Post Yom Tov Letter to the Yated

Dear Editor Shlit"a,

One of the highlights of our Yom Tov and probably many others who spent Yom Tov in Lakewood was the Simchas Bais Hashoeiva at Bais Medrash Gavoha. It usually takes place on the fifth night of Sukkos, which is the Yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon. It is hard to define exactly what is so special about this Simchas Bais Hashoeiva.

But we can at least try to describe a little of the experience. The Ruach is happy and fulfilling. It is a gathering of hundreds upon hundreds of Bnei Torah of all ages dancing in unison. It is a spirit of Yom Tov and Shteiging. We were speaking to one person and he really summed it up the best. He said that it was a real “Brim Down Event." I think that this was such a great way to define the uplifting experience.

We mentioned this description of the Simcha as a “Brim Down Event” to some people and we received some interesting responses. There were some very choshuv'e bochurim and yungeleit who were amazed at this description and they agreed that it was most appropriate. There were others, a few, who were baffled at first and did not understand what a “Brim Down Event” means. We tried to explain to them that for some reason, on Shabbos, it is taken for granted that Bochurim and Bnei Torah where their brims down even if they ordinarily wear them up during the week. Why is this so? They explained that Shabbos is Choshuv and it is more proper in honor of Shabbos. One of the Yungeleit said that indeed when he Davens and Bentches he puts his brim down because it is proper and respectable. He now understood that a “Brim Down Event” means a Choshuv'e Event. After the little conversation, one of the Bochurim said that he does not understand why his Rebbeim never spoke about this. He said that he would have gained so much if he would have heard this earlier.

I personally once heard from an Adam Gadol who said that really this is a very important topic and it is proper for a Bochur to wear his hat with the brim down, but he is so busy with more serious issues that he cannot speak about this publicly. Just recently I met a talmid who was wearing his brim down. I was very impressed and I asked him if he could perhaps explain to me why and how he was zoche to wear his hat like this. He answered that really he feels it is proper and he would have done it anyway, but also his grandfather told him before his Bar-Mitzva that it is the right thing to do. It happens to be that this boy's grandfather is an Adam Gadol.

Just this week, there was bochur in the hat store looking for a weekday hat. He tried it on with the brim up, and he commented, “I just don't look put together with the brim up. And I can't put it down because nobody else does. What should I do?" I did not want to tell him, but he is right and he should read this letter; this is one reason why I am writing it. I am not trying to give any Mussar or blame anyone. I am just trying to point out that there is a certain chashivus in wearing the brim down. It is “bakovodik" and something worthwhile to consider.

Two very good friends of mine have been urging me to write a letter and I hope that this is what they had in mind. I also hope that it will only generate chizuk and encouragement. Wishing you, your dear readers and all of Klal Yisroel a healthy, happy and Brim Down Winter. Sincerely, Rabbi Moshe Garfinkel - Lakewood NJ

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The Gemara in Maseches Chulin tells a story that Rabbah the son of Rav Huna came to the house of Rabbah the son of Rav Nachman and they served him a very elegant meal. They brought out three sa'ah of bread smeared with honey and oil, which was a delicacy. He asked his host if he had known that he was coming that he prepared so lavishly. The host answered, “Are you greater than the holy Shabbos about which it says וקראת לשבת עונג? I prepared this great seuda in honor of Shabbos.”

As we begin a new year of Shabbossos, we need to remind ourselves about our special guest, the holy Shabbos Queen, who visits us every Shabbos. We say it in לכה דודי and the Chofetz Chaim would often tell the visitors who requested Brachos that Shabbos is the מקור הברכה,the source of Bracha. May indeed all our Shabbossos of the year be a source of Bracha for us and all of Klal Yisroel.

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Have a gutten, zeesen and freilechen Yom Tov, a gutten Kvittel and a gut gebentcht'e Yohr, רה' לארסנקf