JOINING THE MARINE [PARK] CORE!

BS”D

Joining the Marine [Park] Core!

A Shavuos Moshol: Learning from Lake ENNO When to Say Y-E-S

I know what you must be thinking. Of course, I’m joking, right? 

N-O, I’m not kidding in the least.

On second thought, please make that word: “ENNO.” After all, there really is a fairly impressive body of water named Lake Enno located within the township of Jackson, New Jersey (which itself adjoins the township of Lakewood)! Waterfowl have found its placid waters inviting and attractive.

And so, for that matter, have I. But it is the lake’s iconoclastic name which has garnered my attention.

You see, the Yom Tov of Shavuos is almost upon us, and I was reminded by the name of this oversized pond of a timely lesson that we could all internalize on the anniversary of Mattan Torahseinu.

In point of fact, on this holy day of our reinvocation of “naaseh v’nishma,” we can ill afford to affirm our acceptance of a Torah way of life with anything less than a thoroughly eager reaffirmation of kedushah and hislahavus—sanctity and enthusiasm (interestingly enough, the latter word derives from the Greek expression meaning “to incorporate [a sense of] Divinity within oneself”).

Indeed, the Rambam tells us in Hilchos Shavuos 2:12: “V’chein sh’ar minei shavuos ENNO chayiv ad shehyih’yeh piv v’libo shavin: And thus it is with the remainder of the types of oaths: a person is not held responsible until his heart and his mouth are attuned one to the other.”

Peledig!

Now if such is the case regarding shavuos –oaths—how much more so must such a statement be axiomatic in each action that we perform, every deed that we do! Our hearts and our lips must truly be congruous and in tune at all times.

In other words, we simply cannot say “yes” when we actually mean “no,” for when it comes to purity and holiness, Shavuos is undoubtedly the quintessential expression of the confirmation of our acceptance of the Basheffer’s supreme gift to us, His holy Torah. Of course we shall say “yes” unequivocally this Shavuos, just as we have done for thousands of years before. And, now as then, we had just better mean it!

But in case we have forgotten, that lake in Jackson, New Jersey, is there to remind us that this year when we utter “yes” in our reacceptance of the Divine mandate, we must see to it that we have not inadvertently mixed in a little bit of ENNO.

For that is the one thing that we as Torah Yidden dare never do! A freilichen Yom Tov to you all, dear readers. Y-E-S!

****************************************************                   I may be contacted at hillyarm@yeshivanet.com should you have any comments or questions.