Why did Hashem invent traffic lights?

The Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, of blessed memory, was once sick and a minyan was made in his house. There was a new boy in the Yeshiva and he was asked to lead the davening. The new boy, not realizing that the Rosh Yeshiva davened very slowly, davened Ma’ariv very quickly. After davening, the Rosh Yeshiva called the boy over and very nicely pointed out a line in this week’s parsha. In Bechukosai, the Torah lists numerous curses and punishments that will occur if the Jewish people do not follow the mitzvos. One of them is, “You will run but no one will be chasing you.” (Vayikra 26:17) The Rosh Yeshiva said to the boy that no one is chasing him. We do not need to rush through our davening.

I few years ago, I went on Rock N’Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios. I learned a great lesson near the beginning of the ride. The attraction is famous because it goes 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. The ride blasted off. As it sped up to 60 mph, I began wondering when it would start to go up. All roller coasters begin by rising so I wondered when this one would start rising. But it never rose. The train went straight and then after a few seconds began to drop and go into loops. After thinking about this, I learned a great lesson about rushing. When we go at high speeds we think that we will rise higher and higher. The answer, though, is the exact opposite. When we are going at high speed, we do not rise at all. We only fall. Just like the high speed roller coaster does not rise higher, we do not reach higher spiritual levels by rushing.

Think for a minute. Which has more lethal accidents: driving at 30 mph in a local neighborhood or 65 mph on I-95? The faster a person drives, the more likelihood there is for a major accident. I understand the need for highways and I drive on them a few times every week. We also need to realize that the quicker we move, the more dangerous it is.

When I was in high school, there was a girl in the same grade as me that lived around the corner. Over the summer after graduation, she saw the bus she needed on the far side of a highway. Instead of waiting15 minutes for the next bus, she ran across the street to catch this one. Unfortunately, she never made the bus and on Tisha B’Av that year, she passed away at 18 years old. Rushing is very dangerous.

So why are there traffic lights? A hundred years ago, there were no traffic lights. I think the reason is because people did not rush as much as we do today. We are a generation of high speed. In a few minutes, I’ll press one button and within seconds, this d’var Torah can be viewed around the world. In the past, it would take weeks. Hashem invented the traffic lights to remind us that we need to stop and think every so often. Don’t always be in such a rush. Slow down! And this is very important when we are davening. Concentrate on what you are saying. Realize that you are talking to the King of the World. Hashem can make anything happen. If we want to bring peace, we can by just davening properly. By rushing, we are not going to be raised higher. We can only reach higher spiritual heights by taking our time.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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By Rabbi Yaacov Seltzer
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