* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Today marks four years since the passing of Rabbi Uri Zohar, who was once among Israel’s leading actors and film directors and became a Rabbi. To honor his memory, I wanted to write something about his personality and life changes — which happen to be pertinent to the giving of the Torah we will celebrate on Shavuot:
While interviewing him, I saw three Torah values that he embodied:
- Joy. He was one of the happiest people I ever knew. “I am the happiest man in the world,” he used to say while sitting in his modest apartment, “and also the richest man in the world. Because there is nothing I want that I do not have.” This was an inner joy that did not require any external approval. The man who was once Israel’s most famous entertainer no longer needed applause or likes to be happy.
- Time management. Every hour was precious to him, every minute carefully calculated. When to study, with whom to study, whom to call, whom to meet. Each moment was critically important and could not be wasted. Here is an example: I once came to his home to interview him. He was extremely kind and warm to the film crew, but the moment we finished, he returned to studying. “Excuse me,” he smiled, “I lost forty years; I need to catch up.”
- Refinement of character. He was not embarrassed to speak about the “animal” within that once controlled him. He worked hard to tame that creature which exists inside every one of us. For example, a book could be written about how he succeeded in overcoming anger. In the early years after becoming religious, he kept a charity box in his home. Every time he shouted at a family member, he would put money into the box. His children remember this well. Eventually, the trait of anger faded away.
It is four years since the man who taught us that it is never too late to change passed away. May we also merit to change and improve ourselves, however little, prior to receiving the Torah.
In his memory.
