Rav Frand Just One Life 5781

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12 Tishrei 5781 // September 30, 2020
Just One Life Holds 31st Annual Kinus Teshuvah
YOSEF GESSER
On Tuesday evening, 5 Tishrei/Sept.
22, an online kinus teshuvah was held
by the Just One Life organization. The
31st annual event was addressed, as
in previous years, by Harav Yissocher
Frand, Rosh Yeshivah at Yeshivas Ner
Yisrael. Although the event has been
taking place for many years at the
Young Israel of Flatbush, in view of the
pandemic, the drashah was transmitted
online to communities worldwide.
Rav Frand noted that during Aseres
Yemei Teshuvah, we entreat Hashem,
“Avinu Malkeinu, mena mageifah minachalasecha
— withhold plague from
Your heritage.” This year, those words
took on special significance, he said.
Indeed, during the Yamim Nora’im
of 5780, when we asked Hashem in
the Amidah, “U’v’chein tein pachdecha
al kol maasecha — Instill Your awe
on all Your works,” we had no idea
to what extent that would transpire.
Hashem has imposed fear and awe
on the world. We say in Aleinu, “Ki
lecha tichra kol berech — to You, Hashem,
every knee will bend.” As many
have been wont to say, “Hashem has
Harav Yissocher Frand addressing the kinus.
brought the world to its knees.”
Add to this increased acts of
anti-Semitism nationwide, such as
shuls being burned and vandalized
and a sign on a highway in Los Angeles
spouting hatred.
Maseches Bava Basra relates the
story of Rabba bar Chana and other
people who were traveling by sea.
They saw what they thought was an
island and alighted to cook a meal.
They misunderstood the reality, for
the “island” was actually a whale. The
whale eventually descended underwater,
sending the voyagers into the
water; they were saved from drowning
since their boat was close by.
This story, said Rav Frand, illustrates
our comfort with galus. We too
fail to discern reality and get too comfortable
with the comforts of galus.
Yidden in lands such as Spain and Germany
lived well but were ultimately
shocked when anti-Jewish sentiment
erupted there. In our times, we relied
on government, on the economy, on
medicine — all of which have failed us.
This realization will surely impel us to
say “l’shanah habaah biYerushalyim”
on Motzoei Yom Kippur with special
kavanah.
So much death and pain has
been experienced. We all have gone
through life-changing events. If we
fail to change, “it would be nothing
short of a tragedy,” Rav Frand said. In
Parashas Shelach, Rashi notes that the
incident of the Meraglim follows the
chapter in which Miriam was punished
for criticizing Moshe Rabbeinu. That
latter episode conveyed the gravity
of slander, but the Meraglim had not
learned the lesson and spoke against
Eretz Yisrael.
If we are not moved by contemporary
events, the same can be said
about us.
Rav Frand related that when Harav
Yehoshua Neuwirth, zt”l, was young,
during the Holocaust, his family fled to
Germany and then Holland to escape
the Nazis. During that harrowing period,
Rav Neuwirth’s father was vigilant
in his shemiras Shabbos, as challenging
as that was. When the war ended,
Rav Neuwirth was compelled to violate
Shabbos — it was unavoidable
— in order to take a boat from France
Rabbi Martin Katz addressing the kinus.
to safety in Eretz Yisrael. He was devastated
in view of his father’s mesirus
nefesh for Shabbos. To remedy this, he
resolved to write a sefer on shemiras
Shabbos. His classic, groundbreaking
Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasah was the
result.
“He did not let the moment pass,”
said Rav Frand.
We need to ask ourselves two
questions in response to the challenges
of our day, said the Rosh Yeshivah:
(1) What did I learn about myself in
these months, and (2) What change
will I make in my life as a result?
Among the suggestions that people
have put forth are bettering their
kavod for the beis knesses in view
of shuls being closed. Another is to
cease making lavish weddings, stemming
from the modest backyard
chasunos taking place. Such a trend
would relieve pressure on other baalei
simchah who can’t afford excessive
spending on weddings.
The situation has also aroused us
not to take our blessings for granted
and to express appreciation to Hashem
for them — our families, our health,
even waking up in the morning.
We must maximize this opportunity
to pause and seek opportunity to
change, said Rav Frand.
Just One Life is dedicated to
encouraging and supporting the
growth of Jewish families in Eretz
Yisrael. The organization reaches out
to Jewish women undergoing financial,
physical or emotional stress and,
without coercion, offers viable options
and practical assistance. The organization
has merited to see many thousands
of babies born during the more
than three decades of its existence.
Rabbi Martin Katz, the organization’s
founding executive vice president,
offered introductory remarks
and concluding comments.