by Rabbi Set
h Grauer
The Rambam in Hilchot Avodah Zara (1:3) writes:
Once Avraham was weaned, he, as a child, began contemplating and thinking day and night, and wondered how a sphere could follow a fixed path without being directed. If so, who directed it? Surely it would be impossible for it to rotate on its own! Avraham did not have a mentor. In his heart, however, he continued to contemplate, until he realized the way of truth and understood the ways of righteousness from nature, and knew that there is a God who directs the spheres, created the world, and besides whom there is none other. He also knew that the whole world was erring, and knew that what caused the mistake was that they [had] worshiped the stars and figures for so long that the truth had vanished. Avraham was forty years old when he recognized his Creator.
The Rambam describes how Avraham explored and eventually found monotheism, beginning Judaism as we know it today. However, most significant to consider is that even with all of Avraham’s beliefs and convictions, if he hadn’t acted upon them and actually decide to do something, his thoughts and opinions wouldn’t have taken him anywhere.
Instead it was Avraham’s leadership and taking initiative that allowed him to accomplish everything he did.
This past Sunday, the Ashkenaz and Sephard communities of Toronto joined together in a show of unity, celebration and joy over the dedication of a new Sephardic Synagogue within Or Chaim and the donation of a Sephardic Sefer Torah to our wonderful Yeshiva. The Hachnasat Sefer Torah was the culmination and the crowning jewel of a campaign begun by our students two years ago.
We pride ourselves at both Or Chaim and Ulpana on the ability of our students to start programs, create initiatives and learn vital leadership skills during their high school years, and we encourage our students to be activists and outspoken. Yet rarely are we able to witness such a success that was brought about entirely by students.
Two years ago, students at Or Chaim approached me asking for a Sephardic minyan. A Sephardic minyan had never existed at Or Chaim and for the last 40+ years all students had davened together. These young men appreciated that they have their own nuschaot, minhagim and teffilot, and they wanted to daven according to their practices and traditions. We responded immediately and started a monthly Sephardic minyan. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t enough, so it became a weekly minyan. At the beginning of last year, these committed and motivated students asked to have their Sephardic minyan meet daily. This is just one of countless examples of how Or Chaim or Ulpana students are able to impact our school in practical and meaningful ways. I never would have imagined when this group began that this initiative would have blossomed and grown the way it has.
When our Sephardic students began davening in our computer room last year, they decided that they wanted to spend the year building a new shul. Fast forward a year and we are blessed with a vibrant, thriving and growing Sephardic minyan, a brand new gorgeous shul and an beautiful new Sephardic Sefer Torah.
There are of course many parents and community leaders who need to be acknowledged, recognized and thanked for everything that has happened for our Sephardic community over the last year, as nothing could have happened without their incredible generosity and support. However, without the motivation, devotion, passion and drive of our students, none of this would have come to fruition.
Avraham indeed is a great example of a leader who takes action and gets things done. As we know from Sefer Bereishit, Avraham didn’t stop with Judaism. He spent his life saving souls in Charan, interfacing with the world-leaders Pharoah and Avimelech, proselytizing and speaking the word of God, fighting wars with great kings, arguing on behalf of Sodom and Amora, and of course welcoming and inviting guests to within his tent. Avraham was a figure who personified action, and should motivate all of us to recognize the true potential within each of us.
Seth Grauer is Rosh Yeshiva and Head of School of Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto.
