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In fact, it seemed that, as far as Yitzchak was concerned, prayer was not an essential component of the synagogue experience. Naturally, he would arrive with his tallit bag under his arm, walk over to his seat, unfold and don his tallit, open his siddur, and… apparently that was as much religious activity as he could handle. He would spend the remainder of the services engaged in conversation regarding crucial matters such as baseball scores, local housing prices, and the advisability of buying his children pet goldfish. To be fair, Yitzchak didn’t talk the entire time. He did give his full attention as the synagogue president made the announcements.
While Yitzchak didn’t take much notice of the goings on in shul, the shul members certainly took note of him. His conversations were not just incessant. They were loud. And, while the others in the room might have preferred, at times, to focus on the services, the chazzan and baal korei just couldn’t compete with Yitzchak’s level of volume.
The gabbai stood, fuming, as he attempted to listen to the Torah reading. They had tried everything. Polite requests, and even some less polite ones, had been ignored. The threats that had followed shortly after achieved the same results. It was time to act.
The baal korei completed the reading of the fifth aliya. "Yaamod Yitzchak ben David, shishi" chanted the gabbai, using the traditional formula to call up Yitzchak to recite the blessings over the sixth aliya.
Yitzchak, who was in the midst of a heated discussion as to the merits and demerits of buying wrinkle free shirts, looked up in surprise when he heard his name. Quickly, he jumped to his feet, straightened his tallit, and ran up to the bima. The gabbai waited until he was sure that Yitzchak was looking in his direction, at which pointed the gabbai gestured toward the Torah scroll, indicating that Yitzchak should raise the Torah to perform hagbaha.
Yitzchak, who hadn’t been paying much attention to the goings on in shul until this point, was completely unaware of the fact that the gabbai had announced that Yitzchak would be reciting the blessings over the sixth aliya, and that the baal korei hadn’t completed the Torah reading yet. Therefore, taking his cue only from the inaccurate hand motion he had received from the gabbai, Yitzchak took the Torah scroll in his hands, and lifted it in full view of all of the congregants, who proceeded to burst out laughing at Yitzchak’s mistake.
Sudden understanding came over Yitzchak, as his face went from horseradish-white to kiddush-wine-red. Shaking, he replaced the Torah scroll on the bima, and, shoulders slumped, returned to his seat. For the first time in the history of his shul attendance, Yitzchak sat silently for the remainder of the services. He had never felt so low in his life. That is, until the gabbai approached him after services, and whispered to Yitzchak "if you had been paying attention, instead of talking, you would have known that I called you up for the sixth aliya!"
Did the gabbai act appropriately, by teaching Yitzchak a lesson in this manner?
Answer of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, shlita:
The actions of the gabbai were completely forbidden! Humiliating a person in public is a severe transgression. In the Shulchan Aruch it says "One may not engage in idle conversation while the chazzan is repeating the Shemoneh Esrei. One who does talk at this time is sinning, and his sin is too great to bear, and he should be rebuked." (siman 124, se’if 7) Therefore, he needs to be corrected, repeatedly, if necessary. If the warnings are not effective, and he continues to talk, it is proper to penalize him, and withhold from him the honor of being called to the Torah. (This is the case even if the offender is a Kohen, and there is no other Kohen present.) However, there is no allowance for embarrassing him in public, which is tantamount to murder!
In summary:It was forbidden for the gabbai to embarrass Yitzchak in public. He should have tried to solve the problem in other ways.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
