Rabbi's Corner

Years ago, a husband and wife appeared before Rabbi Mordechai Gifter, zichrono livracha, Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, asking him to rule on a family dispute. The husband, a member of Rabbi Gifter's kollel (an all-day Torah learning program) felt that because he was one who studied Torah in the Rabbi’s kollel, it was beneath his dignity to take out the garbage. His wife felt otherwise. After listening to the couple, Rabbi Gifter concluded that while the husband should in fact help his wife, he had no halachic obligation (an obligation according to Jewish Law) to remove the garbage from the house.  The next morning, shortly before the early Shacharit services were to begin, there was a knock on the front door of the young couple’s house. Upon opening the door, the young yeshiva student was startled to see Rabbi Gifter standing there, and he asked the Rabbi to come in.  Rabbi Gifter responded by saying that he did not have time to come in.  When asked why not, Rabbi Gifter replied: “I've not come to socialize with you.  Instead, I have come to take out your garbage. While you may believe it's beneath your dignity to do this, it is not beneath mine.”

In this week's parashah, Parashat Ha'azinu, we read the following: "My lesson will fall as the rain, my saying will flow like dew, like rainstorms on grass, and like raindrops on vegetation." (Devarim 32:2) Rabbi Chayim Shmuelevitz cited the Vilna Gaon on this verse who said that rain helps things grow.  And what is it that rain helps to grow?  Only that which has already been planted.  The same is true with the Torah, the study of which can help a person grow.  But just like the rain and plants, the growth spurred by Torah study is dependent upon what kind of character traits a person already has.  The Torah student filled with arrogance will become more arrogant as his knowledge increases, and he may laud it over those whom he considers inferior to him.  The person who is not filled with himself will use his Torah learning to be of service to his fellow Jews.  In fact, for such a person, the more Torah knowledge he accumulates, the more will his behavior toward others will become a Kiddush HaShem (a sanctification of HaShem's name).

A Rabbi once told the Chazon Ish all about the positive intellectual qualities of a young man whom his sister-in-law was considering marrying.  After listening patiently, the Chazon Ish interrupted the Rabbi and asked him, "Yes, but will he also be a good husband?"  It is very important to remember that what is most important is not what you know; what is most important is what you do with what you know.