Hi,
Hope all is well.
I wanted to thank the many Torah Minute readers who sent “happy birthday” wishes.
(Including the comedian who said …
“I bought you a very expensive gift. But since I am always obedient to a Rabbi’s wishes?
And you said, “No presents please”?
… I returned it to the Rolex Company”!)
My trip to Israel was wonderful.
But twice in one week you couldn’t get very far in Jerusalem.
One day the city was virtually shut down to provide security for President Bush.
You couldn’t even get to the Western Wall.
Another day?
It was the funeral of a great Rabbi.
Tens of thousands of people walked through the streets of Jerusalem to honor him.
… Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum was a legend.
He was the head of one of the world’s largest Yeshivas.
And he studied Torah virtually day and night for over 70 years!
For the last few years, he suffered from cancer.
But when he opened his Talmud?
His pain was gone!
But we’re not talking “ivory tower” scholar.
He always found the time for other people.
To lift someone’s spirits. To listen to someone who needed to “talk”.
And even to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for poor families in Israel.
But as soon as it was “mission accomplished”?
He went right back to his beloved Talmud.
… Our lives are very busy.
And we don’t always have the time to reach out to others.
We should think of Rabbi Berenbaum.
And find the time!
… And there’s another way we can honor the memory of this great man.
By finding time to study the Torah he loved so much.
And next Tuesday?
You can even study Talmud just like him!
If you haven’t already, please register today for our special Lunch & Learn.
“A Taste of Talmud”. www.torahnetwork.org/register.htm
You’ll have a great lunch. Meet great people. Study a fascinating page of Talmud.
And you’ll make Rabbi Berenbaum proud!
Hope to see you!
All the best,