A valued reader generously summed up a shiur (which I don't have the opportunity to access right now) on the present situation by Rav Avraham Schorr.
(The recording is available here: 732-400-9003; press 1; then 1; then 41.)
Here are the main points:
(For more information on how to do that and Ketoret's profound meaning, please see Interesting Facts about the Ketoret Incense Prayer.)
He used this parable:
Let's say a person comes to a fork in the road with 2 options:
Road #1 has a lion.
Road #2 has a nisayon (a challenge).
Which road should the person take?
The road with the lion.
Why? Because there’s only danger to his body — his physical well-being.
But the path with the nisayon endangers his very soul.
That's not how most of us make our decisions, but this is the true priority.
Rav Schorr saw a similar example of this when he witnessed 2 people in the street who wouldn’t shake hands out of fear of the coronavirus...but they held smartphones in those same hands they refused to shake.
He said that, really, smartphones are so much more dangerous than coronavirus.
Just like Torah is more severe with men than women (though women don't get a free ride either) regarding their taavot, it is likewise more severe with women regarding tsniyus (dressing & behaving with dignity), even though men also must adhere to tsniyus.
Rav Schorr emphasized the necessity of a husband talking to his wife about her tsniyus. It's not ahavat Yisrael to remain apathetic to how our loved ones dress in the street.
(I'm also going to add that the idea of a "trophy wife" is completely un-Jewish and any man who secretly enjoys showing off what he's got as far as his wife's material attributes are concerned is a bit of a sicko. But don't worry — this can be fixed! Anyone can heal his sicko aspects. Also, the Pele Yoetz speaks a lot about a man's responsibility to guide his household in the ways of Torah, and to do so PLEASANTLY. Men can speak to their wives with love, appreciation, and respect regarding her tsniyus. He can also buy her gifts and do other things to show her how much he appreciates her, which helps her appreciate his POV regarding her tsniyus.)
Thank you again to the wonderful reader who took the time to sum up the shiur, which gave me so much chizuk & guidance. (You know who you are, wonderful person!)
I hope Rav Schorr's ideas offer encouragement, direction, and reassurance to anyone else reading this.
May Hashem protect us from all harm & may all the ill people enjoy a complete & speedly healing of the nefesh & the guf.
(The recording is available here: 732-400-9003; press 1; then 1; then 41.)
Here are the main points:
- Saying Ketoret is very important.
(For more information on how to do that and Ketoret's profound meaning, please see Interesting Facts about the Ketoret Incense Prayer.)
- The rav expressed a lot of pain over the sway shmutzy technology holds over so many people.
He used this parable:
Let's say a person comes to a fork in the road with 2 options:
Road #1 has a lion.
Road #2 has a nisayon (a challenge).
Which road should the person take?
The road with the lion.
Why? Because there’s only danger to his body — his physical well-being.
But the path with the nisayon endangers his very soul.
That's not how most of us make our decisions, but this is the true priority.
Rav Schorr saw a similar example of this when he witnessed 2 people in the street who wouldn’t shake hands out of fear of the coronavirus...but they held smartphones in those same hands they refused to shake.
He said that, really, smartphones are so much more dangerous than coronavirus.
- Shamelessness has invaded the streets & unfortunately infiltrated the frum community to some extent.
Just like Torah is more severe with men than women (though women don't get a free ride either) regarding their taavot, it is likewise more severe with women regarding tsniyus (dressing & behaving with dignity), even though men also must adhere to tsniyus.
Rav Schorr emphasized the necessity of a husband talking to his wife about her tsniyus. It's not ahavat Yisrael to remain apathetic to how our loved ones dress in the street.
(I'm also going to add that the idea of a "trophy wife" is completely un-Jewish and any man who secretly enjoys showing off what he's got as far as his wife's material attributes are concerned is a bit of a sicko. But don't worry — this can be fixed! Anyone can heal his sicko aspects. Also, the Pele Yoetz speaks a lot about a man's responsibility to guide his household in the ways of Torah, and to do so PLEASANTLY. Men can speak to their wives with love, appreciation, and respect regarding her tsniyus. He can also buy her gifts and do other things to show her how much he appreciates her, which helps her appreciate his POV regarding her tsniyus.)
- He advised: “Be ready to give away a taavah (a non-spiritual craving): clothing or books or magazines; take something you want and get rid of it."
- As far as prepping goes, the rav advised against panic-hishtadlut (efforts) in favor of mentschlikeit hishtadlut.
- And here are 4 final points from the shiur:
- Corona is from Hashem, not China. Do teshuvah!
- No lashon hara! Quarantine your MOUTH!
- Get a flip phone (or the little phones we have with no Internet connection at all).
- Real ahavat Yisrael (He said: “Help others now! What are you saving your money for?”)
Thank you again to the wonderful reader who took the time to sum up the shiur, which gave me so much chizuk & guidance. (You know who you are, wonderful person!)
I hope Rav Schorr's ideas offer encouragement, direction, and reassurance to anyone else reading this.
May Hashem protect us from all harm & may all the ill people enjoy a complete & speedly healing of the nefesh & the guf.
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