D’var Torah – April 11

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Paseach Kasher v’Sameach!

I hope this finds you all well.

There is probably no worse statement or refrain in the entire history of mankind’s presence in the workplace than, “don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out.”

Seriously, if you’re in the hospital, would you want a couple of brand-new residents to stick you with some unknown quantity of only God-knows-what because this is what the attending said to them when they asked for help and guidance?    Would you want to be anywhere near a building site after a foreman tells a construction worker who’s on his first day on the job to go into the cab of a wrecking ball crane and get started with this mantra?

Or, would you want to get back into your car after a junior mechanic was feeling overwhelmed, and when he asked his supervisor for advice, that was their boss’s answer?

No, of course not!

It’s fair to say that things like college, law, medical, and trade school, basic training, and other professional programs are only going to teach us so much. We’re going to learn a lot of the practical elements and best practices while on the job out in the field. And why?

I think there are three reasons for this:

1. Our fields, no matter what they are, are constantly evolving and quickly changing. This is due to everything from laws and regulations to keeping pace with technology.

2. There is always going to be a lag, a gap between the institutional “school house” and the “real world.” It’s no one’s fault, but it’s hard to get what’s happening out in the field sent back to the school houses where it has to be reviewed, codified, formalized, agreed upon, and then translated into lesson plans with its associated material.

3. Finally, there is simply not enough time to teach us every aspect of our jobs, occupations, and skills. If schools did this, we’d probably stay there until we’re 50!

But this does not excuse a lack of knowledge or competency on anyone’s end. This is where on-the-job training (OJT) comes in. On-the-job training goes by many different names: “OJT”, “left-seat, right-seat”, “staff orientation”, “traineeship”, “apprenticeship”, etc. The point of OJT is to close the gap between what someone learned in the school house and what they’ll be doing in the field. It connects theory with hands-on application. If conducted properly, there shouldn’t be a lot of “don’t worry, you’ll figure it out’s” being flung around.

In this week’s parsha of Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36), we perhaps see, I posit, OJT in action.

From the first lines: “God spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Command Aaron and his sons thus: This is the ritual of the burnt offering: The burnt offering itself shall remain where it is burned upon the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar is kept going on it. The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar,’” (Leviticus 6:1-3) through the last two lines: “Everything done today, God has commanded to be done [seven days], to make expiation for you. You shall remain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days, keeping God’s charge—that you may not die—for so I have been commanded.’ And Aaron and his sons did all the things that יהוה had commanded through Moses*,”(Leviticus 8:34-36), we observe God through Moses, giving last minute instructions, tips, procedures, regulations, performance measures, and best practices to Aaron and his sons. In other words, God is giving them the practical elements and fine points of their duties, their jobs.

Rabbeinu Bahya, quoting the Zohar, paints a perfect scene of what took place: “During these seven days Moses performed the High Priest’s duties (dressed only in a white tunic) in order to confer all this sanctity upon Aaron. Rabbi Abba said that seeing that Moses was firmly rooted in the holy place whence all this power stemmed, he was able to transfer this sanctity to Aaron.”[1]

It is the ultimate example of “left seat-right seat.”

To show just how serious this topic of OJT should be taken, we need only look a few chapters prior. In Exodus 30:9 we are told,

“You shall not offer alien incense on it, or a burnt offering or a meal offering; neither shall you pour a libation on it.” Yet next week, in parsha Shemini, we will read how Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu both tragically perish after offering aish zarah – strange fire at the altar (Leviticus 10:1-2).

It raises two powerful questions:

1. Did Moses convey this prohibition to Aaron and his sons?

2. Did Nadab and Abihu actively listen to their uncle?

In Judaism, one of our most cherished dictums is lilmod ulelamed- we will learn and we will teach. We see it in every facet of our Jewish lives as we teach our children the Shema, tell them of the stories and mitzvot found in Torah, prepare them for Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and apropos to this season, have them ask the four questions at the Passover Seder.

It is therefore incumbent that each of us, when adding someone new to our team, heading to a new position, or hanging up our spurs, give the most clear, thorough, and comprehensive OJT as possible to those who come after us. This is a sacred duty and responsibility.

Bizrat HaShem, with God’s help, may the words, “don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out,” never come from our lips or be heard in the ears of those who follow us.

Wishing you a Good Shabbos and a very Happy and Healthy Passover.

Bivrakha,

Rabbi Aaron Stucker-Rozovsky

Beth El Congregation | 520 Fairmont Ave, Winchester, VA 22601

(540) 667-1889 (office)