Take a Stand for Gadlus

By Rabbi Yosef Sonnenschein

Parashas Emor opens with the halachos pertaining to the purity of Kohanim: Emor el hakohanim bnei Aharon v’amarta aleihem - “Say to the Kohanim, the children of Aharon, and you should say to them …” Rashi explains the apparent redundancy here (“say…and you should say…”) with the words of Chazal: L’hazhir hagedolim al haketanim - “to warn the older ones about the young ones.” This means that the adults are enjoined (“say to the Kohanim…), not only to keep these halachos themselves, but to teach the children (“…and you should say to them…”) the relevant laws.

While on a simple level “gedolim” and “ketanim” refer to different people within Klal Yisrael; on a deeper level they refer to different aspects of personality within each person. We all have a “gadol,” a great person, and a “katan,” an immature person, fighting for supremacy within us. The “gadol” within us is the part of our personality that can be giving and idealistic, selfless and pure. The “katan” is the part of us that can be petty and childish, uncaring and unmoved. The Torah is teaching us that in order to reach purity in the service of Hashem, one must use his “gadlus,” his greatness, to influence his “katnus,” the less mature aspects of his personality.

Who among us hasn’t been surprised at our capacity to quickly slip from greatness to pettiness and back? Soon after we have been inspired and uplifted, we can sometimes be guilty of small-mindedness and immaturity. With foresight, however, one can learn to predict where his “katnus” will strike and when, and by understanding himself and working hard to grow, he can “educate” his “katnus” and ease it into a more mature and healthier mindset.

FOR MORE OF THIS ARTICLE, BUY OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Misaskim Discusses Security At Citi Field

Tens of thousands are expected to gather at Citi Field on May 20 to attend the internet asifah organized by Ichud Hakahillos. Misaskim, along with hundreds of security personnel, will have all their resources available to ensure the safety and security of all attendees.

Misaskim was tasked with coordinating the security detail for this event because of its extensive ties with members in the law-enforcement community. Days and weeks of planning have gone into this operation; Misaskim has played a key role in communicating with and updating law-enforcement personnel.

Citi Field is under the jurisdiction of Patrol Borough Queens North, and Chief Diana Pizzuti of Patrol Borough Queens North has given her utmost in ensuring that all that is needed will indeed be available. In addition, numerous other agencies from the NYPD participated in coordinating this security detail.

The following agencies participated during a final coordination meeting on Wednesday, May 9: the Police Commissioner’s Office, the Chief of Departments, the Chief of Patrol, the Chief of Transportation, the Counterterrorism Unit (in charge of securing the perimeters around the stadium), the Transit Bureau (maintaining order on the subway and bus system), the Highway Patrol (in charge of managing the large volume of traffic before and during the event, and to accommodate all vehicular special needs), Special Operations Divisions (in charge of all emergency services during the event), Task Force Unit, the Intelligence Division (in charge of monitoring intelligence before, during and after the event), Community Affairs, the Bomb Squad Unit, the Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU), the Mounted Unit, the Aviation Unit, Disorder Control and Traffic Control.