I Will Let Others Do the Laughing

I'm not LOL about this Pesach story because I find it outrageous, although I do believe that Hashem has a sense of humor, hopefully stopping an unnecessary "hiddur" before it takes off:

(From JPost) As reported by haredi media outlets, members of the Mishkenot Yaakov community in the capital’s Ramat Shlomo neighborhood were encouraged by their Rabbi Simcha Rabinowitz to take the tradition one step further, and rather than selling the hametz, actually give it to the non-Jew, who would presumably return it after the holiday.

Many people chose to put their products – including expensive alcoholic beverages – in the room destined for the hametz, believing that such an act would be a higher degree of observing the holiday’s prohibition of not owning leavened products.

I see nothing particularly humorous about a Rav of a community, a community that is presumably short on money, encouraging his kehillah to give away (!) their hametz as an enhancement of long standing way of fulfilling the mitzvah to rid oneself of hametz. As per a Mother In Israel's reporting, the non-Jew even took off with some one's (uncleaned) baby carriage that was left in the room. Hopefully a clean stroller can be recovered, but if the contract was to give away whatever was in the room, it sounds unlikely.

We can argue about if/when one should sell their hametz, but to encourage a new method because one sides with those who don't care for the sale of hametz? I will file this under treating other people's assets without requisite care. Once you give something away (especially a consumable), how can one presume it will be returned?

Gashmius NOT on Parade:
A Leader Sets the Tone

Hat Tip: Ari Kingsberg

"Thrift' is buzzword at Ger grandson's wedding" is a recent article that Haaretz ran and it is nothing short of a good news in my opinion. Much ink has been spilled about materialism in the frum world and nowhere is the level of materialism so on display than at weddings. From the protocol of dating, to the expected engagement "gifts," to the accompanying l'chaims/vorts (plural), aufruf/Shabbat Chatan, Shabbos Kallah/Henna, Sheva Brachot, and the wedding itself, the average family is spending a hefty sum. And, for many parents, the wedding is only the beginning of the cash outlay.

Unfortunately the efforts of the Agudah via the "Simcha Guidelines" to reign in weddings expenses on a mass scale have proven to be a failed experiment. And it is really no surprise that the takana has proven unsuccessful on a large scale: There were "loopholes" built into the takana allowing the signers to continue to attend affairs that did not conform should they feel obligated to do so, and the signers are seen at many of the affairs rendering the well-intentioned takana somewhat of a joke. And it is a real shame, because general acceptance of this takana would set a different tone that would benefit the community on so many levels.

In contrast, Chasidei Gur has managed to gain control over their followers through action, although they have long had their own takanot that are more largely adhered to limiting the size of weddings. "Do as I say, not as a I do" is bound to fail, as we all have learned that "actions speak louder than words."

As Haaretz reports: "This wedding was a chance to transmit one message, albeit without words: Cut costs for the weddings of your children and grandchildren." The Rebbe set a tight budget, and while the Rebbe invited all to the chuppah, he limited the seudah to "only a few hundred. . . . while the rest made do with light refreshments. Spokesmen for the Hasidic sect said the rebbe had set new norms that were meant as an example for his followers."

An example it certainly is. And I believe, hopefully not naively so, that if Rabbonim and the "Well to Do" in each community regularly set similar examples the community at large would bring down its standards which are clearly out of control. May the time come speedily in our days.

Related: See my post on Wedding Costs and all the great comments (!) and other posts with the label Weddings. (I'm working on my labelling. It is a long arduous process).

What Makes for a Great Leader?

Today I was listening to a talk show in the car and a conversation ensued about the leadership of the now deceased former President Gerald Ford. A caller, who was present at a back room strategy planning meeting for the 1976 Republican Presidential nomination, relayed some words of former President Ronald Reagan. Then former CA governor Reagan made some observations (which I'm sad I can' repeat word for word, because my summary misses the pure brilliance). In opposition to the suggested nomination of Gerald Ford, Reagan pointed out that he had no major accomplishments and lacked strong leadership skills, which would lead to the downfall of the Republican party and the rise and presidency of Jimmy Carter. Reagan made the observation that leaders face opposition, make enemies, and through their strength in the face of opposition, they become accomplished.

This conversation really got me thinking about gadlut and leadership (lay and Rabbinic) in the Jewish world, of present and past. What are the qualities of great leaders? Must they always face opposition?

I'm sure that we can all think of historic accomplishments which came at the hands of great opposition and resistance. I'm sure we can think of serious halachic issues that spurred great debate, some quite vicious.

What qualities must a leader have? Must they always face opposition or resistance? My short answer would be passion, vision, sincerity, [update: integrity], focus on what he/she wants to accomplish without spreading oneself thin (not a jack of all trades), inspires others to action (or even fierce opposition), ongoing commitment to the vision.

But, my answer is far from complete. So I will leave this discussion in your hands.