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The Short Vort- -“The Baal Teshuva” (8/2/10)
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Monday the 22nd of Av 5770 and August 2, 2010
The Baal Teshuva
Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz (1864-1939) the famed Kaminetz Rosh Yeshiva was a true Baal Teshuva.
Rav Baruch Ber, as great a gaon (genius) as he was in learning, after all- he was one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Chaim Brisker; and his shiurim were known far and wide and he attracted hundreds of talmidim to his yeshiva- nevertheless, he was equally a ‘gaon’ (genius) in Midos Tovos (good quality traits).
One of the mitzvohs he excelled in was the Mitzvah of Kibud Av V’Am.
He showed his father total respect and indeed he named his sefer: Birkas Shmuel after father.
After the First World War, Rav Baruch Ber’s father became ill.
Rav Baruch Ber would not leave his father’s sick bed. He cancelled all of his shiurim in the yeshiva as was constantly present with his ailing father.
He was so devoted and so strict with tending to his father’s needs, that the talmidim of the yeshiva were concerned that he was neglecting his own well being.
Therefore, after much pressure and much pleading, the talmidim were able to convince Rav Baruch Ber to get some much needed rest and that one talmid would watch his father when the Rosh Yeshiva was resting.
Unfortunately, it was during one of those brief breaks that Rav Shmuel Leibowitz passed away.
Rav Baruch Ber was beside himself with grief. Not only was he mourning the passing of his father, but, to an even greater extent, he blamed himself for not being present at the time his father left this world.
Indeed, he was so grief stricken that for weeks after shiva, he still had not returned to his teaching schedule as he remained sequestered and alone in his room.
His colleagues and students were extremely concerned for the health of Rav Baruch Ber.
At this time, the Chofetz Chaim was passing through.
The talmidim approached the Chofetz Chaim and asked his if he would speak to Rav Baruch Ber;
The Chofetz Chaim of course consented to meet with Rav Baruch Ber.
After a few minutes, Rav Baruch Ber emerged and he was a new person. He immediately resumed his shiurim with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
He was cured.
One of the younger talmidim asked his Rebbe, “What was so special about the advice the Chofetz Chaim gave you? Didn’t he tell you what we have been saying all along- namely that is was not your fault and what could you have done……”
Rav Baruch Ber looked at the talmid and said, “No not at all. The Chofetz Chaim looked me in the eye and said,
“Rav Baruch Ber, let’s say you are right. Maybe you should have stayed with your father?
Maybe you should have never agreed to have a talmid watch your father.
Maybe you’re right.
However, even if you are correct, now what?
Meaning, so therefore because you should have never left your father’s sick bed now you have the right to abdicate all of your other mitzvah obligations?
How does your grief and pain validate your inactivity and your lack of taking responsibility for your present actions?
The passuk in Devarim (10:12) says: “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord, your God, demand of you? Only to fear the Lord, your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, and to worship the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Chazal teach us that the Hebrew word V’Ata(and now) refers to Teshuva. Meaning, let’s say you did make the wrong decision and you should have stayed by your father; however, V’Ata-and now what?
Rav Baruch Ber, you have a choice. You can wallow in your self-pity and indulge in your sorrow or you can do Teshuva.
You can say, ‘I did do wrong, however, now what?
Where do I go from here?
Rav Baruch Ber, the choice is in your hands.”
It was these words which aroused Rav Baruch Ber to return to himself and to ‘do Teshuva’!
Friends, how often do we fail to hear the words of the Chofetz Chaim and equally fail to arouse ourselves from our self imposed stupor of self-pity as Rav Baruch Ber was able to do?
We all make mistakes; however, often a bigger mistake than the original mistake, is allowing ourselves the luxury to indulge in a state of ‘doing nothing’ and inactivity as we continue to swim in the bottomless pit of self-pity.
How often do people tell me, “I could have been this and that, however, I messed up here and that was it- I have never recovered.”
Shlomo HaMelech says it so accurately: “For a righteous man can fall seven times and rise, but the wicked shall stumble upon evil.” (Mishlei 24:16)
A great man is not one who never falls, rather, it was one who does fall, yet he continues to get up time and time again; that is a true Baal Teshuva.
Rav Baruch Ber was such a man!