The FallThe sharp pain greeting me as I leaned my elbow on a shtender reminded me of my recent “power fall". It happened one evening as I turned the corner of my bed. I slipped on a blanket and banged into the bed board and the floor simultaneously, hurting myself in no less than five places. Five in one! No small feat - that’s why I call it a “power fall".Just as in the physical world one central thing can affect many others, so too in the spiritual world. There are Ruchani “power points" which have th‏e magical quality of affecting many different areas at once. By identifying these points and realizing their potency we may dedicate to them the attention they deserve.Let us focus on four of these areas: listening, having Rebbeim, cheshbon hanefesh and being a learner.Listening - It would be remiss not to mention Chazal’s example of exactly our falling mashal; shmeeyas haozen (the ability to listen and accept rebuke). Our Rabbis specifically refer to proper listening as a wonder characteristic that takes care of multiple “ailments” similar to a wonder bandage which brings relief to all the damage caused by a terrible fall.Let us focus on the amazing benefits of being a good listener. Rabbeinu Yona specifies the wonder bandage aspect of listening as the ability to accept rebuke. A person who receives critique lives on an elevated plane. Others appreciate him greatly for being a "mekabel” and through their feedback and insight new pathways to growth are open wide in front of him.On another note, the true way Torah is transferred is Rebbe to Talmid. Perhaps, the single most important midda in the holy role of being a talmid is listening. It also allows one to learn Torah texts properly as one must be able to “hear” a text. Good listening is critical to being a good friend, spouse, employee or employer. Surprisingly, it even enhances one’s expertise as a speaker. I recently read a Harvard business review article which mentioned the importance of hearing your audience. And, of course, one must be able to hear Hashem talk to him throughout his life.From this partial list we see how many areas are affected by our prowess in listening.Having Rebbeim – As Rav Yitzchak Hutnerזצ"ל and Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky זצ"ל once exited a Rabbinical meeting, one commented that it was clear that another esteemed member of their gathering had not been around their Rebbe, the Alter of Slabodka. The unique way the Alter taught them to approach issues was missing in their rabbinic counterpart. A Rebbe gives one a general outlook on life, guides in how to learn Torah and teaches so many things, big and small. Anyone who has had a close connection with Rebbeim knows how acutely different they are because of them. Especially today it is near impossible to really be part of Mesoras HaTorah without a strong tie to a Rebbe who had a strong tie to his Rebbeim.One of the crisis points almost all Jewish communities suffer from is a lack of Rebbeim. Each community suffers for different reasons but this most unfortunate lack is very prevalent.Cheshbon Hanefesh – Considering one's actions is obviously an overall bandage. Without it one can unknowingly continue with many nefarious practices for an entire lifetime and with it one can fix the same practices in five minutes! Correct cheshbon will affect every aspect of one’s life. How can one be a serious ben torah or even a serious person without engaging in a regular, sincere accounting of where he’s at? We should earnestly learn from the business world. Companies don’t move forward without regular review of their performance. Why don’t we do the same in our more important pursuit of growth in Ruchniyus?Being a learner – For old and young, male and female, Rabbi and layman alike a central life question is “Are you a learner?”. One may study many hours but still not be a “learner”. He may be interested in experiencing study or accruing knowledge but isn’t interested in changing and enhancing his perspective. He isn’t interested in really learning. The innocent fascination of discovery is far from him.The “Are you a learner” question penetrates every aspect of life. Every day and every situation affords possibilities for knowledge; but only for the learner. A trip to the shuk can be a great essay in human characteristics. A conversation with a friend can be a deep study in psychology. Reading the daily paper can be a lesson in hashgachas haborei.The trait of being a learner affects how we meet every life circumstance and, of course, our dedication to learning Torah and how we do it.As we learned from my fall, it is possible to touch many places through one central point. We have briefly touched on four “wonder bandage” areas. Pushing forward in these areas will bring significant reward. We would be wise to dedicate and rededicate ourselves to them and always be on the lookout for other “wonder bandage” areas.Initial kabbala – Take one of the four areas. Contemplate how it affects many areas and make a two week improvement in some aspect of it.Advanced kabbala – Think of an existing personal wonder bandage area of yours (i.e. one that you are already strong at) and how you can significantly improve in it. Think of a wonder bandage area that your spouse or friend excels at. Learn from them how to improve in that area.Enduring kabbala – Think of some wonder area which you would like to work on and make a two month plan for how to improve in it.(Please send comments and questions to rdsvaad@gmail.com)