Posted on 11/14/23
Baltimore, MD - Nov. 14, 2023:
An open letter to Mechanchim
There are times in our lives when what we do is cloudy and what we do is crystal clear.
Sometimes the two get mixed up, which of course leaves us confused. We have experiences that cause us to think that we know exactly what we need to do and where to be, and then surprise, it doesn’t happen. In our Jewish world, this is referred to as Emunah and Bitachon. For some of us, it takes a life’s work to synchronize this crucial core belief. By now, however, I think we all realize that the way the war came about was because Hashem has His plan and we trust in Him to run His world in every part of our lives and beyond.
Working in chinuch, has taught me many lessons in this arena as I have taught all kinds of children, each with his own unique personality, strengths, and deficits. I have witnessed beautiful transformations, discovered family dynamics at the end of the year that I wish I would have known in the beginning, causing me wistfully to be in awe of that child’s life circumstance and his resiliency as such. It goes without saying that I have gleaned so many kernels of wisdom that come out of the mouths of babes. It is a noble calling, one that I do not take for granted, and one that I feel truly privileged to be a part of. And yet, it’s not all roses. Whether you’re caring for toddlers, molding preschoolers or modeling for older children and teenagers, it is often not a glamorous job. Chinuch is hard work, for all parties involved, including the very students we teach. Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we get caught up in the agenda of our lesson plans and curriculum. Then we get reminders of why we do what we do and the cloudiness becomes crystal clear as we realize that we are taking care of Hashem’s precious children, the same way He takes care of us.
The war in Israel, and at this point, across the globe, has driven home that point. At first, we were all frozen. How would we teach? How could we teach? Our hearts were, and still are, so heavy with the pain of Klall Yisroel’s Eis Tzarah magnified right now. How dare we sing and dance when all we want to do is weep!
Is the role of a Morah that important? Maybe we should be involved in the “bigger?” And here in Chutz La’Aretz when we are drooling over all the videos of tzitzis-tying, packaging up food pekelach, and all the other creative initiatives for chessed, we too want to do something shiny, big and dramatic. Maybe we should be storming the rallies that are cropping up all over the U.S.!
Thank G-d for Da’as Torah who show us in real time what it is to be V’Eineinu Lecha Seluyos, who guide us and remind us of what the bigger picture is. We need to stay put and be Melamed Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban. We need to teach Torah L’Amo Yisroel!
Growing up, we learned that Talmud Torah K’Neged Kulam, but do we really feel it, especially in the younger grades? How is my doling out snack, doing recess duty, and reminding kids not to roll around the floor during Ma’agal really being melamed torah? And yet it is. Derech Eretz Kadma LaTorah.
One day, while feeling a little dejected and wishing I could be doing more (like flying off to Israel and teaching all the displaced preschoolers) my husband reminded me what Mordechai HaYeHudi did in their Eis Tzarah. He gathered up all the children and taught them Torah. I remember learning this, and of course teach it to my preschoolers, but this time it piqued my interest and so I did a little research. Yalkut Shemoni says that after hearing Haman’s plan, Mordechai stopped 3 different children who were coming home from school and asked them what they learned that day.
One child said, from Mishlei 3:25, and as translated by the Artscroll siddur, “Al Tirah M’pachad Pisom… Do not fear sudden terror or the holocaust of the wicked when it comes.” Another child said, from Yeshaya 8:10, “ Utzu Eitzah V’Sufar…Plan a conspiracy and it will be annulled… for G-d is with us.” The third child said, ibid 46:4, ” V’Eid Ziknah Ani Hu… Even till your seniority I remain unchanged…I shall endure and rescue.” And then Mordechai laughed and told Haman that the children told him good news, which infuriated him and caused him to harm the children. This in turn led to their great cries which penetrated the Heavenly throne and caused a great tumulte in shamyim in which the Avos and Eliyahu HaNavi interceded on behalf of Klal Yiroel, after which the gezeirah was ripped up.
Another Midrash says that Mordechai HaYehudi gathered the children and taught them the Halachos of the Korban Omer. He taught it with such great excitement that the children yearned for the Avodah of the Beish HaMikdash which inspired their tefilla.
Esther Rabah also speaks of Mordechai learning, upon Queen Esther’s bequest, with 22,000 children, who were then shackled by Haman and then cried out to Hashem. Their heart-wrenching cries reached Shamayim which resulted in a “behala” and after Moshe Rabeinu said that it was the sound of little children crying and not sheep and ewes, Hashem rescinded the Gezeirah, and the Jewish People were saved. This particular Midrash describes that it was specifically through the children that salvation occurred. (The midrash continues with the great importance of teaching them the es of purim as they were a crucial part of the Nes. )
Upon learning these Midrashim and the variations, one theme remained consistent; it was the children who indeed saved the day. By who? Their Rebbe. And who was their Rebbe? None other than the Gadol HaDor, Mordechai HaYehudi. That was his “day job” in Shushan. And Queen Esther harnessed this power.
I was awe-struck. And so should all the Morahs and Rebbeim out there be as well. Maybe you already know this and you don’t need the reminder. I know I needed it.
Rosh Chodesh Kislev coincides with the day of the rally in Washington DC. I can think of no more of an appropriate time than the month that is designated for Light and the dedication to our Nation, through our children who behold that Light.
B’Ezras Hashem, hundreds of thousands of Jews are expected from all over the world who will be rallying together in Washington DC for the Peace of our People.
Let us storm the heavens together. Let us shine our Light.
Chodesh Tov Kislev.