Rabbi Lazer Brody wrote:
The Chafetz Chaim said: "If only thousands and millions of sincere Jews would show to Hashem how they truly desire Mashiach, he would surely come immediately." Let's follow the advice of the Tzaddik and pray all together, giving tsedaka right before. The moment will be on September 23, 2012 at 18:00 Israel time, 8:00 AM Los Angeles, 11:00 AM New York, 10:00 AM Peru, 12:00 Noon Buenos Aires,17:00 Paris, 19:00 Moscow, 23:00 HongKong, 1:00 AM Sept 24 Sydney...
This is on the 7th of Tishrei, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Beyond Logic
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| Photo Credit: Breslev Israel |
I know that I am not the first person in the world to lose a mother. It is one of the most sorrowful yet inevitable realities of life, but not everyone goes through a whole personal metamorphosis in the process.
The 4thof Tammuz (this year June 24th) is my mother's 22nd Yartzeit, the anniversary of her death. It is hard to believe that 22 years have passed, yet it seems like much more than 22 years since I last spoke with my mother. It actually has been more than 23 and a half years since we had any sort of normal conversation. Neither ripe old age nor some disabling disease caused her death. It was the tragic result of a horrible road accident.
Driving with my mother on an intercity freeway, my father fell asleep at the wheel and as a result the car flipped over several times before landing in a rocky ditch at the side of the road. The fact that both of my parents weren't killed instantly was in itself a miracle. The car was a total write-off. A valuable lesson to be learned from this would appear to be; never drive while very tired. But that isn't why I chose to write this in my mother's memory. There is a much more urgent message I feel compelled to pass along: In times of greatest despair, have faith (emuna) in G-d and believe in miracles. And most importantly, never underestimate the power of prayer! These may not be new or unique concepts for those of you who are frum (religious) from birth. They are fundamental principles which should be ingrained into the core of one's intellect from day one. But for those of us who are chozer b'tshuva (penitent), who made the conscious decision to redirect our lives, we often require a boost to reinforce this major leap of faith.
The whole incident occurred as my husband and I were just beginning our journey down the road of religious observance. It had been less than a year since we began to keep Shabbat and Kashrut. My first test in this ordeal fell on me like a load of bricks just a half hour before the onset of Shabbat. As if it wasn't shock enough to receive a phone call with the unthinkable news of the crash, I was faced with the most difficult decision of my life. Yet, there was really no choice to make. Despite the doctors' pleas for us to hurry to the hospital and be at my mother's side for what they claimed would be her last hours in this world, we could not desecrate the laws of Shabbat by driving. There was no case of pikuach nefesh here. There was nothing I could physically do to help save her life. The doctors were doing all they could for her severe head trauma and other multiple injuries. So I chose the only thing that was available to me and the one thing in which I had placed all my hope....I prayed to HaShem to save my mother. (My father sustained multiple fractures and external injuries, but nothing life-threatening, thank G-d)
The fact that my mother survived over Shabbat was the first sampling of the numerous miracles that encompassed me over the course of the next year and a half. The initial diagnosis of her impending death was followed by an unequivocal prognosis that if she did survive at all, she would be a 'vegetable'. Ultimately, she proved the doctors totally wrong and far surpassed the expectations of all involved. These medical practitioners were forced to admit that they had been mistaken, calling her progress nothing other than miraculous. With limited space in this article, I will refrain from all the grueling and cumbersome details of all that transpired until her final departure from this world, when she finally succumbed to a heart attack. Suffice to say, all that occurred was beyond the realm of earthly reason and logic. Our fervent prayers were answered with chillingly unexpected results beyond any of my wildest expectations. It was a humbling experience which brought into my being a conviction so unwavering that there was no longer any doubt in my mind of the existence of G-d. In addition to that profound understanding was the underlying essence of something much more cliché; learn to value all of HaShem’s blessings and never take them for granted since one never knows when they will be gone. As the old saying goes, appreciate each day as if it were your last.
On this day, I look back with love and gratitude for the gifts that I was blessed to have received. When my mother passed away I was entering my eighth month of pregnancy. The unborn child I was carrying gave me unparalleled strength. Instead of being left with a huge void in my life, I looked forward to bearing a new life. The sharp pains of mourning were replaced with the sharp pains of labor. He came into the world quickly on Shabbat, twelve days before Rosh Hashana.
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| My family when I was a baby |
Only with the comprehension that there is a Greater Power than man, the Holy One, Blessed be He, Creator of the Universe, can one make any sense of what is going on in the world today. It is not for us to question why things happen as they do, but to grab onto them and discover ways to improve ourselves. It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to do more to elevate our actions, to become better people and grow closer to G-d. We will thereby not only bring peace into our own lives, but to the world itself via 'spiritual osmosis'.
The Torah reading for the week of the 4th of Tammuz 22 years ago was Chukat. This Parasha tells the story of the time when the Jewish people were crossing the desert on their way to Israel and found themselves in desperate in need of water. G-d spoke to Moses and told him 'speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it will give forth its water' (Bamidbar 20:8) With the entire congregation assembled before Moses and his brother, Aaron, it was the prime opportunity to sanctify G-d's Name and give witness to this undeniable miracle. But, instead of trying to produce water from the rock by speaking to it as he had been commanded, Moses struck it twice with his rod. One interpretation of this episode explains that his show of anger appeared to the people as if he did not have faith in G-d. For this he was punished and not allowed to enter the Land of Israel. How relevant this lesson is today. We must trust in HaShem and abide by His Laws, in order to deserve the right to keep our Land and the privilege to dwell there.
I share this with you in memory of my beloved mother. As time fades the vision in my mind's eye of this once-vibrant and beautiful woman, her strength and courage is indelibly etched in my memory. As I groped through the fog of anguish to find meaning in adversity, her pain and suffering was the catalyst through which I confirmed the true meaning of life. This testimonial is but a taste of the full depth of that revelation. It is my hope that I have succeeded in imparting at least some of that enlightenment as an inspiration to others.
This article was first published on Breslev Israel on my mother's 21st Yarzeit:
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Pop
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| Pop and me |
My most cherished memories are of getting together with the whole family, including aunt, uncle and cousins, for holidays such as Pesach (Passover) or Chanukah. Before any family gathering, Nanny would be busy in the kitchen preparing the festive meal. I watched with fascination, as she mixed together all the ingredients needed for the cake. Her method of baking was very simple but the desserts always tasted delicious. These special times are eternally engraved in my mind and I am thankful to HaShem for being given the opportunity to have known my grandparents. Due to the tragedy of the Holocaust, many were not blessed with this privilege. Baruch HaShem, thank G-d, all four of my grandparents left Europe long before the war broke out, but their stay in Canada was merely a temporary stepping stone for our survival.
Despite his small physical stature and calm demeanor, Pop’s heart and soul were larger than life. I can still see his kind, sweet smile and hear his cheerful laugh. He was the Patriarch of our family, seated respectfully at the head of the table as we participated in the traditional meals. While none of us were religiously observant during that period, we nevertheless followed his lead, as he read the Pesach Haggada and sang the customary songs. He would always hide the ofikomen (matza piece) in the same place, yet finding it still brought delight to young and old alike. He imbued us with a fondness for our heritage which will remain with us always, and for that I am grateful.
Despite societal pressures, Pop endeavored to remain true to his beliefs and would never compromise his devotion to Judaism. Living in small-town Canada in the early 1920s, keeping kosher wasn’t nearly as easy as it is today. Before I was born, my grandparents raised chickens in their yard so they were ensured a kosher chicken for Shabbat. (As a child, my mother a’h took pleasure in watching the chickens run around, but found it difficult knowing they would soon be shechted [ritually slaughtered]). I was told that although Pop would accompany other family members for a meal in a restaurant occasionally, he would only order fish, as he couldn’t bring himself to eat treif (non-kosher). He did what he had to do, and so my grandparents attempted to set an example, despite the fact that everyone around them was giving in to the lure of the modern world.
The course of recent generations has been anything but smooth. We are all victims of the ‘enlightened’ culture which made our journey all the more challenging. The number of Jewish Neshamot (souls) who have lost their spiritual direction is staggering. Those families who have not been touched by intermarriage are few and far between. Yet, thank G-d, the numbers of returnees to their roots, to true Torah Judaism is increasing by leaps and bounds. This overwhelming teshuva movement was a prophecy of the days leading up to Moshiach, the days which are presently upon us.
The path to any admirable goal is never straight and rarely effortless. There can be pitfalls and roadblocks, stumbling blocks and icy patches, but the incentive to succeed comes from the desire to attain the lofty objective. Once we finally reach the pinnacle, the awesome view on the other side takes our breath away and we don’t know how we ever lived without it.
In the article, Illuminating our Children, Rabbi Lazer Brody writes “Tradition tells us that a person’s favorable judgment in the Heavenly Court after he finishes his term of service in this world is conditional; one doesn’t earn his or her permanent place in Gan Eden until the Heavenly Court sees how the subsequent three generations turn out. In other words, once your great-grandchildren are living lives of emuna, you get your permanent penthouse in Paradise.”
After all our ups and downs, our return to a Torah lifestyle and our aliya to the Holy Land of Israel, I pray that my dear, beloved Pop, may finally be able to settle down right next to the Heavenly Throne and the King of Kings Himself, along with all our righteous ancestors. And may we all merit to greet our departed loved ones once again with the fulfillment of the thirteenth principle of faith, techiyat hameitim (resurrection of the dead) as stated in the Mishnah, Sanhedrin.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Damage Control
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| Tel Aviv - Photo credit: Uri Ovadia |
I realize I am a bit late in writing this. It seems like it should be old news, after all. The truth is, sadly, I fear it is just the beginning. Like a snowball full of dirt and hard stones, this whole episode has become quite an unpleasant and dangerous game. I am referring to the recent occurrences of intolerance and distasteful (to put it mildly) actions within our own people.
The list of intramural hatred in Israel is endless and I know it won't go down well with many when I say that we should all be held accountable. The frightening thought is that if we don't do something to rectify it soon, the consequences may be devastating. G-d promised to protect our land and our people if we obey His laws but did we forget that also includes “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)? With thousands of missiles aimed at our heads, we must ask ourselves the ultimate question; Do we deserve HaShem's Divine protection?
The Talmud (Tractate Yoma) tells us that Sinat Chinam, baseless hatred destroyed the Second Temple. According to the Gemora, Tractate Yevamos (62b) it was also the cause of the loss of Rabbi Akiva's talmidim (students), twenty four THOUSAND, to be exact. Their fatal failure was the lack of respect towards one another. This is no small matter.
The media is the worst culprit of all as it feeds the evil inclination's need for gossip and the cultivation of distortion and lies. We are subjected to so much misinformation; truth is ne'er to be found.
The facts are shameful and embarrassing to write. Men who call themselves G-d fearing, who outwardly reflect the look of righteous individuals, physically and emotionally attack young girls and soldiers, all in the name of Torah. Their actions are counterproductive and reek of hypocrisy with a misplaced belief that what they are doing is 'l'shem shamayim' (for the sake of Heaven). I don't know of any Jewish Holy writings that condone this type of behavior. For a youngster in the formative stage of life, it is not a nurturing message to send. We are not livestock that can be kept in line with the sting of a whip or a cattle prod. Those who have no understanding of the sanctity of religious life will only be pushed farther away. Plus, it creates a whole slew of further sins including loshon hora (slander), taking revenge and holding a grudge, to name a few. Just yesterday I read about a secular man who spit on an ultra-orthodox girl. Other accounts say he allegedly kicked her. Tit for tat? What is going on here? I think it's time to tell people to grow up! This is not child's play.
It hurts. It really hurts to see the dissension and the name-calling. I can only imagine how our Father in Heaven feels watching His beloved children at each other's throats like vultures over their prey. Do we really want to end up as the satan's lunch?
What is even more painful is when I hear about our brothers and sisters being brutally dragged out of their homes by our own 'protective' armed forces, our own sons. What happened to the pride of developing our land, when being a settler was something we longed for, not something to detest? It is bad enough that it is against G-d's Will to remove anyone from their dwellings in this Land, but to do so in the middle of the night without warning and with such venom? It happened in Gush Katif and now it is happening at other outposts. Where is our humanity? Where is our sense of compassion, if nothing else? We treat our enemies with more respect. We have totally lost our perspective.
We each have to take responsibility for the improper actions of the few because we are all one. It is not 'him' or 'her' or 'them', it is US! Since everything that happens is for a reason, we must look within ourselves and find something to change, something to improve. Like a spoken word, the damage caused by hurtful conduct is next to impossible to repair, but we have to try. A smile, a kind comment, a helpful deed - there are so many redeeming ways to erase the darkness.
We must stop this cycle of madness. If our enemies choose to act like barbarians they will simply self-destruct. Do we want to be on that level? They would probably like nothing better than to witness a civil war within Israel. But that is not the endgame of the Jewish People. Our purpose is to be a source of G-dliness, a Light unto the Nations. Through love and unity we can surely accomplish that goal. Once we master that tenuous and challenging task, HaShem will gladly be our strength and our shield, as He has been always.
As we say in our morning prayers, “Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah, attach our hearts to Your commandments and unify our hearts to love and fear Your Name….may we exult and rejoice in Your salvation”. Please, may it be soon. Amen.
Friday, September 9, 2011
David's Shield - A Call for Unity
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| from Breslev.co.il |
(This article first appeared on Breslev.co.il)
If you are a Jewish male, you either wear a kippa (yarmulke, skull cap) or you don’t. If you do wear a kippa, it may be crocheted, suede, colorful or just plain black or white. Or maybe you just wear one for that special occasion; your son’s Bar Mitzvah or your nephew’s Brit Mila (circumcision), or possibly not at all. If you’re a married Jewish woman, you either cover your head or you don’t. It may be that you wear a hat, a headscarf, a ‘sheitle’ (wig), or a ‘snood’ but it could be that you only cover your head when going to ‘shul’ (synagogue) or maybe not at all. Your head coverings and clothing styles may classify you by what you have taken upon yourself, and the path you have chosen, but by definition, we are all Jews. Whether Chassidic, Charedi, National Religious or non-observant, we are all one big family. And like any family, it requires a lot of tolerance, understanding and emuna to keep peace in the home. If we want HaShem’s blessings and protection, we must make peace amongst ourselves a top priority.
The Jewish People is somewhat like mushroom, bean and barley soup. All the ingredients are very unique, special and necessary. Together they incorporate the proper flavor, texture and nutrients, maximizing the end result. Without each and every item, it just wouldn’t be mushroom, bean and barley soup. Similarly, without every element of the Jewish People, we would not be able to complete the task at hand, that of being a “light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). Everyone, despite their background or present level, has something invaluable to contribute. It is therefore incumbent upon each of us to look for the good in others and appreciate our differences.
Regardless of one’s religious or political affiliations, there is one sign which is universally accepted as a Jewish symbol ~ the Magen David, Star (or Shield) of David. Jews the world over, wear this emblem on a chain close to their hearts. As well, many Jewish items proudly display this logo of old. On the surface, this symbol is simply a representation of the shield that King David used in battle. But when one delves deeper into its significance, the results are very profound.
The Magen David is made up of two triangles, one over the other with six points. If one compares these conjoined triangles to the Jewish People, it illustrates how we are melded together as one, yet with each sector maintaining its own ‘point’. Our views and interpretations may extend in different directions, but the center, The Torah, is where we unite. The Star of David is representative of the number seven by counting 6 points plus the center. The number seven is very important in Judaism, one central reason being the commandment to observe the Sabbath (Shabbat): six days of Creation followed by the seventh day of rest.
The Magen David is often blue in color, as on the Israeli Flag. While the blue of the flag was chosen by man, blue is essential to the Biblical directive for the tzitzit (fringes) that men wear, one thread of each corner to be dipped into the extraordinary and rare blue techelet dye. “And they shall place upon the tzitzit of each corner a thread of techelet. And you shall look upon it and remember all of the commandments of Hashem and you shall do them," (Bamidbar 15:38, 39). As well, the design of the Israeli flag with two blue stripes on either side of the star was inspired by the “Tallit” (prayer shawl) which Jewish men of all persuasions wear during prayer. And when the time comes, in preparation for burial, this same Tallit, if it fits the specifications, may be used to wrap his purified body.
G-d Himself has been referred to as David’s Shield as seen from the Blessings of the Haftarah recited on Shabbat and Festivals ‘Blessed are You, HaShem, Shield of David’. When HaShem shielded David in battle and during his flight from Saul, King David was inspired to write these verses of Tehillim (Psalms) ‘Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation’ (18:36) and “He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him” (18:31)
It is no coincidence that the connection between our People and David’s Shield, the Star of David, is one of vast proportions. It is through David HaMelech’s progeny that Moshiach will arise and save us. Today, when the need for G-d’s protection and salvation is immeasurable, we must unite together in a mosaic of sweet harmony. As Rebbe Nachman, of blessed memory, said, “Every single Jew has in him a portion of God above” (Likutei Moharan 35:1). If we can just put our differences aside and gather all those sparks of holiness, the results will be astounding!
We each believe our way is the right way, which is acceptable as long as our goals are for the sake of Heaven. But if each one of us will commit to reaching out to someone with a differing view, and internalize that we are all brothers and sisters, we will merit altering the universe. In the end, when Moshiach comes to redeem us, he will bring with him all the answers we so desperately crave and we will finally unify in a world of Peace, Truth and HaShem’s Eternal Light. G-d willing, may it be soon in our days, amen!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
A Mouse in the House
There must be some spiritual reason I have yet to understand to explain why the strangest things happen to our family on Shabbat (the Sabbath). One instance I’m referring to is unwelcome intruders from nature. There is no doubt that the fact we live in a ground floor apartment with direct access to grass, trees and bushes facilitates their entry, but why do they always seek our attention on the holiest day of the week? Specifically when we are not allowed to capture or kill bugs or any living creature, they honor us with their presence. I can only attribute it to being a test from HaShem (G-d).
The knowledge that everything is for a reason became apparent Friday night two weeks ago when our daughter came home long after I had fallen asleep. Like most mothers who have some kind of built-in antennae when it comes to their children, I awoke when she arrived. Had I not gotten up to check on things soon thereafter, no one would have seen the humongous tarantula racing across the bathroom floor. I reflexively let out a shriek which launched my husband and daughter quickly from their beds. Thank G-d, the striped, furry creature crawled onto our washing machine which was less than a meter from the side door. A few strategic sweeps and several tense moments later, the arachnid was back in his own habitat. Instead of complaining that my sleep had been interrupted, I was able to sincerely thank HaShem for the disturbance.
The following week I was looking forward to a rejuvenating, early Shabbat sleep once again, but it was delayed as one of our sons spotted an unusual visitor in the living room. “Mom, there’s a mouse!” was all I needed to hear to get me to spring into action. The tiny grey mammal ran here and there until he scurried down the hall to the boys’ room. Instead of screaming and jumping onto a chair to evade the critter, I tried to get a closer look at him. He was actually quite cute. If rodents didn’t spread disease and leave droppings everywhere, I would have even invited him to stay awhile, but sadly it was the mouse which seemed distressed. He explored every possible exit route and found a dead end at each corner, all the while trying to avoid the ‘giants’ in the room. We wanted him out and he wanted out, but how? Finally, our son brought in a box to use but we were unsuccessful in luring him inside. It wasn’t until he escaped into a small bathroom that we were able to shut the door with the mouse and our son inside. Before long, our son came out proudly holding the box rattling with its live contents. He quickly rushed outside to release the frightened little mouse back into the wild.
Since each occurrence in our lives, no matter how seemingly insignificant or minute, has a purpose, I tried to think of what HaShem was trying to teach me with yet another Friday night Shabbat incident. I read that Rav Chaim Kanievsky, may he be blessed, instructed with regards to getting rid of mice, one must be stringent in giving maaser money (tithe – 10% of one’s earnings) to the poor. This was a valuable lesson, but we already got rid of the mouse so it didn’t really apply here. Also, the quandary involved not only a mouse, but all pint-sized creations which enter our home in error. While trying to decipher Divinely sent messages, I try to draw on my intuition but I realize we can never discount anything. Occasionally my perception is crystal clear and at other times, it’s as clear as mud.
In this case, several thoughts came to mind, but one which flashed in my head like a neon sign had significance for others as well. Both the tarantula and the mouse could slip through any teeny opening but the message they brought was larger than life. When they first crossed the threshold between their world and ours, they were filled with fear. Both were out of their element despite the fact that they could have certainly built their homes within ours. Had we left them alone, they may have easily created a comfortable living area, setting up an unobtrusive corner somewhere and live it up so to speak. Over time, there would have been families of both species creating generations of mice and tarantulas under our roof. Soon they would lose sight of where they came from and how they got there. Both should have been burrowing down in their natural dwelling places out in the field but somehow lost their way. For reasons known to G-d alone, they were sent into ‘exile’, to foreign territory just like all of our people who are scattered to the ‘four corners’ of the earth. Baruch HaShem, (thank G-d) humans are on a higher level than the rodents and spiders. Man does not act on instinct alone but through freedom of choice. Man can choose to make his home anywhere he desires, so doesn’t it make sense to live amongst his own people, in the land G-d gave to us?
Yes, it is a difficult decision to leave the comfortable corner we have set up for ourselves in someone else’s house, but it CAN be done. To quote from Sichot HaRan #11 (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom) “The Rebbe said he had great joy of being worthy to have been in the Land of Israel. He endured many obstacles, doubts, delays and disturbances in order to make his journey to the Land of Israel. Money was also an obstacle. But he overcame everything and finished the job completely—he made it to the Land of Israel!
He said, “I believe—and I know a lot about this subject—.every motion, every thought, everything that one does attempting to do something holy is not wasted. When one breaks through all the obstacles and achieves his holy goal, his every move and all the uncertainties and confusion that he faced when he was still in the throes of doubt and bewilderment—‘Can I do this or not?’—with hurdles facing him at every turn; when one finally overcomes them, those very obstacles, doubts, etc., every last one of them, are all made into exalted and sacred things, marked for good.” (from Ask A Breslover, by Ozer Bergman)
The first week after we made aliya to Israel, our daughter got terribly sick with what turned out to be a common case of strep throat. A friend told me that everything in the Land is bigger and much more intense; the illnesses, the bugs, the plants, the weather but also the Kedusha (holiness). I found that to be true as I have witnessed extremes in all areas of life since coming ‘Home’. I have never seen such weird and gigantic insects nor as beautiful and unique birds as I have here. I can also report that nowhere in the world are the miracles as huge, frequent and obvious…. at least to anyone who chooses to see them. One phenomenon that is actually reduced in Israel is fear. With a strengthening of our emuna and a complete reliance on HaShem, Israel becomes the safest place in the world. As Rabbi Lazer Brody says “When you fear One, you fear no one”.
So don’t be stuck like a mouse in the house. Just as mice and tarantulas don’t belong in our homes, the Jewish people don’t belong in any other land but Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. There’s no time like the present to cross back over the threshold. Your family is waiting to welcome you home!
(first published on Breslev.co.il)
(first published on Breslev.co.il)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Dodging Disaster
Give thanks to HaShem for He is good, for His kindness endures forever!
Oftentimes we are presented with terrible difficulties in life while occasionally we receive HaShem’s abundant mercies. When the latter occurs, especially in a miraculous manner, it can be overwhelming as one tries to comprehend the enormity of the gift. Saying that one would be thankful is an understatement as there are no words to adequately express the profound appreciation one feels. Our Rabbis teach the importance of publicizing a miracle as we see particularly from Chanukah when we are commanded to place our Chanukah Menorah in public view. Purim is another example of a spectacular event we expose openly. In light of this, I would like to relate one such personal occurrence.
Our son, Uri, and his friend, Noam, went on a post-army trip to work in Australia for a few months with a bit of touring planned for the route home ~ New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand. After being in Australia for 3 months, Noam left for New Zealand while Uri and a new friend, Itzik, planned to meet Noam there a few weeks later.
It was Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011, יח` אדר א. I don’t usually sleep late in the morning, but this particular day I wasn’t yet awake at 8 something when our oldest daughter called. I was able to say Modeh Ani while my husband brought me the phone which quickly jolted me out of my drowsiness. If the phone could vibrate emotions, it would be shaking with distress. The urgency in my daughter’s voice was palpable as she began speaking. She had just been in touch with Uri who was heading to New Zealand during the night, our time. After this short disclaimer, she asked if I had heard the news. There had been a major earthquake in New Zealand but Baruch HaShem, Uri was fine. As with every grave incident which is too close for comfort, I thought to myself, what were the chances of them being exactly where the earthquake struck anyway, so why all the anxiety? Little did I know that our daughter had also spoken to Uri the previous day during which he informed her of his plans; Uri and Itzik were to meet Noam in Chrixxchurch, the precise location of massive destruction. The death toll was already at 65 with more expected. (Sadly, the final tally of confirmed dead eventually rose to 182). All morning we were anxiously waiting to hear about Noam, praying for his safety, since he hadn’t contacted his family yet, probably due to problems with communications in general. B”H he contacted them a couple of hours later.
The boys were all safe and sound, thank G-d, so we could breathe a sigh of relief. Why then did I spend the whole morning crying? I was not sobbing from sorrow, though my heart went out to the victims and their families. On the contrary; my emotions were enormously intense as I was engulfed with a deep sense of gratitude, the depth of which I had never experienced before. On the surface it appeared to be a personally uneventful day, give or take a couple hours of uneasiness. The facts tell a different story however, via a succession of events which could only have been orchestrated by G-d Himself.
Uri and Itzik were scheduled to fly to New Zealand but their flight was significantly delayed for unknown reasons. They were finally aboard the plane headed for New Zealand, due to land shortly, when the earthquake occurred resulting in the airport closure. Despite the proximity to their destination, the plane was forced to turn around mid-air. They refueled in Tasmania and flew back to Australia.
Had they met as planned, they probably would have all been in that building when it went down. Thank G-d for His Great Mercy, Who spared them through so many miracles.
When I pondered the significance of all that transpired, it also occurred to me that if HaShem can do anything, and in His infinite compassion He chose to save our boys from this calamity, He could have simply prevented the building from falling on them, saving them from injury even in the midst of all the destruction. Instead of several individual miracles, one collective miracle would have done the same job, so why all the extra ‘work’? It didn’t take much deliberation to conclude that like anything else G-d does for our benefit, it is not merely the end result which is His gift to us, but also the hidden messages within it. Yes, their survival was the ultimate reward, but HaShem was personally guiding the boys with His staff of life. These exclusive miracles were uniquely designed for each of the boys to grab hold of and to learn from, tailor made to lead them on their own path. With the snowball effect kicking in, it was also a lesson for each one of us who loves and cares about them, bringing us to introspection of our own. The whole episode strengthened my emuna and reconfirmed my confidence in HaShem’s active presence in our lives. To know that G-d is constantly with us can be difficult to internalize, but when one has the privilege of seeing His unbelievable wonders, it adds more credence to our beliefs. Recognizing that He was protecting my beloved son so many miles away, I was able to relax in the comfort of His loving arms, the serenity of which was consoling beyond compare. As the words of thanks poured from my lips to my Heavenly Father, I also understood that this miracle must be shared with others for encouragement and inspiration.
The following day, Uri and Itzik boarded the first available flight to New Zealand to meet their friend, Noam. Since there were no youth hostels or hotels open in Chrixxchurch after the quake and the Chabad House was severely damaged, they decided to head south to do some sightseeing. I had originally been against Uri’s trip but when I saw the beautiful pictures he took, I realized that not everything is black and white. While in essence, a carefree, aimless vacation appears to be a waste of precious time, it allowed him to witness many of G-d’s creations first hand. Observing the beauty of such magnificent landscape and wildlife was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was genuinely happy that he had the opportunity to partake of it (all within the boundaries of Halacha [Jewish Law], of course).
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| Photo Credit - col@col.org.il |
It is astounding to replay the succession of happenings which shadowed Uri’s trail. Whither he went, devastation followed as he seemed to dodge one disaster after another:
January – While in Australia, the country was faced with unprecedented storms and flooding. People lost their homes and some lost their lives. Uri was in Melbourne most of the time, while the flooding occurred mainly on the other coast.
February – The New Zealand earthquake as stated above.
March 6th – Still in New Zealand they were in a town called Kaikoura. By 4 p.m. they left to head inland to Queenstown. At 4:43 p.m. a quake hit the area 20-kilometres east of Kaikoura. There were no reports of damage, but rocks fell onto State Highway One about 17 km north of Kaikoura.
March 11th, a huge 9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan with a powerful tsunami resulting in thousands of deaths and bringing the nuclear power plants to the brink of total meltdown. Thank G-d he had no plans to visit Japan.
Thursday, March 24th - Uri was in the air on his way from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Thailand when an earthquake shook Myanmar (Burma), just north of Thailand and was felt in Bangkok as well. The death toll rose to 74 people with at least 111 injured.
Sunday, April 3rd - The day Uri left Phuket for Bangkok, another earthquake hit the region, this time south of Thailand in Indonesia near Chrixxmas Island with a tsunami warning issued.
These miracles cannot just be swept under the rug as natural phenomena. As stated before, we each have an obligation to find the sublime meaning in all incidents affecting our lives. The righteous Baal Shem Tov zt’l once said, “Every single thing that a person sees or hears is an instruction to him in his conduct in the service of G-d”. Beyond that, one can also see a definite trend in the movement of the world as a whole and the messages HaShem is trying to transmit to humanity… if we will only open our eyes and ears. We each have our role to play in the grand scheme of things. I can only pass on what I believe to be inspiring; what you do with that knowledge is up to you. What I do know is that the Master of the Universe does nothing without a reason and without His protection we are but dust beneath the rubble.
Deuteronomy 11:26 states “See, I give you today a blessing and a curse". Life’s journey is a constant battle between good and evil, between our yetzer tov and our yetzer hara. If we use our experiences and awareness wisely to fulfill G-d’s Will, through complete and sincere emuna, we will have the power to turn all the bad of the world into a state of Divine perfection. When this challenge is finally met, our genuine, earnest thoughts and actions will enable Moshiach to finally proclaim his long-awaited arrival.
May we all merit to behold a world overflowing with continuous Wonders and Miracles, soon in the coming days, Amen.
(this article first appeared on Breslev.co.il)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Think Again!
Our enemy has done it again. They are trying to achieve their goals by using insane, inhuman, reprehensible and cowardly acts. The so-called relative calm has once again been shattered with yesterdays bombing in our Holy City of Jerusalem. One beloved soul has been returned to her Maker and many others are injured, some seriously. The truth is, there was never any quiet in the first place since terror has been constant within our Land for years. Countless attempts at violence occur on a daily basis but rarely make the news thanks to our amazing security (with G-d’s Help, of course) by foiling any attempts before they actually do damage. This may have been the first explosion in the heart of our Capital in several years, but we are not strangers to these nightmare occurrences. We are barely recovering from the shock and outrage over the horrific murders of five members of the righteous Fogel family, leaving three precious orphans to fend for themselves. To call these executioners animals is far too kind as there are no words in the English language to adequately describe such monsters.
As difficult as it is to say, despite all the pain, we can find some good in these events. Just knowing that HaShem is running the show and it is all for a purpose can give us resolve to push on and continue to live our lives without fear. The best part is knowing that our enemy is losing their battle. They think that by maiming us and planting panic into our hearts we will give up one of HaShem's sacred gifts that is so dear to us, our treasured Homeland. They think that by murdering us and causing our souls to ache with grief, we will be forced out of the Land that we are destined to settle. Well, they can think again!
Their seriously misguided tactics are like a sharp, metal boomerang ready to rebound and cut off their own heads. The more they push us, the stronger we become. They more they relentlessly strive to divide us, the more united we grow. Where we once bickered over trivial differences, we now devotedly care for one another with a re-born intensity. Sadly, it takes a crisis to bring us together. G-d willing, we will build, we will prosper and we will firmly defend our right to our Home. And most importantly, we will attain this objective as one loving family, united under G-d. Perhaps that is all HaShem really wants!
Be strong and courageous; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them.(6) Be strong and courageous; be not frightened, neither be thou dismayed: for the L-RD thy G-d is with thee wherever thou goest.'(9) (Joshua 1:6 and 1:9)
(This blog post is dedicated to the memory of those who have lost their lives just for being Jews living in the Land of Israel)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
It's all for the best
Words of wisdom. Read what Rabbi Lazer Brody shlit'a has to say about the situation today and what we can do about it:
Thursday, 03 March 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Message in the Rain
I know I’m a bit of a fanatic but I decided to go out for my daily walk today, despite the pouring rain. I really love the rain (which we desperately need) and I needed the walk, so what could be better? It’s only water, after all. Yesterday I was caught in a downpour and came home drenched, but I had a great time in the process. Unusual things make me happy these days….
I ventured out with my boots, coat, scarf and an umbrella in hand. As I started walking, the rain intensified and began coming down in torrents. Rather than return to the comfort of home, I kept plowing along, enjoying every second of it. I actually tried to begin some hitbodedut (personal prayer) but I couldn’t get past an idea which was taking form in my mind. The intense rain and the current news were so conjoined it was flashing before me like a beacon of light. To sum up the events of the past few days in a few sentences is not simple, but I will give my take on it in condensed form. Basically, Islamic radical groups, being egged on by Iran, have been stirring up trouble in all the Arab countries surrounding Israel. First, Lebanon was taken over by Hezbollah and now Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is being pushed from power by mobs of wild protesters, anxious to overthrow his government. As of today, he is still holding his own, but it’s only a matter of time. The same chaos it threatening Jordan, but so far it is just a taunt. From what I have read, there is a possibility that even Syria may be provoked by the same hooligans, controlled like puppets by Iran’s Ahmadinejad. Twitter, Facebook and Al Jazeera win prizes for spreading the word in record time to the maximum number of followers, all haters of Israel who pray for our destruction.
And then there is the rain; beautiful, torrential and miraculous rain. It is said that rain is a blessing from HaShem. He will only provide rains for our land “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield her produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land (Leviticus 26: 3-6)
I know that a good majority of our People do not abide by what is written above, observing the commandments as we are required to do, but I also know that we do not understand the ways of HaShem, nor the balance of Justice in the Heavenly Courts. These rains that are saturating our parched land are a sure sign that G-d loves us. I believe that He is sending us this blessing as a message to those that can ‘see’ it. He is telling us not to worry. Our Father in Heaven will take care of us and provide for us, despite what is happening on all sides of our borders. No man, no nation nor any missile can hurt us as long as we trust in HaShem for He is our true Protector. The sooner everyone wakes up and sees this truth the better, for it’s only a matter of time.....
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
High School Poems
This is something a little different. I am going to write down some of my poems from high school. I have them on fading paper so this is a good way to save them (unless cyberspace crashes one day). Anyway, I am posting some of them, but please note that I was not as depressed as I sound in some of these poems. And especially now after so many years, thank G-d for emuna, Torah and HaShem! These poems no longer represent who I am. Here we go:
Sleep
Relaxation,
rest,
thoughts swirling around.
A jumble of memories,
the future,
and now.
Tossing,
turning,
again and again,
Sorting the "Where"
the "Who" and
and the "When"
Darkness,
stillness,
muscles relax.
Mind keeps on working,
assembling
the facts.
Exhaustion,
fatigue,
drowsiness comes.
Gliding, the mind slides,
murmurs,
hums.
Muscles,
tendons,
physically weak,
Brain always working,
now records:
"Sleep"
The Depths of Darkness
The sky is dark,
The moon is grey,
But through the mist
I see the way.
A star beyond
Is coming near,
It shines quite bright
To stop all fear.
Now I can't see
The dark of night,
For I'm blinded by
The warming light.
Who is to Blame?
Once I had a little doll,
What was her name?
Amy? No. Sue? No.
Oh, what does it matter.
I was given her to look after.
She had no mind;
I gave her mine.
She had no feelings or expressions;
Mine were hers.
She was bad,
I spanked her.
She was good,
I was happy.
I fed her,
But she never ate...
She grew up anyways,
Or at least
I did!
Now she knew right from wrong.
She always listened.
She was an obedient child,
Always listened.
Finally, I set her up on her shelf to live
for herself.
I checked in on her,
Never changing her habits.
Then I changed.
I became more mature,
My wisdom grew with experience.
Then I noticed when I checked again -
She had not changed,
But she was
doing
wrong!
I had taught her.
She listened well.
The Elastic
An elastic,
So flexible yet so brittle.
My mind,
Same as this rubbery band.
So many forces,
Stretching,
Pulling,
Exerting all their energy
Upon this mangled, jumble of life.
Opposing strengths
Tugging
Hopelessly
In all directions,
Desperate to put the protrusion on their side.
But force is inhuman,
How could it know,
Or be expected to see
That it surrounds
and strangles
its purpose?
How could it know....
Elastics break!
Tile
Ok, this next one was a project for school. We had to sit at our desks and look at something and write a poem about it. This is what I came up with:
A tile on the floor,
Lonely and alone,
Within, lie numerous,
multicolored,
multi-shapes.
All but one.... a three dimensional metal piece
of something!
A piece of what?
Me!
A representative of me;
Alone yet surrounded by everyone!
Not me you say?
You say there's a compatible shape beside
piece of something?
The piece of me?
Oh I see it!
It's right there next to me - I mean next to the piece of something.
Then when I reach out....
Why is it gone?
It was never really there.
Was it?
There are more, but these are enough. I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane. We all change... G-d willing for the better. Baruch HaShem!
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