The Essence of Yiddishkeit | Avi Schnall

Dr. Green was a professor in the University of Minnesota. A very close friend of his, Rabbi Moshe Feller, also lived near the University. And they would talk often about Yiddishkeit, about Judaism. But Professor Green never took the step to becoming an observant Jew. One day, Professor Green is talking to his friend, Rabbi Feller, and he tells him: Rabbi, I'm taking a trip. I'm going to a conference and I'm going with a whole bunch of my students. Rabbi Feller asks him: Dr. Green, I never pressure you, I never ask you for much. But I'm asking you this time when you go on the flight, order a kosher meal. Professor Green is surprised. Rabbi, you know I don't keep kosher. Why would I order a kosher meal? Rabbi Feller tells him: Because you're going to be going with other students, and I know some of those students are Jewish, and if they see Professor Green ordering a kosher meal, maybe they'll be inspired. Professor Green agrees. The day of the flight comes, take-off is smooth, and the stewardesses begin to give out the meals. Professor Green is waiting for his kosher meal. The stewardess doesn't give him one. He asks: Where's my kosher meal? They apologize, they'll go look for it. The stewardess comes back and apologizes. I'm sorry, Professor Green, but the kosher meal you ordered was, by mistake, not put on the list, and we don't have one for you. The flight continues. He finally gets to the destination. The students walk off, they go to get their luggage. As Professor Green walks the hallways of the airport, he sees a Nathan's Hot Dog stand, and he's hungry, he's tired, he's cranky, he wants to eat a hot dog. But not only that, he's upset. He’s upset that Rabbi Feller convinced him to order the kosher meal. He takes out his cell phone and he calls Rabbi Feller and he tells him: Rabbi, I listened to you. I ordered the kosher meal and they didn't have it. And I sat there for hours, hungry and tired. You know what? I'm standing on line by the Nathan's Hot Dog stand, and I'm going to have myself a delicious non-kosher hot dog. Rabbi Feller, very calmly and very smart, responds: Professor Green, we talk a lot about Judaism, about philosophy, about Yiddishkeit, about what it means and what it stands for and what it's all about. I want to tell you something, Professor Green. The essence of Yiddishkeit, the essence of Judaism is you walking off the line of the Nathan's Hot Dog stand. The professor hears it, he gets upset. Rabbi, you lost your mind. He hangs up the phone. He's standing in line. The line becomes shorter and comes his turn, but he can't get the words out of his mouth. The words of the Rabbi begin to internalize and penetrate. What is the essence of Yiddishkeit? What is the essence of who we are? Do we allow our temptations, our hunger, the hot dog, to control us? Or are we in control of our decisions? Do we decide what we do and what we don't do? Or is it a Nathan's Hot Dog stand? Dr. Green walked off the line. The essence of Yiddishkeit is our ability to control our temptations, is the ability to proclaim: Vayimaen! I am in control.