Food for the Trip
In the past, I wrote a column about being prepared (I’m a prepper!) Well, recently I was heading to Israel to see my daughter (single and looking, if you know anyone) and I began preparing for my trip.
I went to the store several times in the days before I left and I bought various items I could eat on the plane. Whenever I saw something that looked promising, I picked it out and imagined how perfect it would be for the trip. From snacks and fruit to pasta and bagels, I hunted and gathered until I thought I had enough.
When it came time to pack my bags, I put everything on the counter and assessed my hoard. It was an overwhelming amount of food and I realized there was no way I would consume it all in the ten-hour flight I had (and I must mention that the El Al flight attendants Gilad and Orna were very accommodating and pleasant. How much you can achieve with a smile!)
I began to whittle away at the stash, placing some bagels in the freezer, putting some things in the pantry, and packing some items in the suitcase to be enjoyed over Shabbat with my daughter. However, while doing this, I wondered what had driven me to prepare so much. The flight isn’t THAT long, and they even serve food on it. When I got to Israel, I would be able to get food too. So, what possessed me to stockpile?
Pre-Order Only
It could be the fact that there may be delays or problems and food may not be available. That’s part of it, sure, but I felt there was more. It made me think of the expression, “He who prepares before Shabbat will eat on Shabbat.” One may not cook on Shabbat, so if you didn’t cook before, you’re out of luck.
This world is compared to Erev (before) Shabbat, and the next world, to Shabbat. Whatever you prepare here and now will be available for you later. But when you get to the next world, there are no stores where you can buy mitzvot and merits. There is no concession to sell Torah and knowledge if you didn’t preorder it when you were alive.
Our Holy Instincts
The instinct to hoard and stockpile for the trip is really our soul’s understanding that there will come a time when provisions won’t be available and all you’ll have is what you prepared.
That’s why we have to look at the mitzvot and Torah we’re accumulating now, and think, “That’s not nearly enough! I’m going to be starving!” Will you really be satisfied with a small grass hut when you could have been living in a palace of gold and silver? Eking by on a small mitzvah each day instead of enjoying a royal repast with friends because you did a lot of chessed (kindness) and learned much Torah?
Better to make do with less for the flight, when you’ll be getting your livelihood from Hashem anyway, and pack things away for the future when you’ll trade in those good deeds for the future world. Yes, it will still come from Hashem’s beneficent hand, but you have to do your part to prepare.
My Instinct Was Correct!
I even ate my food on the plane because I figured out that breakfast wouldn’t be served before Alot HaShachar (the break of dawn), and I wouldn’t be able to eat until after I prayed, which would likely be after I landed. By preparing ahead of time, I would be able to fulfill the mitzvah of not eating before prayer without suffering. Makes sense to me!
The way I see it, Hashem gives us these instincts to pack heavily because it’s something we need to do for real, even though not for the trips we think we do. If we stop and think about what we are driven to do, we have a better chance of realizing why we are driven to do that, and really going places.
By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Rabbi Gewirtz (Operation Inspiration) welcomes comments and feedback. Write to him at info@JewishSpeechWriter.com to share your thoughts. You never know when you may be the lamp that enlightens someone else.
