Baltimore, MD - June 26, 2018 - On Thursday evening, June 21, the renowned and popular Rabbi YY Jacobson spoke at Bais Yaakov High School on the topic of True Ahavas Yisroel. The event was sponsored by the Gutman family in memory of Mrs. Laure Gutman, z'l, and in memory of Dovid Gutman, z'l.
An estimated 500 people attended the event, which was a fitting tribute to Laure Gutman and her commitment to Klal Yisroel with a lifetime of community service. Dr. Shapsy Tajerstein introduced the event, noting that Both Laure and Dovid Gutman were “strivers” who aspired to live up to their potential.
Rabbi Jacobson spoke for over one and a half hours to an audience that remained spell bound as he alternated drashos, stories, quotations and quips in a wide-ranging presentation. He began with special praise for the Baltimore community which is known far and wide for its many successful mosdos, its chesed and its tzedakah.
The first of Rabbi Jacobson’s many drashos was on the fact that in Parashas Chukas we learn of the tragic incident in which Moshe Rabbeinu is punished by Hashem and told that he will not be permitted to enter Eretz Yisroel. Two primary explanations are given for Moshe’s severe punishment. Rashi says that it is specifically because Moshe hit the rock instead of talking to it in order to get the rock to continue providing water for B’nai Yisroel in the midbar (desert). Rambam says that Moshe is punished because he became angry with B’nai Yisroel, calling them “morim” (rebels).
The Kedushas Levi (The Berditchiver Rebbe) says that both the explanation of Rashi and the explanation of Rambam are the same. He goes on to clarify that when Hashem told Moshe to hit the rock back in Parashas Beshalach, the people had only recently left Mitzrayim (Egypt). But now, nearly 40 years later, in Parashas Chukas, a new generation had grown up outside of Mitzrayim. This time, Moshe was told to speak to the rock, but he employed the same methodology that he had used the first time. Rabbi Jacobson explained the Kedushas Levi to mean that there are two models of education. When the people were recent slaves and still had a slave mentality, they needed to have a model of coercion, which was what they had become accustomed to for 210 years in Mitzrayim. They needed both the stick that represents discipline and the act of coercion to force the tzur (rock) to give water. But toward the end of their journey in the midbar, while still needing the symbol of discipline (Hashem told Moshe to take the stick), the preferred educational approach was persuasion, empowerment and empathy. This was better achieved by symbolically speaking to the selah (stone) in order to get it to give water. Moshe, in all of his greatness, failed to take into consideration the need for a new educational model that would recognize the changes in B’nai Yisroel and their need for empowerment.
This first drasha was the launching pad for many additional stories and drashos during the remainder of the lecture. Rabbi Jacobson generated much laughter, smiles and appreciation for both the content of his presentation and the energy with which he delivered his message of Ahavas Yisroel. Over and over, he stressed the importance of achdus (unity) and accepting people for who they are, being less judgmental and more accepting of diversity in Jewish life and in a vibrant Jewish community.
Following the community presentation at Bais Yaakov, Rabbi Jacobson led a farbrengen at the home of Ben Gutman for another hour before taking his leave and returning to New York.
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