Between The Sessions

On Friday night Rabbi Nachman Cohen gave a talk about the effect of Rachel and Leah on their sons. What stayed with me most was a surprising aside. Yaakov says to Rochel, "Hatachat Elokim anochi." Rabeinu Bachai says that this was a declarative statement, while the general understanding is that it's a rhetorical question. I wish I was able to take notes - perhaps, if I decide it's appropriate and muster up the courage I'll contact him for his notes. He developed the idea that Leah's major focus was to be loved by her husband. Thus, her early children are all given names that reflect her feeling unloved. And their personalities reflect her mood. They are impulsive and angry, quick to defend honor. Her later children, after she declares that her husband now loves her, have names and personalities that reflect peacefulness and being comfortable in their own skin.

I hope before the day is over to walk around Southbury, Connecticut. It's lovely here and the hotel has maps of walking routes. I've met some nice people and had a good time. I'm not big on going away like this, something I should probably change.

Over Shabbos I met someone who is researching the topic of relevancy and asked me if I had any sources up my sleeve. The mishanh in Avot says that a sign of a sophisticated/wise person is that they respond to first things first and last things last. Rabeinu Yonah explains that one does not need to be very savvy to remember to answer three questions in the same order in which they were presented. Rather he says the sign of a wise person they respond to points in the order which makes most sense, which generally entails reordering the original information.

I believe in mussar and middot. I'm not saying the work is easy and I'm not saying I'm good at it. But I do wonder what man is if not a mentsch. When I attend lectures or prayer services I can't help but have a spiritual radar. Is there sincerity at the core? Gentleness? Humility? The body language of human interactions rises above any spoken words. That's one of the things I've been thinking about at this convention, between the sessions.