Rabbi’s Musings & Amusings

It’s ingrained in our psyche: Fall back and spring forward (or is it fall forward and spring back?). Whatever it is, we have become accustomed to changing the time on our clocks twice a year – though each time we change we can’t seem to figure out if we’re gaining or losing sleep, but somehow, we figure it out in the end. But all that may soon be a thing of the past.

A neighbor related that when he informed his six-year-old son of the p’tirah of Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, the boy burst into tears. Through sobs, he told his father that he had wanted to ask Rav Chaim a question and now he doesn’t know whom to ask. He wanted to know why we have the custom to bang when we hear Haman’s name in the Megillah, but not the two times that his evil wife Zeresh is mentioned in the Megillah.

Like every Yom Tov, Pesach is beautiful and unique. But the road to Pesach must pass through Erev Pesach.

Erev Pesach isn’t just a day. In fact, it’s not even limited to a specific time. It becomes a mindset and an encompassing way of life.

At first, I couldn’t understand what my student was talking about. Why would he ask me if I think there are more doors or wheels in the world? Of what importance is the answer, and how can anyone correctly assess it?

Mark Twain once quipped, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. However, when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in just seven years.”

Why is that true?

My ninth grade Heichal students (b’kius) and I are currently learning Maseches Tamid. The shortest masechta in Shas, Tamid details the daily procedures of the avodah performed in the Beis HaMikdash. Most particularly, it discusses the offering of the Korban Tamid – the daily “consistency offering.” There were actually two korbanos tamid brought each day. One served as the first offering brought in the Beis HaMikdash each morning, and a second one served as the final offering brought every afternoon.