Sometimes I read the bios of rabbis and it will say things like "Rabbi "X" enjoys fishing, hiking, bird-watching, is an avid Mets fan [but he also likes any team with a bird name, like the "Orioles"], plays the keyboard, drums and flute, reads novels - especially suspense thrillers, and never misses an episode of 'Game Of Thrones'". [Full disclosure - I couldn't think of the name of one TV show so I googled "popular TV shows in 2019" and that came up. Is Johnny Carson still doing late night? What about Different Strokes? "What dju talkin' about Dad?"]
I think to myself - "By golly, when does this man ever find time to learn??" Hobbies are great but life is short and there is only so much time to prepare for the REAL WORLD that follows this one.
I found it refreshing to read this quote by Rabbi Yudin from his speech at the 50th anniversary dinner [I wasn't zocheh to be there. Hashem in his infinite kindness nevertheless made sure that I had dinner at home] of his shul, honoring him and his rebbetzin:
“I don’t play golf. I don’t have any extracurricular interests. Torah does it for me."
So most people need down time to chill - but take what you need and spend the rest of your time on what really matters.
#specialman
#totaldedication
