things went okay last year, they will stay okay
High Stakes
Getting the Most Out of Elul
By Rav Moshe Shternbuch
The following was written by Rabbi Daniel
Yaakov Travis based on a drasha given by Rav
Moshe Shternbuch, Rosh Av Beis Din of the
Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, on leil
Shabbos Parshas Shoftim.
•••••
OUT OF ORDER
We all know that Rosh Hashanah is a day
when the Almighty issues our judgment for
the upcoming year, while Yom Kippur is our
opportunity to atone for our transgressions.
Based on this, Rav Yisroel Salanter asked
a simple yet startling question: Aren’t these
Yomim Tovim out of order? Surely it would
better for us to have our spiritual state wiped
clean before our future fate is determined.
Rav Yisroel answers his own question by
pointing out that, in fact, Rosh Hashanah has
to come first. Through the awesome spirit of
strict judgment of that day, we are able to
perceive that Hashem is truly the undisputed
ruler of the entire universe. Only after we have
achieved this level of recognition are we
worthy of being purified on Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah is not a day of teshuvah.
Throughout the long hours of davening, we
do not say a single viduy. Rather, Rosh
Hashanah is a Yom Tov of malchiyos, recog-
nizing that everything that happens in our
lives is in His hands alone.
Rav Shternbuch was once approached by
a businessman for a bracha right before Rosh
Hashanah. The rov asked him what sort of
blessing he sought, and the man replied, “This
year, business went amazingly well. I know
OLAM HAMIDDOS
The Salve of Silence
By Rabbi Moshe Don Kestenbaum
Waterbury, Connecticut
The Hebrew sefer, “Olam Hamiddos,”
written by this author, is now in its second
printing and is once again available in
seforim stores.
•••••
The Mishnah in Avos (1:17) quotes Rav
Shimon ben Gamliel as saying, “Lo motzosi
leguf tov elah shtikah - I didn’t find anything
good for my body other than silence.” The
wording of the Mishnah is puzzling. Why did
Rav Shimon ben Gamliel say that he didn’t
find anything good for his body other than
silence? He should have said that he didn’t
find anything good for his soul other than si-
lence. Remaining silent would seem to be
strictly of spiritual benefit, not physical.
I would like to share with you two abso-
lutely remarkable explanations, which actu-
ally are not contradictory. Both are so real
and true.
To understand this Mishnah, the Chidah
cites the awesome words of the Ramak. The
Ramak says that there is nothing among all
the self imposed afflictions and fasts that can
purify one’s soul and atone his sins like one
who hears his shame, yet remains silent and
forgives. For there is no righteous person who
solely does good and does not sin, and thus
each person is in need of many afflictions
and fasts, poverty and sickness, each one be-
ing more bitter than death. However, one who
overcomes his middos will eat and drink, and
Page 44
which Hashem hates” (Devorim 16:22).
during the following year. This complacency
that Hashem can turn things around, so I ask
for one thing: that He should steer clear of my
affairs and just let things continue to prosper.”
Rav Shternbuch was shocked by the man’s
request and tried to make him see the irratio-
nality of his outlook. The Almighty orches-
trates every detail of our existence and there
is nothing which is not in His absolute con-
trol. Asking Him to stay out of one’s busi-
ness shows that one has not grasped the full
We should view each day as an opportunity to
turn over a new leaf and make a change
for the better.
extent of His Kingship.
The rov offered the businessman the fol-
lowing parable to help him understand the
fallacy of his thinking: People readily pur-
chase lottery tickets, even though the chances
of winning are extremely slim. Since the
stakes are so high, they are willing to spend
money to enter despite the near-impossible
odds. Moreover, they eagerly await the draw-
ing of the winning numbers, hoping and pray-
ing that riches will be theirs.
When it comes to Rosh Hashanah, how-
ever, the odds that a person could receive a
judgment involving much trial and suffering
during the upcoming year are not remote. Yet
we find that many people are pretty relaxed
before the Day of Judgment, assuming that if
be nourished well, while his sins are atoned.
This, explains the Chidah, is what Rav
Shimon was saying. The best possible thing
for one’s physical body so that it should not
need to endure suffering in this world is shtikah,
remaining silent. Through one’s shtikah, he will
merit forgiveness for his sins, enabling him to
enjoy sustenance and good health.
What an unforgettable yesod! Now, we must
try to put this into practice the next time some-
one graces us with this fantastic opportunity.
A little cucumber has gotten them into
a real pickle!
Imagine, one may walk around terribly
bitter over his life’s lot. His shalom bayis is
lousy, he has aggravation from his children,
his health is precarious, and, to top it all off,
his financial situation is dire. “Why, Hashem?
Why me?” he feels.
Meanwhile, he (or she) is missing the pic-
ture. Hashem, in His infinite mercy, gave him
the test of shalom bayis in order for him to
perfect his middos and cleanse his sins. Had
he properly undertook this responsibility,
everything else would have fallen into place
- his children, his health, and his wealth, not
to mention being spared all the stress and pain
of a home devoid of shalom bayis!
YATED NE’EMAN
comes from the fact that they do not grasp the
full extent of the din. And if we want the out-
come of our judgment to be positive, we should
first recognize that every aspect of our destiny
is entirely in the Almighty’s Hands.
GUARDING THE GATES
“You should set up judges and police by
all of your gates...Justice, justice pursue”
(Devorim 16:18,20).
On a simple level, the Torah is instructing
us to ensure that there is a justice system
amongst Klal Yisroel. Judges make sure that
the judicial laws of the Torah are properly
upheld. Policemen protect the Jewish people
from those who break the laws.
On a deeper level, the Torah is speaking
personally to each Jew as an individual. All
of us have gates: our eyes, mouth, and ears.
We must guard these portals carefully and
make sure that nothing which conflicts with
Torah values enters us through them.
In this vein, the Torah writes, “Tzedek, tzedek
tirdof - Justice, justice purse,” repeating the word
tzedek. While we must make sure to carry out
justice on a national level, we should not forget
that we must apply it to ourselves as well. Espe-
cially in regards to shemiras halashon, each per-
son must establish his own personal guidelines
which will distance him from transgression.
STARTING FRESH
“Do not set up for yourself a stone altar
Another explanation of this Mishnah I
heard quoted from the sefer Bayis Umenucha,
written by Rav Moshe Aharon Stern zt”l. A
lady once approached Rav Moshe Aharon
and broke down in uncontrollable tears. She
had lost her husband and could not be con-
soled. Rav Moshe Aharon tried to provide
some comfort, but to no avail. Finally, she
expressed the reason behind the added inten-
sity of her pain.
She and her husband would fight all too
often. This certainly had its effects on her
husband’s blood pressure. Unfortunately, her
husband passed away from a heart attack. She
could not forgive herself for having a part in
her husband’s untimely death.
Rav Moshe Aharon said that he then fi-
nally understood the words of our Mishnah.
Shtikah saves a person so much aggravation.
Look how much this husband suffered and
how much his wife continues to suffer be-
cause they could not master their speech.
This is certainly not relegated to the ex-
treme situation of this particular man and
woman. On a day-to-day basis, we are faced
with matters that can be quickly dismissed
with silence or, chas veshalom, turned into
painful arguments. Most arguments in mar-
riage begin with the smallest infraction. It is
the absence of the middah of shtikah that fu-
els a tiny flame into a bonfire.
Let us give a practical illustration. Take
a home where the wife usually buys the
Once again, deviating from the simple read-
ing of the posuk gives us a deeper message to
aid us in teshuvah. The Torah warns us from
becoming cold and rigid like a stone altar, un-
able to bend and change. Rather, we should
view each day as an opportunity to turn over a
new leaf and make a change for the better.
Elul is a time of tremendous Divine fa-
vor, and for this reason, the mazel of this
month is a besulah. Every kallah looks for-
ward to her married life as a fresh start, full
of promise. We can live out the month of Elul
with a similar sense of hope and anticipation.
The Arizal offers an allegorical explana-
tion for the posuk which states, “And she cries
for her father and mother for a month,” re-
ferring to the eishes yefas toar. The father
represents the Almighty, and the mother rep-
resents the Jewish people. During the year,
we abandon our father and mother to pursue
our heart’s worldly desires. During Elul, we
have an entire month to focus on rebuilding
these fundamental relationships, and to re-
gain our original level of closeness.
On Rosh Hashanah, the Almighty judges
us “as we are at that moment.” Our din on
that day will reflect any changes that we have
brought about in ourselves during Elul, no
matter how small they may be. Let us seize
this precious opportunity to ensure that we
will be inscribed immediately into the book
of life, health, and prosperity.
•••••
Rabbi Travis is a rosh kollel of Kollel
Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim, and is the
author of Shaylos U’Teshuvos Toras
Chaim and “Praying With Joy - A Daily
Tefilla Companion,” a practical daily
guide to improving one’s prayers, avail-
able from Feldheim Publishers. For more
information about his work, contact
dytravis@actcom.com.
groceries. One day, she is not feeling her-
self, and her husband, from the goodness
of his heart, offers to make the shopping
trip in her stead. She gives him her shop-
ping list and everything is set.
When the husband returns and un-
packs the groceries, she notices that
there is not a cucumber to be found. She
turns to her husband and asks, “Where
are the cucumbers?” He responds
apologetically that he forgot them. She
gets very upset and says, “I knew I
shouldn’t have sent you. You always
forget what I need.” He gets angry and
attacks back by saying, “Where’s your
gratitude that I went out of my way for
you?” Now she has really had it.
“Gratitude?! When do you show me any
gratitude for everything I do? In fact,
when is the last time you thanked me
for going shopping?”
Who knows where this petty argument
could go? A little cucumber has gotten
them into a real pickle! Imagine if the wife
kept quiet the first time... Imagine if the
husband did not respond... Imagine if the
wife at least kept quiet her second time
at-bat...
Almost anyone who is married has ex-
perienced the feeling of regret a second
later: “Why did I say anything? It wasn’t
worth it.” And it is not! Lo motzosi leguf
tov elah shtikah. Shtikah saves us, both in
this world and the next.
•••••
This column is based on the Hebrew
sefer, “Olam Hamiddos,” written by this
author, who can be reached via email at
kestenbaum4@yeshivanet.com.
8 Elul 5769 • August 28 2009