...I have removed the holy things from the house etc. (Devorim 26:13)
On Aleph Sliechos 5680 LA, CA, USA, my Grandfather Rav Yonah Ganzweig ZY”A, was born. He was to grow up to be the first Los Angeles born Ehrliche Chasidisher Rov. There were many Yidden in LA, but Yiddishkeit was in decline. As was unfortunate in many families, the children did not follow in the footsteps of their parents. All too often when parents were Nifter (passed away) and left over Seforim, the children would drop it off at my grandfather’s front porch, “The Rabbi knows what to do with it”. My Grandfather who was strong and unwavering in in his leadership, and pride of his Avodas Hashem, would say to this unfortunate situation about those people, “Biyarti HaKodesh min Habayis - ...I have removed the holy things from the house etc”.
As we stand before Rosh Hashonoh, a most important commitment to make and carry out is to pass on the Mesoroh (Jewish tradition) of adherence to Torah and Mitzvos to the new coming generations. The best way to do that is not only to educate, but by practicing in Yiddishkeit with a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, that is the best role model to our generations and those who emulate us.
Rav Moshe Feinstein ZY”A, said the loss of the lineage of American Jewry was not that the parents were not committed to Torah and Mitzvos. They were very committed. The problem was that they said, Ess iz shver tzu zein ah Yid – it is hard to be a Jew”. So why would their children emulate them? As they came home from work and groaned that they lost their job for not coming on Shabbos. But those who accepted it with happiness were Zoche (merited) that their children followed their ways and persevered in keeping Torah and Mitzvos.
Reb Nisson Pilchick ZT”L, a Stoliner Chossid, who lived in NY, would make a Rikidoh (dance) every Friday night with his children, saying, it was to rejoice for the job he lost when he told his boss he will not show up on Shabbos. Furthermore, he saved all his “Pink slips”, the job parting notes and hung them on the wall in his Sukkoh a most enhancing and proud Sukkoh decoration.
We must learn, internalize, and emulate the ways of our ancestors and previous generation. Only the then can we withstand the Nisyonoss – trials, tribulations, dangers, and uncertainties of our time. As the Gemoroh in Sanhedrin 98:2 says,
The students of Rebbi Elozor asked him, what should one do and be saved from the calamities of the Ikvisoh (epoch – before the coming of) Moshiach? To which he answered, one must occupy himself to adherence of Torah and Mitzvos.
