B"H
"If one says he toiled and found, believe him." -Ethics of our Fathers
So last thursday, there I was, exiting my Air France flight in Charles De Gaulle Airport,with an exciting 6 hr.stopover
But fear not, I still had to pray the morning 'shacharit' prayers. I found a secluded corner next to a random terminal, and pulled out my Tefillin to wrap up. But then the unthinkable occurred...I realized I had left my Siddur in the plane! Now I was stuck.
I figured I would just daven whatever I knew by heart, and move on with life. But then I saw a glimmer of hope...6 computers sitting in the center of the airport! But should I go with Tefillin on my arm and head and pray in front of an airport full of people??
To answer such a question, it's important to take a look at where we Jews come from. We're known primarily by the name "Jews" or "Hebrews." The name 'Hebrew' comes from the hebrew word 'Ivri.' We got this name b/c of our forefather Avrahom, who is referred to in the Torah as an 'ish Ivri.' Why was he called an ivri? "Ivri" means the "other side." Avrahom was the 1st man in history to try and show to the world that there was God in the world, during a time when idol-worship was the only real way of religious practice. When Avrahom came out publicly with this message, he was called by the people around him as 'the ivri': Avrahom stood on 1 side of the world - the rest of humanity on the other. Yet Avrahom was undetterred, and succeeded in influencing a vast array of his generation, being a shining light and example for God on this earth. Now back to the airport...
So I decided to go for it. Heading to the computers, with my tefillin on hand (& head), I looked for where to pay for usage. They only accepted Euros, so I went to the nearest duty-free alcohol shop. To say the least, the French man was a bit surprised to see me. I tried asking him in French/English for change for my dollars, but it wasn't happening. I returned and saw a credit card slot, and try as I might, it wouldn't accept my card(s)! But I wouldn't be detterred.
Finally, w/ God's Help, it worked (hey, I'm doing this for You God!) I sat down and went to chabad.org, thinking I would find it for sure there. But No luck! my 5Euro/1hr. time was ticking down, and I had some praying to do. After about 10 min.'s of scrolling through Google, I chanced upon Idaven.com - and the rest is history. I finished my lovely davening w/ 1 minute left! [I'm curious to know what travelers were thinking when they saw someone praying to a computer. I mean technology helps us a lot these days, but come on!]
From this event, I realized 2 things:
Firstly, the Rabbinic saying: "Yagati U'matzasi, Ta'amin-If one says he toiled and found, believe him." Nearly every good thing in life comes through work and effort. From a successful marriage to a successful spiritual life to a successful business life, one requires 'Yegiah'-effort. This applies to all areas of our lives. And when you're toiling to succeed in the right areas, Hashem Helps you to succeed.
Secondly, I realized one of the 1st halachot (laws) mentioned in the 'Shulchan Aruch' (Code of Jewish law): "lo mitbayesh mipney ha'maligim-Don't be ashamed in front of the scoffers." Funny enough, today I find most people have great respect for a Jew who is proud of his heritage. Most issues we have with this are in our own minds (however, if there are in one's area some scoffing lowlifes, then one can fulfill this halacha quite literally!) In life in general however, it's the one who is proud and confident in what he is and represents that people respect and are influenced from the most. A Jew's mission in this world is to be a 'light unto the nations.' Our very continued existence today is a living testiment to the existence of God. Each of us must know that we are the lamplighters in this world to light up the hearts of all through the light of kind deeds, of Torah and Mitzvot.
I bless you that you walk with a head held high as a proud Jew - there's a lot to be proud about!
Have an amazing Shabbat!
-Daniel
Yerushalayim, Israel
P.S. I'm here helping at an amazing 'yeshiva' called 'Mayanot'-I'm at the boy's division.
To see what life's like here, check out these short video testimonials. Very inspiring: mayanot.edu/testimonials.asp
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