12 Jul When Did You Think Last?

The Torah proclaims,“Al kein yomru hamoshlim,bo’u cheshbon.”   The Gemora in Bava Basra interprets this verse homiletically as follows.  “Hamoshlim, eIlu hamoshlim b’yitzram – Rulers refers to those who rule over their more base inclinations.  How do they do so?  Bo’u cheshbon – By thinking and making calculations.”  The verse continues, “Tiboneh v’sikonein – If one does so, he will be built up in this world and established,” in the Next World.  The Torah is giving us a priceless recommendation to succeed against the Evil Inclination: One has to THINK.  Sadly, thinking is threatened with extinction in today’s fast-paced, technical based, modern-day society.  If a person has a free moment, they check their iPhone, iPad, laptop, or wristpad.  If there isn’t a text or email waiting, they quickly shoot one off.

Who thinks anymore?  This is a great loss.  The Rosh, in Orchos Chaim [Number 76] cautions the Torah Jew, “Al tifrad mei’hegyon chochmah u’musar – Never be far away from thoughts of wisdom and moral teaching.”  It is the thinking process that helps guide a person to a more successful life in the midst of a world of fleeting pleasure and hedonistic morass.

Let me give you a couple of examples of how thinking changes people’s lives towards greatness.  The first exhibit is Eliezer, the servant of Avraham, who merited to enter Paradise alive.  According to many opinions, Eliezer was the son of the wicked Nimrod.  One day he had a penetrating thought: as a Canaanite, he was cursed to be an eved, a slave.  He worried that his lot might fall to be a servant to a wicked Cushite or other barbarian.  Therefore, he decided to instead enslave himself to Avraham, the pillar of chesed.  See how his thinking led him on the path of greatness?

Now, exhibit number two.  The Gemora relates that young Akiva hated Torah scholars.  One day, he passed by an unusual sight.   He saw water dripping upon a boulder.  Through the water’s constant dripping, by way of erosion, a hole was boring into the solid rock.  Akiva thought as follows:  If water can make a deep impression in solid rock, then the Torah (which is compared to water) can certainly penetrate my heart of flesh.  The rest is history:  The great Rebbe Akiva, who unearthed secrets in the Torah that no one else was ever able to see.  Furthermore, embedded in the very name Akiva is a pneumonic lesson.   “Yeish koneh alomo b’sha’ah achas – One can acquire his world in one moment,”referring to this memorable thought process.

Now, let me share with you a personal thought.  Last week, while driving into Kiamesha, I decided to take a left and check out what was left of the grand old Concord Hotel.  I have nostalgic feelings for the hotel since I played many tennis matches on one of its thirty-two courts.  I remember taking my wife to MBD and Carlebach concerts there and, when its kitchen was glatt, dining there with my family in its regal dining room.  As I passed by, I was stunned to see that there was nothing left.  I mean nothing!  No vestiges of its one thousand rooms, not a whisper of its famed, manicured golf course, not even a clue that tennis courts ever existed.  As this haunting sight lay before my eyes, I had a powerful thought.  This is the fate of all gashmius, of all that is material!  It therefore behooves us not to make the central focus of our lives the next trip to a hotel or the next cruise that we pine for.  Eventually, it all disappears to nothingness.

My thought process continued as I contrasted this sight with the venerable Woodridge shul, the Nikelsburg shul in Woodbourne, and the stately Landfield Avenue synagogue in Monticello, all whom have celebrated their centennial and are  thriving, some stronger than ever.  For, spirituality is enduring and its rewards are eternal.

So, let’s make it a habit to think once in a while.  As Rav Miller, Zt”l, Zy”a, would say, think at least once each day about what you are putting away for the Afterlife.  When you notice a mezuza, think that Hashem is watching you.  Before you go to sleep, think about what you did wrong during the day, ask for forgiveness, and pledge to try to do better.  Think about how you can be a better spouse, parent, child, friend, and person.  In that merit, may Hashem bless all of us with long life, good heatlh, and everything wonderful.