live music., etc. We take on many of the laws of mourning, with the intended plan to treat our brethren with greater respect, thus repairing the damage of Rabbi Akiva’s students.
As I have written before, everyone wants to feel wanted and appreciated. It doesn’t take much to accomplish this. It could be a phone call, text, home visit, or just smiling at someone as they pass you on the street. Just to illustrate the point, I read a story about the importance of acknowledging a passing stranger. Apparently, a suicide note was found which stated, “If even one person says hello to me, I won’t commit suicide.” Sadly, no one acknowledged that person on that day.
Let’s use this time period to correct our ancestors’ flaws and as the old AT&T commercial said, “Reach out and touch someone.” Show that we care.
Rabbi Fred Nebel
Jewish Family Services Director
574-233-1164 x1806
RabbiNebel@TheJewishFed.org