When G-d created man, “…He blew into his nostrils the soul of life; and man became a living being.” (Bereishis 2:7) Targum Onkelos defines the last two words as “a speaking spirit,” meaning that man is elevated over animals by virtue of his power of intelligent speech. This article deals with a particular aspect of speech, namely, public speaking.

A very common phenomenon associated with public speaking is glossophobia, or fear of speaking in public, which manifests in an array of emotional, mental, or physical symptoms. I wish to share a very personal perspective on this topic and then offer approaches to subdue this fear. Please accompany me down memory lane for a glimpse of my encounters with the dreaded microphone over the years.

This year’s presidential election has brought into focus the ominous polarization between right and left in America. Indeed, political turmoil marks the current political climate around the world. But, beyond the obvious, several political movements are progressing far below the radar. None of them is grabbing headlines, but, if successful, their repercussions would be disastrous.

Interestingly, the words of our talmidei chachamim are often relevant to current events. Consider the Malbim’s commentary on these pesukim:

“A river issues forth from Eden to water the garden, and from there it is divided and becomes four headwaters. The name of the first is Pishon… The gold of that land is good… and the Shoham stone. The name of the second river is Gichon… that encircles the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Chiddekel…that flows toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates” (Bereishis, 2:10-14).

“You can’t take it with you.” This old adage expresses the thought that, after 120 years, you leave all your worldly possessions behind. I experienced this lesson in a most graphic way, within a family context, 20 years ago. My mother had passed away in 1989, and on the very same date, 4 Sivan, in 2003, my father was niftar. Several months later, my brother, David, my wife, a”h, and I undertook to clear out the family home in Kemp Mill in preparation for its eventual sale.

We planned to dispose of lightweight items, whatever two men could physically handle, through the services provided by Montgomery County Shady Grove Transfer Station. Located in Derwood, Md., near Rockville, this facility offers amenities for both recycling and trash drop-offs. So very early in 2004, David arranged a U-Haul rental, and we got to work. We loaded a vast array of household items, many of 1950s vintage, including chairs, footrests, small tables and bureaus, books, encyclopedias, serving dishes, floor lamps, vacuum cleaners, and so on. We then drove off.

“Al tashlicheinu l’ais ziknah – Do not cast us aside in our old age” (Selichos). Our Baltimore community is blessed with a number of assisted living as well as nursing home facilities to service the needs of our local elderly and infirm. In addition to attending to their medical requisites, these facilities also engage their residents in a myriad of activities to address spiritual and creative needs. Among these pursuits are the weekend recitations of Kiddush and Havdalah. Since 2007, a group of volunteers have, on a rotational basis, fulfilled these sacred functions at Aventura at the Park (formerly Weinberg Park).  Founded by Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld of Jewish Spiritual Literacy, the program is formally called Love Your Neighbor and boasts a volunteer staff of 9 participants, including yours truly.

“Do not scorn any person….for you have no person without his hour.” (Avos 4:3) The Rambam interprets Ben Azzai’s dictum as follows: It is wrong to mistreat anyone who may be of lowly status because the time will certainly come when such person will rise to a position enabling him to seek revenge. This mishna does not imply that it would ever be otherwise acceptable to malign or mistreat another. It simply provides an additional reason to avoid such behavior, namely, that the perpetrator may well find himself one day at the mercy of his victim.

In today’s Covid environment, those of our loved ones living in a nursing home or hospitalized are bereft of visits from family and friends. Did you ever wonder how someone in such circumstances interacts with nurses, therapists, and staff when we’re not around? My wife, Rivka Elling, a”h, was resident in King David Nursing and Rehabilitation Center this year, from March 11 until her passing, on September 29. Most of the conversations we had with her centered on matters mundane and routine, with one notable exception: she was very scrupulous in ensuring that the electric Shabbos lights were functional each erev Shabbos.

During shiva, three staff members of King David came to our home to be menachem avel. During this visit, they opened a window on Rivka’s interactions with the staff. For instance, after recovering from a Corona infection sometime in June, she remarked: “G-d loves me. He protected me from the Coronavirus.” I was on the edge of my seat as they went on. It quickly became obvious that she lived on a higher spiritual plane than most. But rather than hearing further from me, read from the pen of Yaffa Citer, below, who works at King David as an occupational therapist: