Rabbi David Algaze hosted Rabbi Yaniv Meirov of Chazaq at Havurat Yisrael’s annual Lag BaOmer barbecue on May 26.
“Lag BaOmer is a very special time, not only because the students of Rabbi Akiva stopped dying. Also, because it’s a day that we have unity between Sefardim and Ashkenazim,” said Rabbi Algaze. “Sefardim count the first 33 days of mourning. Ashkenazim count the last 33 days. Lag BaOmer is a day of simchah for all of am Yisrael.”
Chazaq gives Torah classes in English, Hebrew, and Russian. The Argentinean-born Rabbi David Algaze offered to give Jewish classes in Spanish, which Rabbi Yaniv Meirov agreed to start.
Rabbi Algaze introduced Rabbi Yaniv Meirov as someone who “created a revolution here in Queens and throughout New York.” Through Chazaq’s educational programs, and by enabling Jewish public school students to learn in yeshivos, “they want to make sure no Jew is left behind, no matter how far they are.”
Rabbi Meirov spoke of last week’s parshah, mentioning the Sh’mitah year (not working the land every seven years), and Yovel (letting all servants and slaves free every 50 years). People are “lax primarily because they say they have time.” People don’t have a lot of Sh’mitah years and Yovel years during a lifetime. It makes people realize there is no time. “Go, grab and do mitzvos; go grab and do good things, because time is of the essence.”
“The Dubner Maggid was known for his stories. He says something very cute”: He was given 10,000 cents, which made the Dubner Maggid happy and excited, until his friends pointed out that it was only $100. The Dubner Maggid became sad, because he thought he was a millionaire.
“Same thing with us. Time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, even years. It’s pennies. At the end of the day, the millions are that we have to grab as many mitzvos as possible.”
Another lesson that Rabbi Meirov gave is blowing the shofar every 50 years to let all of your servants and slaves go free is hard on a person. However, when family, friends, and neighbors also do it, it makes it easier on the person. “So, the same is true with people doing mitzvos: It should be done with a chaburah (group of friends), like you guys do at Havurat Yisrael.”
“You do it as a group, you grow as a group, you learn Torah as a group. When we do things as a group, it’s easier for accountability. And you said you’re coming to minyan every day. Where are you? Let’s go. We’re going to take it upon ourselves to read this amount of T’hilim for Eretz Yisrael. You do it as a group, you have accountability. It’s easier when you do it as a group.”
The Talmud says Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students died because “they didn’t get along with one another.” Jewish public school students ask Rabbi Meirov: How could 24,000 rabbis not get along with one another? “They were at a very high level; even not saying ‘Hi’ and not smiling to one another could put you in trouble, in a sense.”
Rabbi Akiva could have given up after the death of 24,000 of his students. Instead, Rabbi Akiva took on five new students. One of them was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who passed away on Lag BaOmer and wanted this day to be a happy one.
“Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wanted to give over all the secrets of the Torah before he passed. The sun was about to set. He stopped the sun.” “So, to commemorate the sun stopping, the sun is like fire; we light a bonfire.”
Another reason is that when Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai passed, he went up to Shamayim: “There was such a light. There was such a fire in heaven, we commemorate that light.”
Rabbi Meirov summarized his four lessons: There is no time, and we need to do more mitzvos; do mitzvos with a group; don’t give up hope; and “once we don’t give up hope, then you’re going to have a light.”
Rabbi Algaze taught a d’var Torah in honor of Rabbi Meirov. Last week’s parshah, B’Har, says if a person falls financially, he might have to sell himself as a slave. A person might also become a slave to – a worshipper of – avodah zarah, of idols. “Yet the Sforno says that you are to go and redeem him.”
“When a person has already abandoned Judaism, is eating pork, doesn’t keep Shabbat, is lost, intentionally, he doesn’t care.” People might say it is their choice to do this. Why should we care?
“The Torah says no. Even a person who goes far away, you cannot leave him. Take care of him. The Torah says, don’t throw the last stone on a person who has fallen. And this is the job I want to congratulate Yaniv for doing, and all the rabbis. What rabbis do is exactly this: We do not leave Jews behind. For us, every soul, every Jewish soul, is an important soul.”
Around 40 people attended the barbecue surrounded by new trees, plants, and ornaments in the synagogue’s backyard patio. Hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, and chicken were enjoyed along with Israeli music.
By David Schneier
