Deadly silence. The atmosphere in the auditorium is raw and tense. The agitated crowd uneasily peers up to the acrobatic performer: the tightrope walker. He climbs up the ladder in full view of the audience. As he mounts the platform over one hundred feet in the air, a taut rope precariously stretches out across to the other platform. The nervous watchers note that there is no safety net or any other device below him to halt his fall should he lose his footing. Suspense fills the air.

Slowly but steadily, he begins his walk on a thin tightrope. With bated breath, his admirers watch his every movement, mesmerized. The acrobat firmly grasps onto the pole held horizontally in both hands to assist his balance.

His every movement bespeaks the utmost concentration in this endeavor. His mind is completely focused on maintaining his balance at all cost. His burrowed brow reveals that he cannot afford to let his mind to drift onto any other matters. All it takes is one unfortunate turn for him to lose his footing. His undivided attention is rightly taken up with the task, for his life truly hangs on the balance.

Concentrate…
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, founder of the Mussar Movement, notes the significant lesson derived from the behavior of such an acrobat. A tightrope walker is able to maintain his concentration for a long period. Why? For one simple reason - because his life depends upon it. When something is a matter of life and death it rightly assumes paramount importance. Here there can be no room for distraction or lapses of concentration.

The Torah Jew has to vigorously retain his observance whatever the circumstances and however harsh the vicissitudes he may face. Nothing but nothing can distract him from his focus...because his eternal life depends upon it.

In spite of the intolerable working conditions imposed by his crooked employer and father-in-law, Lavan (Laban), Yaakov (Jacob) remained highly focused on his avodas Hashem (service of G-d). In defiance to the corruption of his surroundings, his concentration did not waver. Upon his return home, Yaakov sent messengers to Esav providing him with one vital piece of information. "I have sojourned with Lavan the deceiver but in spite of this, I have held steadfast onto mitzvah observance." The numerical value of the Hebrew word "garti, sojourned" equals taryag, 613 - the sum total of the mitzvos (Rashi, Bereishis 32:5). Yaakov's concentration to live his life 100% in accordance to G-d's will meant that no lapses could undermine or compromise his standards because he realized that this would constitute nothing less than forgoing his spiritual existence and welfare.

There are many areas in our daily lives where maintaining concentration is absolutely essential. There is an awareness of how difficult it is to accomplish anything without investing within it the appropriate consideration that actually underscores its importance. And yet, as we only know too well, it is usually an uphill struggle and a Herculean effort to maintain our concentration and not to be distracted or deflected from our goals.

Distractions and Interruptions
I vividly recall a game played in our school camp based upon the popular British radio show "Just a Minute". The game required contestants to speak for one minute on a topic given to them. One person had to talk without any hesitation, repetition or deviation from the subject provided, while others tried to interrupt. It proved to be a very difficult task indeed to keep on going and not to be challenged by any of the other participants! This provides a simple illustration of just how difficult it is to stay focused even for a short period of time.

We inhabit a world of distractions that pounce upon us at the first available opportunity. Short sound-bytes are overwhelmingly the order of the day. Human attention spans dwindle as audience concentration spans continue to plummet These are symptomatic of the lack of concentration in contemporary society and just how much it is prone to distraction.

Indeed, modern life craves diversions at an unprecedented, increasing level. The Western world worships and is infatuated by pastimes and sports all falling under the title "entertainment." This is but symptomatic of a conscious and/or subconscious urge to deflect man from facing up to the harsh realism of life.

It is this very failure to maintain concentration at all times that inevitably lands man into trouble. Where disarmed, man inevitably falls prey to the seduction of the yetzer hara, the Evil Inclination which maliciously interferes his objective of what he should be doing.

Staying focused
Like a cardiologist involved in an intricate open-heart surgery who cannot afford to allow anything to divert his attention even for a second because nothing less precious than a life is on the line. Similarly learning that is described as Toras chaim, "the Torah of life" precludes distraction by trivial matters whereupon concentration on Torah learning is seen as a matter of life and death making any interruption unacceptable (See Ethics of the Fathers 3:9).

A Jew has to maintain a conscious effort. A clear, concerted, conscious mind to remain fully focused no matter what, is called for, to be later followed by more gradual, sustained efforts so that one does not later become distracted from his task in avodas Hashem, service of G-d.

The development of such concentration is illustrated by this remarkable story. The doctors of Vilna had to conduct surgery on Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski but were placed in a quandary. He required a serious operation but due to his ill-health they could not administer anesthesia. They explained their dilemma to the patient and were surprised when the gadol (Torah giant) offered them a simple solution. "All I request," said Rabbi Chaim Ozer, "is that I be brought a sefer (Torah book) before the operation".

To the doctors' great disbelief, he lay engrossed in his learning throughout the procedure totally oblivious to the excruciating pain. Once the operation had been completed, the surgeons confessed to Rabbi Chaim Ozer's wife their deep shock. "Never before have we witnessed such powers of concentration. Had we not witnessed this first-hand, we would never thought it possible for a human being!"

While such levels of concentration remain beyond the scope of most of us, every extra level of concentration in our spiritual lives is commendable. Perhaps a way of achieving this is by spending some time every day focusing on the famous question of The Path of the Just, "What is man's duty in this world?" Focusing on this will make a Jew see that life is all-meaningful and he cannot afford any lapse in staying focused. He will realize that this is the foundation of his living, the means of drawing closer to G-d and gaining olam haba, the World to Come.

Something as simple as focusing on the blessings after going to the bathroom or a prayer emphasizing the essence of life, can help sustain and develop the power of concentration. Like any skill, "practice makes perfect." Like any craft, through exercise it will be mastered. Honing his concentration, the Torah Jew will be able to testify that "I have held steadfast onto mitzvah observance. With concentration at its sharpest, in fear of losing balance, he will stay focused and successfully walk "the tightrope of life."

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