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Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com
<><><>Thursday February 8, 2024, Shevat 29, 5784<><><>
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“The value of segulos”
“The molecular entirety of the physical world is an
undisguised manifestation of H’s presence”
“And they will also believe in you forever”
“Each of us must strive to strengthen our own faith
and that of those around us.”
“Compassion for strangers.”
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A Chaplain’s Story
There was a patient who asked the chaplain how she should know if G is with her. She felt so lonely, so scared due to the medical condition that she was in the hospital for. The loneliest part of the day was late at night way past visiting hours and past the time for phone calls when most people are usually sleeping. She relished having her vitals taken for her interactions and for precious moments of conversation with the medical technician. This patient was traditionally Jewish and truly wondered what will happen to her in the future. She enjoyed speaking to the male staff because she never “found the right one.” She never gave up hope that someday would find a caring mate and have a home filled with happiness. She believed in segulos but unfortunately they did not seem to work. If only her dreams could come true. She had difficulty dealing with strangers. Her family were adverse to having strangers in their home. She tried sharing her feelings and the importance of being nice and respectful to people of diverse backgrounds but she realized she was not going to change their view point. She did not share any work related activities with the chaplain. She did not speak about anything positive in her life at this moment. Her mind was focused on her medical concerns and someday getting married.. The chaplain touched upon aspects of hope and faith.
The above scenario can be found in challenging times. In my recent Moments of Inspiration, I shared how being a people person is truly a wonderful persona of a walking, talking Kiddush H. It is important to have a healthy outlook in life and to be able to engage with others when appropriate in a pleasant meaningful way. It is very important to have a pleasant disposition and a nice demeanor. I’ve mentioned frequently the importance of being sincere. Perhaps her family upbringing had something to do with shidduchim or maybe not. There were several concerns she had and finding hope, was a task for the chaplain. Her fears, her loneliness, her feelings of lack of self-confidence were addressed. The importance to be empathetic are just some of the important things a chaplain, rabbi and or rebbetzin has to be aware of. It is important for her to know that she is H’s presence and to have trust that H will help her with her medical concerns and possible shidduchim. Segulos can be helpful, but it is prayers and trust in H that truly counts. Having someone in her life to be able to share her thoughts with is important. Prayer at the conclusion of this visit was endearing and brought tears to her eyes with gratitude to the chaplain for listening. The prayer helped connect this patient to G which meant so much to her, reaffirming that she is in the presence of G.
From the FJJ newspaper February 1, 2024 Page 14 “Rav Dovid Feinstein On The Parsha by Rabbi Aaron D. Mehlman, Rav, Congregation Ohav Sholom, NYC.” “Vayishma Yisro In Search of G” “Yisro, Priest of Midyan, Moshe’s father-in-law, heard all the G had done for Moshe and for Israel, G’s people, and how H had brought Israel out from Egypt.” “This verse deserves to be carefully analyzed.
Initially, Moshe Rabbeinu’s father-in-law is described by the Torah as the “Priest of Midyan” and only then as Moshe’s kinsman.
The intentional title suggests it was the priest in Yisro that longed to discover the validity of Moshe’s G. This was a personal spiritual journey, an awakening of his soul.
Yisro sought to determine if Moshe’s G was indeed more powerful than his familiar cadre of Gds.
Indeed, Yisro pursued evidence of dramatic, explosive miracles that would speak to the incomparable might and fury of a new, yet hitherto unfamiliar, all-powerful deity.
In a nutshell, Yisro was seeking hard evidence of gilui Shechina, Divine revelation.
But there’s more.
The Torah then refers to Yisro as, Moshe’s father-in-law.
This change in status implies his quest to explore extraordinary events manifesting divine intervention in human affairs expanded from unnatural, spectacular gilui Shechinah to ‘mundane’ and ‘ordinary’ miracles the Jews would experience at the hands of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Indeed, Yisro was motivated to believe in what Moshe believed in, to share the same level of absolute faith that even the hands of Moshe can be effective tools to showcase and demonstrate ongoing cycles of divine providence.
In essence, there were two Yisro’s.
Whereas the Midianite Priest Yisro sought tangible proof of a formidable and fearsome G, it was the “father-in-law Yisro” who sought evidence of H’s constant presence in our daily lives.
Yisro was searching for demonstrations that H is inextricably involved in our lives, not only in the desert-but divine involvement in every aspect of our being.
We now understand why Chazal teach us that Yisro ‘heard’ of the events of the splitting of the Red Sea and the war with our archenemy Amalek.
Yisro wisely understood how the Jewish G wasn’t limited to divine revelations of supernatural, cataclysmic, apocalyptic, Armageddon leveling of the most sophisticated and powerful nation in the era for hundreds of years, His repertoire included being present in our daily struggles for survival.
When we assess our own Emunah, we too must deepen our understanding of H’s abilities and realize that H is miraculously present in all aspects of gashmius and in every facet of our lives.
Indeed, the molecular entirety of the physical world is an undisguised manifestation of H’s presence-and a dynamic showcase of amply kindness and breathtaking intelligence.
The hard evidence of G’s omnipresence is there, we just have to look and see-the truth is all around us.”
From the FJJ Newspaper February 1, 2024 Page 32: “Rabbi Scherman On Chinuch by Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Artscroll: “The Value Of Segulos” “My teenage girls have gotten very into segulos, and each week, they inform me of something else that I “must” do in order to merit hatzlacha, berachah, and yeshuos. My own attitude toward these trends is cynical, but I am wondering if I should pass this on to them.
On the one hand, they are excited and passionate, which is a good thing. On the other hand, I don’t want them to be disappointed when their hopes aren’t realized (or at least not due to these practices) and I have a responsibility to be mechanech them according to our mesorah.
Well over 50 years ago, an outstanding young talmid chacham wrote the Belzer Rav, Rav Aharon zt”l, asking for a segula to remember his learning. The Rebbe wrote back a one -word answer: Chazarah.
There are segulos that have a legitimate source in Chazal or in the gedolim of the past, but none of them are a magic formula in the absence of Torah, tefillah, mitzvos uma’asim tovim. Those that are well based will certainly help enhance the effectiveness of the above, but in and of themselves it is doubtful if they will help.
Certainly, no segulah is more well founded than that of dipping an apple in honey on Rosh Hashanah. It’s mentioned in the Gemara, and nothing can be more authentic than that. But if someone consumes a bushel of apples and quarts of honey without teshuvah and tefillah, it will lead to nothing more than an upset stomach.
You should encourage your daughters with this positive outlook on segulos- they have their place, but never in isolation. However, do not belittle their sincerity. Gedolei Yisrael have cautioned us that if we make light of a sincere belief of unsophisticated people, young or old, they may well lose faith in even mitzvos of the Torah, because not everyone can differentiate between the essential and the tangential.
A very worried gentleman once barged into the kollel of Bais Medrash Elyon many decades ago with a she’eila about a “serious” problem in his kitchen. The man was very sincere and unlearned and the question was rather silly. Most of the yungeleit found it difficult to stifle their laughter, but the rosh kollel, Rav Simcha Schustal zt”l, who later went on to found and lead the Yeshiva of Stamford, went to the shelves, pulled out sefarim, asked a few questions, and pondered. Finally, he smiled and told the relieved questioner that everything was kosher. He explained to us that if he had made light of the question, the gentleman might have felt embarrassed and would be ashamed to ask when a genuine she’eilah arose.
That said, I would add that there is a disturbing and growing trend to raise needed tzedakah funds by distributing glitzy brochures promising all sorts of miracles for people who write a check- the bigger the check, the bigger the miracle. This tactic may be effective in raising funds, but it has disturbing side effects.”
From: Darash Moshe, A selection of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s choice comments on the Torah. Artscroll Judaica Classics Published by Mesorah Publications Ltd. Parshas Pekudei, Page 160 “Vayehi meas kikar hakesef latzedek eis adnei hakodesh adnei haparoches” “The hundred talents of silver were to cast the sockets of the Sanctuary and the sockets of the Partition. (38:27).” “It is noteworthy that each and every Jew donated a uniform half-shekel for the sockets, no more and no less. To understand this, we can say that the sockets, upon which the entire structure of the Mishkan rested, symbolized the emunah (faith) of the Jews, the foundation upon which the Sanctuary was built.”
From: Kol Dodi Seasons of the Torah, by Rabbi David Feinstein; Artscroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd. Parshas Mishpatim, Page 98 “Ve atem yedatem es hageir” “You know the life of a stranger.” “The Benei Yisrael were expected to understand the feelings of a stranger because they had lived the lives of strangers during the years of exile. How long was the exile in its entirety? While the years spent in Mitzrayim only numbered 210, the Torah gives the total duration of the exile: The habitation of the Benei Yisrael during which they dwelled which they dwelled in Mitzrayim was four hundred thirty years (12:40, see Rashi). The Benei Yisrael are commanded to have compassion for strangers because they knew Nefesh, the life, of the stranger. The numerical value of Nefesh is 430.”
When listening to the voice of sadness, of fear, of desires, of wanting hope, of dreams, how can a chaplain or a rabbi or rebbetzin not have feelings for our patients and those we minister to. We as chaplains, rabbis and rebbetzins cannot fix or magically transform a person’s life into a better one. However, with finesse, with empathy, with compassion, with a touch of love, care and sincerity, we can join hearts and share hope and faith in H. Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
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