A Shavuos Message–CHOICES

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

Choices. Dilemmas. Life altering decisions. Each of the individuals in Megillas Rus is faced with a choice, a decision that would determine their future. While Rus was written about three thousand years ago, its teachings are relevant to us today. We learn that the choices we make do matter, and can profoundly alter the trajectory of our lives.

Megillas Rus opens with the words “Va’yehi bimei shefot hashoftim, And it was in the days that the judges judged.” The Talmud teaches us that “Kol makom sheh’neh’emar ‘Vayehi’, aino elah lashon tzaar, Wherever the term ‘Vayehi’ is mentioned, it is nothing but an expression of pain” It foreshadows that something tragic is about to occur. Va’yehi – a time of “Oy Vay”.

Megillas Rus tells us about a famine in the Eretz Yisroel. Food was scarce, people would go searching in the fields, but to no avail. We are introduced to Elimelech, who was the “parnes ha-dor”, the philanthropist of the generation. A wealthy man, a leader of the nation, a man to whom all would turn in times of need.

The hungry made their way to the home of Elimelech, knocking on his door, with the hope of returning to their families with some bread, some food to bring to the table, some nourishment for their children.

But there was “no one home”. The doors were locked, the windows shuttered. Elimelech abandoned his people. Together with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Machlon and Chilyon, he left his home town of Bais Lechem, and went to live in Moav.

Elimelech was faced with a challenge. Would he be there for his people during that difficult time? He had the power and financial means to sustain the poor, but he was unable to live up to the test. He feared that by helping just a few, many more would come knocking for assistance. How would he decide whom to help and whom to turn away? How could he possibly help the many that would turn to him with outstretched hands?

Instead of being a source of support and sustenance, Elimelech packs up and leaves to Moav. How ironic that Elimelech, who came from Bais Lechem – meaning “House of Bread”, a community known for giving and sharing, abandons his people and relocates to Moav, inhabited by a people who were the exact opposite, a nation who refused to give or share. The Torah tells us that when the Am Yisroel left Egypt and met up with the people of Moav, the Moavites didn’t even offer water to the tired, hungry and thirsty travelers.

We tend to think of challenges as deprivations or hardships. However, even the blessings of great wealth or extraordinary talents can be challenges. The test is how to channel these gifts in positive ways. Will we give of what HaShem has blessed us with to others? Will we help make the world a better place? The choice is ours.

Elimelech and his family settle in Moav, but one calamity after another befalls them. Elimelech loses his fortune, and passes away, a broken-hearted man.

Machlon and Chilyon are faced with their own choices. To remain in Moav after their father’s death, or return to Eretz Yisroel. The Midrash tells us that while their mother desired to return to Eretz Yisroel, they chose to remain in Moav, and she stayed with them.

The brothers marry sisters, Moavite princesses – Machlon marries Rus and Chilyon marries Orpah. Once again tragedy befalls Naomi, with both sons passing away, leaving her with two childless daughters-in-law.

Upon learning that the famine is over, Naomi decides to return home. She begs her daughters-in-law to return to their families, knowing that it will be a difficult life for them in Eretz Yisroel. Both women are at a loss for words, and begin to cry. They both loved Naomi and didn’t want to leave her. As the Megilla relates, “they raised their voices and wept…”, they had no words.

Ultimately, Orpah kisses Naomi good-bye and returns home. But Rus “dovkoh boh” – she clung to Naomi and refused to leave.

Once again – choices. Orpah chose to remain in Moav, while Rus chose to follow Naomi. Rus speaks from her heart, telling Naomi “Where you go, I will go, where you sleep, I will sleep, your people are my people, your G-d is my G-d, where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”

The choices we make can change our lives forever. Sometimes, our choices not only affect us, but our future generations as well. Orpah’s great-grandson was Goliath, while Rus was the great-grandmother of Dovid HaMelech. We all know the story of how these two men stood against each other. Goliath who wanted to terrorize and harm the Jewish people, and Dovid who stood up to protect his nation.

We can ask, where did Orpah go wrong? After all, Naomi begged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moav, which is exactly what Orpah did. So how is it that Orpah became the great-grandmother of Goliath, while Rus became the “Eim b’Malchus”, a mother of royalty – the great-grandmother of King David.

It wasn’t Orpah’s decision to remain in Moav that was wrong. It was her mindset after making that decision. Orpah gave up on herself. She viewed herself as inadequate, a failure, and acted accordingly. She went on to live a promiscuous lifestyle and continued on a downward spiral of spiritual decline.

Wherever you go…I will go. What was it about Naomi that got Rus to follow her and become one with Klal Yisroel? We don’t find any philosophical discussions between Naomi and Rus. No mention is made of discussions about HaShem, Torah, mitzvos, Shabbos, kashrus, etc. What touched Rus was the love and kindness that she saw in the heart of Naomi. That was what compelled her to give up her life in Moav and follow Naomi to Eretz Yisroel, even without knowing what would be awaiting her, what life would be like in a new country.

A life lesson for all of us. How do we touch another soul? How do we connect to another neshama? Through love, kindness and understanding.

Elimelech had a choice to remain in Eretz Yisroel and support his people, but he chose to abandon them. His sons similarly had choices to return to Eretz Yisroel after their father’s death, but they chose to remain in Moav. Rus and Orpah had the choice of returning to Eretz Yisroel with Naomi. Orpah chose to remain in Moav. Rus chose to follow the path of Naomi, a path that changed the destiny of Am Yisrael.

We are not always in control of life’s circumstances. Elimelech couldn’t stop the famine. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah couldn’t bring their husbands back to life. But we can control how we react to what life brings us. We don’t understand HaShem’s ways. But we can control how we react, and the choices we make.

Our lifestyle choices make us who we are. We daven that HaShem be with us and guide us in making the right choices. Choices that bring bracha to us, our family, our community and the world around us.

Wishing all a most joyous and uplifting Shavuos.

Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l