Our 15 year old daughter will be going to
New Jersey to spend the conclusion of the Sukkot Festival: Shemini Atseret and Simchat Torah with her “camp
friends”. For the past couple of weeks we have been searching for a way to get
her to New Jersey: plane, train, bus, a car ride with friends who are heading
to New York. We couldn’t find anything then satisfied our concern for time,
cost, or safety. Then we found out that the grandparents are heading to New
York. Well actually Grandpa is driving
down to New York City. Grandma is already there but she will drive back with
grandpa. In any case, we hit the transportation jackpot. Our fifteen year old
had a ride! I just had to get her to Rochester and then Grandpa would do the
rest of the driving. Mom and Dad were happy because it’s cheaper, it’s safer,
and the schedule is more convenient. Grandpa is happy because he has a captive
audience for six hours so he can transmit knowledge, share his wisdom and
ruminate on human nature, and his granddaughter’s future. Grandma was happy
because she would have time with her granddaughter on the return ride from New
York City/New Jersey. The only one with any concern and trepidation was our
fifteen year old. She would be locked in a car for six hours with my father
(Grandpa), forced to listen to the same lectures that I had to listen to when I
was about her age, with no choice but to listen.
This
Shabbat is known as Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot. It is the Shabbat that falls
during the 7 day Festival of Sukkot. As a result we do not read the regular
Torah Reading. Instead, we read of the narrative when Moshe re- ascended the
mountain a second time in order to receive the second set of Tablets. As part
of the Festival, we recite Hallel which is a series of psalms praising God and
state our joy in being part of the Brit, part of the covenant with God. Also,
because it is a festival, we read one of Five Megillot taken from the Ketuvim –
the Book of Writings. On Shabbat Chol Ha Moed Sukkot, we read Kohelet, the Book
of Ecclesiastes. Jewish tradition
ascribes the twelve chapter scroll to Shlomo HaMelech – King Solomon. This wisdom literature is written from the
perspective of an elderly man who has seen it all, and experienced it all. – Ein Kol Chadash Tachat HaShemesh – There is nothing new under the sun!
Kohelet – The Preacher speaks with brutal and harsh honesty.. In what is
perhaps the most famous few verses, the Preacher tells us that life is full of
ups and downs, good times and difficult times. L’Kol Zman V’Eit L’Chol Chafetz Tachat HaShamayim – Everything has its season, and there is a
time for everything under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die…..That
may not sound so inspiring. Yet our job
is to live our lives according to a set of rules. The result may be good or it
may be bad, but God will be the judge of that. All we can do is play according
to the rules as we make our way through life and contend with the obstacles
presented.
Somewhere on the New York State Thruway
or on I81 South, my father will give her the Kohelet lecture. After all it’s a seasonal
thing for him. Our daughter will look around, wondering if she should put her
earbuds in and listen to her music or pay attention. Her grandfather will look in the rearview mirror
and make a comment and his granddaughter will smile and the lecture will
resume. He will talk, she will listen. She will ask questions, and he will give
answers. I can all but guarantee he will have flashbacks to having these
conversations about life, relationships and responsibility with his eldest granddaughter,
with his daughter, and with me. He will probably even wistfully smile, thankful,
that as he approaches another birthday, he has had this opportunity to bond
with this granddaughter. While he is talking I am sure he will also try to figure
out he will have a similar opportunity with our 13 year daughter and our 11
year old son. Like Kohelet concluded by reminding the younger generation that
after all is said and done, Sof Davar
HaKol Nishmah et HaElohim Yrah v’Et Mitzvotav SHmor ki Zeh Kol HaAdam- Fear God and keep his Commandments, for that
is man’s whole duty, Ki et Kol
Maaseh Ha’Elohim Yavoh V'Mishpat – For
God will judge every deed…; my father will remind his granddaughter that if
she follows his advice, she will be able to handle life’s obstacles and remain
positive and happy.
Peace,
Rav
Yitz
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