Video: Being There

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Published: January 26, 2008

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Visitor Comments: 21

(21) susan, March 12, 2008 4:13 PM

Standing in The Cold = Discomfort

Entertaining your question,"What Would You Stand in the Cold For? Hummmm. That gets a soul to do some searching.
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I have already stood in the cold for a couple events that I thought were worthwhile. Each February 2nd, I would trek to Gobblers Knob at 5:00 in the morning and wait for the Groundhog to appear at daybreak. It was very cold. And I, along with 20,000 other people figured it was worth it. For 14 years in a row!! The energy from the crowd, the music, the lights, the fireworks, the noise!! Good Grief! Can't remember now why we thought it was so important. But the hot breakfasts and being with friends afterward seemed to erase the discomfort.

Then... I stood out in the cold to make a living. Five or 6 hours of standing outside at a sale in the wet or in the icy wind, to buy something to resell. Might have been an easier way but along with all the others there, I stood and stamped my feet and drank coffee to keep warm. Most times all of us would go for dinner later and warm up and there was a feeling of being united that was deeper than the discomfort.
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The phrase, 'Out in the Cold' denotes discomfort. also, that phrase denotes being alone, or by yourself, or isolated.
In answer to your question of future standing out in the cold, and what would I stand for? ...I would stand out in the cold to protest a wrongdoing. I would stand out in the cold to help a friend. I would stand out in the cold to raise awareness of the needs of others.
Standing in the cold along with many others has a feeling of togetherness and that is a different feeling. (football games, groundhog day, etc.)Standing in the cold alone for your principles, or for the welfare of others is another matter.

(20) Filippo, January 30, 2008 4:00 PM

Something special about being there.!

I couple of days ago I received a call. My friend's cousin died in a car accident. I called another friend of mine and told him that. He told me "Did you know your friend's cousin? I told him No but I'm still going to the funeral. He was very surprised and told me "Why don't you just send them a card since you never met your friend's cousin. I told him he was a human being and I have to be there.
Regards
Filippo

(19) Tzilia sacharow, January 30, 2008 2:01 PM

jerusalem is closer to the place

so give up the big house and the 2 cars...make ALIYA.
A Rabbi of renown just said that insted of counting yishuv h'aretz as a mitvah, if it were declared a chumrah, everyone would be doing it

warm personal regards, from Tzilia who is almost at the MAKOM

(18) Nesanel, January 30, 2008 1:39 AM

To: Rosen 1/27/2008 9:33:00 AM

Threee cheers to your attitude and actions. It is great to be doing a job for honesty even if it seem slightly difficult. In the end, things will work out and only get better. (All the posts are good; I just wanted to compliment on this point).

(17) Chana Zelasko, January 30, 2008 1:23 AM

Yom Tov

It is interesting. I was just thinking about this subject.I have ×‘"×” lived in Israel many years. I hear people starting to make plans to leave Israel for Pesach and go to the States, England, etc. I realize that these people want to be with their families. But Yom Tov is a time for spritiual growth, and nothing can beat the spiritual Aliyah one feels being in Eretz Yisorel during Yom/Tov Chol haMoed.

(16) gwendoline lamb, January 29, 2008 2:34 PM

places where we HAVE to be!

In answer to Rav Salomon, I HAVE to be at the Kotel Rosh Hashanah , at a Kol Nidrei service, at a Seder, at a Matzeivah setting, at a Yom Atzmaut celebration in Israel and at a Chuppah!

(15) gwendoline lamb, January 29, 2008 2:14 PM

Places where one HAS to be!

Kotel Ma`aravi! Kol Nidrei in shul! Hearing the Megillah! A Matzeivah setting! Yom Atzmaut celebrations! just a few of the venues one Has to be at..to answer Rabbi Salomon!

(14) Adam Zion, January 29, 2008 2:04 PM

The birth of my child

I was in the room, standing right next to my wife, when she gave birth to my daughter, + not even a troop of armed guards could have kept me out of there. Nothing could compare to being there for me- not pictures, not a closed circuit video feed, *nothing.* I just had to be there.

(13) BenTzion, January 29, 2008 10:31 AM

The Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat

The setting sun turning the Kotel a golden color, 10 minyanim going simultaneously, each with their own tune for Lecha Dodi, Jews of every stripe praying and not judging each other, feeling the presence of hashem and the peace that comes with the Shabbat; there's nothing like it.

(12) Ronald Beals, January 29, 2008 10:14 AM

Jerusalem and the Kotel

Kol HaKavod!
There is nothing that is a substitute for being in The Land of Israel and standing at the Kotel, knowing that this is the place where the Kovod of Hashem resided.
I, as a Christian Zionist, who is retired find it almost necessary to visit Israel at least once a year to reconnect with it's holiness.
Visiting family at special times is wonderful and doesn't have a replacement but it pales in comparison to visiting The Land.
RB

(11) David S. Levine, January 29, 2008 10:01 AM

A Place I HAD To Be

I HAD to be at the demonstrations held in New York City for Soviet Jewry before the fall of the Soviet Union. There was absolutely no substitute for my presence there and one of the most inspirational events was the surprise appearance at the 1985 demonstration by Francis Cardinal O'Connor. The next day's tabloid front parge showing him speaking in fron of a Mogen David only began to catch the thrill of it all. He made our fight his fight and you had to be there to catch the fullness of it all.

G-d bless his memory--I HAD to be there!

(10) Nesanel S, January 29, 2008 9:44 AM

Family Celebration

Another great place to 'be there' is a family celebration - 'simcha' in Hebrew; like the bris mila of my cousins son this morning. (But I'm still happy it was not below zero. - But you know what? A few times when the door opened and a drop cool air came in, one could; sort of 'loose one's screws' a little, but perhaps it was this very point of R' Salamon's which 'takes the chill even out of below zero temperatures!!!

(9) Aaron, January 28, 2008 6:04 PM

I agree ...with comment from "a"

Jerusalem.
A very special feeling - you gotta be there to feel it.

(8) Yehoshua Cirt, January 28, 2008 4:28 PM

Here's an answer that says it all

Israel. Just being there, just walking four "amot" is a tremendous mitzvah. The air here, as the talmud states, makes a person wiser and there is no Torah like that of Eretz Israel.
Every thing you do here as ramifications on a world-wide and cosmic level. Even a small minority or action here makes the world papers. And I ought to know: I'm a "west bank" settler. (Hate that misnomer, "west bank," by the way).
And like the Rabbi said, at the time of the Temple... well there is just no other place to be. In short, there's no place like home. That's my answer. Indeed, something to think about. Alyiah. Just do it.

(7) nechami, January 28, 2008 8:00 AM

going to shul

going to shul to daven on shabbos or yom tov there is nothing that can replace the feeling of kedusha/holiness when everyone sings out the praise of hashem all together in unity. the experience is so uplifting and can carry me for an entire week.

(6) Anonymous, January 27, 2008 6:40 PM

Family

Ever watch a family simcha on video? Or see the pictures? Doesn't compare. Talking on the phone with a loved one, or face to face? Come on! It's obvious. When it's about family, nothing is better than being there.

(5) Yocheved, January 27, 2008 12:17 PM

It's even slang!

There's a so called 'phrase' that people use all the time when they are telling over a story and the person they are telling doesn't really understand. They say 'H T B T (A T T)!' This stands for Had To Be There (At That Time) Time is also a very important factor!
There are many experiences people have that just can't be fully explained in words!

(4) Rosen, January 27, 2008 9:33 AM

working in frigid places

I had a summer job at a park last summer, and agreed to work winter hours so I could have some money to hold me over during the non-season time of the year. It gets really cold, and I'm always urged to wear a warm coat and a knit cap when going out in frigid conditions. Sometimes, not only would be fingers and ears get cold, but I feel a chill in my eyes as well due to the teariness and cold exposure! I come to work diligently to work hard and earn my money honestly. That's a reason to be there - working to earn some finances.

(3) a, January 27, 2008 8:36 AM

There's one place that you can't duplicate anywhere.....

Jerusalem.
You gotta be there and feel it to understand.

(2) Anonymous, January 27, 2008 8:02 AM

My thoughts exactly about the frigid temp......

Great topic!!! I hope this does not sound too negative...but to feel the emotions..to experience real unity ....a place that you have to be in is a lavaya/funeral ..especially if you were close to that person. On the flip side..the same goes for a wedding. A summary from a friend is just not as tangible as being there. Also your child's chumash, siddur or any production (even a sport game) .....just for you to get a quick glance from her is priceless!!! Thank for always bringing up relevant thought provoking topics!!!!!!!! PS..and my the Giants win!!!!!

(1) Nate, January 27, 2008 7:54 AM

My Grandfather was there

My Grandfather went. He is a sports photographer. We still think that he should not have gone but he still went with great preperation. Still, Jerusalem is a more worthwile place to go.

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

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Being There

What would you stand in the cold for?

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