When I first heard of Yachad Outreach Center, I thought what need would such organization fill? But when Rabbi Avraham Levychaim, who I found out later is arguably one of the most insightful thinkers in our community, invited me to come with my younger brother to spend some time with him there, I felt obliged. Rabbi Levychaim greeted me with his broad genuine smile that is the hallmark of everyone in the Center. "What interests you?" he asked. I said I wanted to know beyond a reasonable doubt that our Torah is divine. I went there again, for my brother. That was the beginning of our weekly class that began two years ago; my brother has yet to show up.
But soon I realized that my many years of schooling and countless hours of secular studies did not teach me a thing about the most important aspects of life, love, our metaphysical purpose and our spiritual calling - the key elements of a purposeful and fulfilling life. Never have I liked any studies as much as these; the learning stimulates and sharpens the mind, purifies the heart from negative sentiments and quenches the soul. Now I rush to the Center almost everyday for about an hour. It is not just what’s written in the books, but what’s between the lines as articulated so passionately by The Center’s Rabbis’, such as the significant role of women in Judaism and their innate higher spiritual level and privileges, our difficulties as men to fully comprehend their more sophisticated intuitive thinking & our obligations to study their unique characteristics and to be sensitive towards their needs. I asked Rabbi Levychaim; "Would you have chosen a different endeavor, especially now that you have a bigger family with a much larger financial obligation?" "Of course not" he answers with no hesitation. He told me that it is most gratifying when he uses Tora’s timeless insight to help couples restore their relationship and rejuvenate it by bringing sanctity to their homes.
Once, when we were studying Hilchot De’ot - a chapter about human character traits, the Rabbi was explaining the different characteristics in different human beings, how to categorize them, relate to them, and how to place check points so individuals with different preferences can understand each other. It struck me that this was one of the best lessons in communication and office management I ever had.
We are studying a page in a voluminous book. Several arguments by great sages of different eras and schools of thought, even different parts of the world and languages are printed on the same, large pages. Once you comprehend them, you hear them all as an uplifting symphony. Sometimes I may find the discussions to be about issues that may seem mundane and inconsequential.
I ask: "Rabbi, do we really need all the meticulous and delicate decorum when we make a blessing to eat?" Rabbi Levychaim answers with enthusiasm, "That’s exactly what our sages try to convey, that everything does matter. Things we do, say, or even think have significance. That’s the antidote to apathy- our society’s biggest malaise".
I am reminded of the W Hotels the 'coolest and finest', frequented by the professional hip crowd. The W stands for Whatever Whenever, subtly implying that nothing matters. It reflects the prevailing aimless social attitude of the desperate; do whatever you want whenever you want - the epitome of reckless carelessness for one’s future and other’s well being, enjoy the moment at "whatever" cost, "whatever" will be .
How can we change this hopeless perception, for even though, according to our sages, we are each a whole world, to the world we are obscure entities and our endeavor is insignificant. But, what if one of us is informed that she or he was the last living heir of a noble dynasty? As he or she is guided to the palace, suddenly every step we would take becomes important, how we dress and where we go become noteworthy; for it is under much scrutiny in the court of the King and His loyal subjects. Eating a piece of bread becomes a sanctifying ritual; a mere meal becomes a majestic ceremony. That’s the marvelous ways of the privileged nobility. Many of us are such lost princes who the selflessly dedicated rabbis at the Yachad Center guide back to our ancestral heavenly castle.
But soon I realized that my many years of schooling and countless hours of secular studies did not teach me a thing about the most important aspects of life, love, our metaphysical purpose and our spiritual calling - the key elements of a purposeful and fulfilling life. Never have I liked any studies as much as these; the learning stimulates and sharpens the mind, purifies the heart from negative sentiments and quenches the soul.
I have the privilege to meet in the Yachad Center a few of these princes. And I am inspired by them. One of them, Mr. Jack Abaian shared with me how his perception has markedly changed and so has his relations with his loved ones, who joined his path. He confides that whereas before he was a mere physical entity seeking recognition and happiness via external status symbols and illusive fun, he now is much more spiritual. He would not trade the exhilaration of gaining the divine insight of Talmudic studies that he undertakes with other professional businessmen every Wednesday morning, with anything else.
I ask Dr. Farivar, a promising oral surgeon, how he can afford to come to class every day even on the eve of an important career defining test? He reveals to me that such studies are divine insight that purifies his mind. When I cast doubt he relates that whereas in science one needs to see to believe, here one needs to believe to see. Blessed are those amongst us who hear their individual calling, lead a life in concert with core values nurtured with our divine timeless insight. They rebuild their beautiful ancestral castles one brick at a time, by learning and practicing one mitzvah at a time. Such sanctums are one’s most precious possession and our wise tireless Rabbis are the gifted architects.
Meir Michael (Massoud) Naim is married to Fariba (Babaoff) they have three daughters Daniella, Shanna& Jasmin. He is an architect, developer & the English editor of Unity-Etehad Quarterly.
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