In memory of Chaim Leib Gidon (Lonnie) Borck of Blessed Memory
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Have a Great Shabbos! |
Welcome all the NCSY Summer Staff who just committed to spread have a Great Shabbos!
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Share Shabbos With Those You Love!
Give life to others with a call before Shabbos
by Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv
In Memory of Chaim Leib Gidon (Lonnie) Bork z”l
We have become a society of takers and manipulators. The better one maneuvers, the more he advances. Our approach to life has become one of “what’s in it for me?” The days of “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” have been replaced with stimulus packages and bailouts. Unfortunately, even ehrliche Jews can be affected by the environment that surrounds them and the culture that prevails, and we too could become callous to the danger of becoming a taker. More importantly much opportunity for gemilas chesed is lost in the process.
My rebbi, Harav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, would so passionately point out the greatness of the simple act of the previous generation to always respond to one’s greeting of “A gut morgen (good morning)” with “A gut morgen, a gut yahr (good morning, good year).” Their motive was to ensure that they would always give back more than they received. You were kind enough to wish me a good day; I therefore wish you a good day, too, but in addition, I also “give you” my blessing for a good year.
Indeed, in the introduction to Teshuvos Chasam Sofer, the Chasam Sofer writes that one should never think that helping out another Jew by learning with him will decrease his personal time for learning. Such thinking is built on the common distortion that we control our successes in Torah study, when in fact there is siyata d’Shmaya (Heavenly assistance) intimately involved (see Megillah 6). When one gives of his time, energy, and patience, and learns with others, the Ribono Shel Olam guarantees that the diminished amount of time that remains for his personal learning will be blessed with such clarity and lucidity, that it will enable him to stretch himself and accomplish more in less time.
The blasphemy of the wicked Titus, the general of the Roman army who destroyed the second Beis Hamikdash, caused him to die with an unusual death. A Heavenly Voice rang out that the powerful Titus would be disgraced and destroyed by an insignificant “bri’ah kalah,” a puny gnat, called disgraceful because it can only ingest but cannot expel. In the name of the Arizal, it is explained why that is so disgraceful: The gnat can only take in, but cannot give, therefore, it is removed from any semblance of holiness. Such is your lot, Titus! Klal Yisrael is commanded: “Kedoshim tihiyu – You shall be holy.” How much more so shall we, who are created in the image of Hashem, strive to be among the “givers,” as we emulate our Creator and radiate holiness throughout the world.
Just a few months ago the Baltimore community suffered an enormous loss. Lonnie Bork z”l was a giver par excellence. He was constantly engaged in contemplating new ways he could be of service to others. His list of accomplishments is too long for this letter. I will mention but one that is accessible to us all, literally “bifinu uvilvaveinu la’asosah – in our mouths and hearts to do,” and that is to pick up the phone and give someone an Erev Shabbos call. Lonnie did it every week and through that medium he gave chizuk to all types of people from many different orientations in life. “I’m just calling to wish you a Good Shabbos,” he would say. It was as simple as that. In doing so he emulated his Creator; just as He gives life, so can we – even with a simple phone call.
Please join us in an effort to continue the legacy of this selfless “giver” and make a call each week to someone that you might otherwise neglect. Your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your grandparents, your children or grandchildren, your aunt or uncle, cousin, your rebbe, your mentor, co-worker, neighbor, a lonely widow or widower, and the list goes on. And in doing so, we will mimic the hanhagah of the Master of all giving, the Ribono shel Olam.
by Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv
In Memory of Chaim Leib Gidon (Lonnie) Bork z”l
We have become a society of takers and manipulators. The better one maneuvers, the more he advances. Our approach to life has become one of “what’s in it for me?” The days of “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” have been replaced with stimulus packages and bailouts. Unfortunately, even ehrliche Jews can be affected by the environment that surrounds them and the culture that prevails, and we too could become callous to the danger of becoming a taker. More importantly much opportunity for gemilas chesed is lost in the process.
My rebbi, Harav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, would so passionately point out the greatness of the simple act of the previous generation to always respond to one’s greeting of “A gut morgen (good morning)” with “A gut morgen, a gut yahr (good morning, good year).” Their motive was to ensure that they would always give back more than they received. You were kind enough to wish me a good day; I therefore wish you a good day, too, but in addition, I also “give you” my blessing for a good year.
Indeed, in the introduction to Teshuvos Chasam Sofer, the Chasam Sofer writes that one should never think that helping out another Jew by learning with him will decrease his personal time for learning. Such thinking is built on the common distortion that we control our successes in Torah study, when in fact there is siyata d’Shmaya (Heavenly assistance) intimately involved (see Megillah 6). When one gives of his time, energy, and patience, and learns with others, the Ribono Shel Olam guarantees that the diminished amount of time that remains for his personal learning will be blessed with such clarity and lucidity, that it will enable him to stretch himself and accomplish more in less time.
The blasphemy of the wicked Titus, the general of the Roman army who destroyed the second Beis Hamikdash, caused him to die with an unusual death. A Heavenly Voice rang out that the powerful Titus would be disgraced and destroyed by an insignificant “bri’ah kalah,” a puny gnat, called disgraceful because it can only ingest but cannot expel. In the name of the Arizal, it is explained why that is so disgraceful: The gnat can only take in, but cannot give, therefore, it is removed from any semblance of holiness. Such is your lot, Titus! Klal Yisrael is commanded: “Kedoshim tihiyu – You shall be holy.” How much more so shall we, who are created in the image of Hashem, strive to be among the “givers,” as we emulate our Creator and radiate holiness throughout the world.
Just a few months ago the Baltimore community suffered an enormous loss. Lonnie Bork z”l was a giver par excellence. He was constantly engaged in contemplating new ways he could be of service to others. His list of accomplishments is too long for this letter. I will mention but one that is accessible to us all, literally “bifinu uvilvaveinu la’asosah – in our mouths and hearts to do,” and that is to pick up the phone and give someone an Erev Shabbos call. Lonnie did it every week and through that medium he gave chizuk to all types of people from many different orientations in life. “I’m just calling to wish you a Good Shabbos,” he would say. It was as simple as that. In doing so he emulated his Creator; just as He gives life, so can we – even with a simple phone call.
Please join us in an effort to continue the legacy of this selfless “giver” and make a call each week to someone that you might otherwise neglect. Your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your grandparents, your children or grandchildren, your aunt or uncle, cousin, your rebbe, your mentor, co-worker, neighbor, a lonely widow or widower, and the list goes on. And in doing so, we will mimic the hanhagah of the Master of all giving, the Ribono shel Olam.
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