An accomplished writer was working on a biography of the famous symphony conductor, Arturo Toscanini. One day the writer called Toscanini and asked if he could visit him the following night. The great maestro told him that he could not meet that night, as he was planning to listen to a concert on the radio of an orchestra that he had conducted himself the previous year. The writer asked if he could join him and discuss the concert after it was over. Toscanini agreed on condition that he would not be disturbed during the concert, as he did not want to be distracted. The next night they listened together to the orchestra's performance, and when it was finished the writer said, "Wasn't that magnificent?"
"No it wasn't", Toscanini answered sternly. "There were supposed to be 120 musicians, among them 15 violinists, but only 14 were present."
The writer could not believe his ears, but did not dare question the great maestro. However, he wanted to investigate to verify if Toscanini was right. The next morning he called the director of the orchestra and asked him how many musicians were supposed to be in the orchestra, and how many had actually shown up. The director told him that there were supposed to be 120 musicians, but one of the 15 violinists called in sick. The writer was in awe and could not understand how Toscanini could have noticed the missing sound of one violin. That night he returned to Toscanini and asked him how he was able to discern the missing violin in an orchestra of 120 musicians.
Toscanini answered with authority and said, "There is a great difference between you and me. As part of the audience everything sounds great to you. But I, being a conductor, must know every sound that comes forth from the orchestra. When I heard the concert, I noticed that some notes were missing, and I knew immediately that one violinist was missing."
Rabbi Paysach Krohn comments, "We are all musicians in G-d's orchestra. The drummer cannot play the cello, the cellist cannot play the flute, and the flutist cannot play the violin. Each must play his instrument to the best of his ability. We are all different and we must perform with the talents, mindset and personalities we were given.”
A school is a symphony, a cacophony of students, each with their unique talents and strengths blending together to create a masterpiece. The conductor, Yeshivas Darchei Torah’s dedicated staff of teachers and administrators, with utmost precision, gently guide, teach and instill in each precious child the skills and confidence to master his/her instrument. With dedication and devotion, each educator fine -tunes his/her charges to ensure that the song that emerges is one of strength and of joy. This carefully orchestrated symphony, harmoniously played together by each boy and girl, yields a concerto of nachas, pride and joy to the Conductor Above.
In keeping with this goal, “Symphonic Orchestra” is this year’s raffle theme.
