The Reb Mendel I Knew...
Tomorrow morning we’ll be reading of our acceptance of G‑d and His Torah at the foot of Mt Sinai. And each year, as we read of this historic moment, we are personally called upon to recommit ourselves to accept G‑d and His Torah in our own private lives.
When I think about individuals I’ve met who genuinely committed their lives to G‑d and the Torah, the name Reb Mendel Futerfas certainly comes to mind. This famed and saintly man (who passed away in 1995) was the real thing! Even during his long harsh sentence in the Soviet gulags, his passion for the Torah and G‑d burned brightly.
So in honor of this Shabbat, allow me to share part of an interview with him:
What was it like in the [Soviet] labor camps?
They were days of light.
Are you speaking euphemistically?
No, I mean it simply. Those were the most inspiring days of my life.
How so?
Throughout my life, I always felt a battle between the material and the spiritual. In the labor camps, there was no battle. My life was all spiritual. All I had to do was learn Torah and daven (pray).
I don't understand, you didn't have to work?
Of course we had to work! In one camp, my job was to care for a herd of pigs. I had to begin at 4:00am and did not finish until 6:00pm. In the winter, it was so cold that once the straps of my tefillin froze. When I began to unwind them, they cracked. It was hard & crushing work, but only physically. My soul was free. There was nothing holding me back. All my energy could be focused on prayer & study.
(Read the entire interview CLICK HERE.)
Friends, this Shabbat we read about a commitment our ancestors made to G‑d 3323 years ago. Though we, at times, face hardship, temptation and challenges, that might appear to stop us from fulfilling our commitment, I believe we can each take inspiration from a man who, in the face of it all, remained a Jewish beacon of light.
May we strengthen our selves and intensify our efforts to keep the Torah and its mitzvahs.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
