By the Grace of G-d
Dear Friend, A surreal story. If I wouldn’t have heard it from the person it happened to, it would be hard to believe. Why did I even get to hear the story? Perhaps that too is part of the story. A neighbor of ours from Melbourne Australia passed away in a tragic work accident just short of his sixty ninth birthday. He was well known to be a benevolent man. Moreover, quietly, behind the scenes he did many nice things that nobody new about. Personally I felt a strong sense of gratitude to him for a significant favor he did for our family just before they relocated to the States. It’s almost thirty years later. The family was taking him for burial in Israel. They called me to ask about kosher food and minyanim for Kadish for their one-day transit earlier this week in Bangkok. I went to Chabad House to ensure the minyan for Mincha and offered to take the family to the airport later that night to catch their midnight flight to Israel. While waiting till it was time to head out to the airport, I sat down in the Chabad House restaurant to absorb the bustling atmosphere and have some dinner. I got to see the touching sight of a tour-group comprising of handicapped men and women coming to eat at the restaurant (picture below). The positive and energized group leader said that she works for an organization called ‘Hotze Gvulot’. They provide tours to those handicapped, allowing them to participate in overseas travel experiences despite their handicaps. It was heartwarming to see how much they were enjoying their trip. I was honored and gratified to be able to welcome them and share some words with them. (The group leader said that their organization also provides wheelchairs for those who cannot afford it here in Thailand. If you know someone local who needs a wheelchair, please contact Mrs. Merav Shaibi). Then a wiry Israeli man who I would guess was in his sixties, came rushing in. He excused himself for interrupting a conversation I was having with someone at my table and told me the following story: In the early eighties I was on a clandestine mission for Israel that required me to be totally cut off from my family and friends for more than a year and a half. Only my mother knew where I was. My father Levi, worked for the Chabad Yeshiva in Migdal Haemek as the cook. He was an industrious worker and never took time off. One day he came to the head of the Yeshiva and told him that he must go rest as he suddenly feels really unwell. It was uncharacteristic of my father but he just felt so ill that he went to bed. My father fell asleep and had a dream. In the dream he sensed that I was being killed. The Lubavitcher Rebbe (whose picture was in the dining hall of the yeshiva) then appeared in his dream and reassured him that his son would be alright. He awoke, and told the dream to his wife who was upset and perturbed. It was reassuring to them that the Rebbe had assured him that their son would be alright. Around that time, I was discovered and barely managed to get back to Israel alive. Wounded and beaten I had one request of my superiors. I must meet the person who almost killed me, who had in the meantime been apprehended. When I met the man who could have easily killed me, I asked him in Arabic ‘why didn’t you kill me’. ‘I was within reach of you, without any energy left to run’. To which he responded ‘didn’t you see the ‘bearded man’ who held me back and didn’t let me finish you?’. I didn’t know what he was talking about. I thought perhaps the other people in the room were a disturbance to him saying the truth. I asked for everybody to leave. It was just me and him looking at each other in the eyes. Again I asked him why he didn’t kill me. Again he responded that someone had held him back. He again explained to me that a dignified man with a beard had held him back and not allowed him to kill me’. The teller of this story told me that his name is now Rami. Rami showed me how he still got goosebumps when he told the story, as it was so clear to him that his father’s dream of the Rebbe reassuring his safety indeed came to fruition. Rami, apologized that he was in a rush and couldn’t elaborate more. The reason he had rushed in to tell me the story is because the Rabbi at the Migdal Hae’emek yeshiva had told him to tell the miraculous story to any disciple of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that he meets. So he felt bound to that commitment and having seen me sitting close to the door of the Chabad House, he came in to share the story with me. Off he disappeared into the bustling Kaosarn night scene leaving me to my thoughts…and here I am sharing his words with you…. The tradition of telling miraculous stories has a twofold goal. First of all, it reminds us that one should never give up, even when all seems lost. G-d’s salvation can come as quickly and unexpectedly as the blink of an eye. He – with a capital H – often obscures His presence. Yet at other times it’s as if the very Heavens have opened and one gets a glimpse of His direct and detailed involvement in the minutiae of our lives. Additionally, I see an inherent message in this story that defines Jewish leadership. That a ‘spirit’ of a saintly tzadik can be sent on missions by G-d to save his flock is quite well documented. A similar story that took place around twenty three hundred years ago is recorded in the Talmud about Shimon the Tzadik. In 3448, Alexander marched through the land of Israel, bringing Persian rule to an end. Filled with trepidation, the Jews sent a delegation of Kohanim led by Shimon HaTzadik, all dressed in their priestly raiments. Upon approaching Alexander, they were astounded when the great conqueror prostrated himself before Shimon! When asked the reason for such inexplicable behavior, Alexander replied that before his battles a vision of Shimon appeared to him promising victory. After arising, Alexander promised to treat the Jews benignly. In appreciation, the Jewish people honored Alexander in two very special ways. First, all male Kohanim (according to some opinions, all male Jews) born that year would be named Alexander. Second, a new dating system for documents would be instituted, one based on Alexander's rule. This system was known as Minyan Shtaros and lasted more than 1,000 years. The above Talmudic miraculous story was for the benefit of the general community of the people of Israel. The leader of the Jewish people – Shimon Hatzadik – is no doubt deeply vested in activities on behalf of the general community. What touches me more deeply about the new story I head this week, is that the miracle happened for one person. The miracle involving the Jewish leader happened for one solitary Jewish man. A heroic man, to be sure. Putting his life on the line for the people of Israel. But ultimately it was one individual. The story highlights that a true Jewish leader cares, prays and elicits G-d’s miracles even for individuals. Moshe, our first leader, was chosen by G-d for his care to a little lamb that had strayed from the herd he was shepherding. Thus was created the everlasting definition of true Jewish leadership. Caring for the individual who is under your stewardship as well as for the general community. To care for every individual that you are responsible for, you have to NOTICE and SEE those often overlooked individuals. Ever heard of ‘inattentional blindness’? It means when you don’t notice something that is right in front of you because your mind simply hides it from your attention. Many people I know would help someone IF THEY NOTICED that they needed help. The tragedy is that so many people simply never notice. Moshe noticed and cared even for a lamb under his responsibility. He was chosen as the quintessential Jewish leader. A hard act to follow. To be a Jewish leader is not about being voted as being most popular. It’s a G-d given mission. To care, fret, uplift, inspire and lead by example the entire community. The community as a community and each and every one individually. We can and should endeavor to emulate and imitate this characteristic. Leadership today is such a challenging topic. There is a dearth of real leadership. Too many leaders only see their own special-interest groups. Their own similarly minded group of friends within the larger group they are supposed to care for and lead. Maybe somehow we can convince leaders to see EVERYONE they are responsible for. To care. To want to make a difference. But let us not make this a lesson for others. For the leadership ‘out there in the halls of governments’. It’s a lesson for me. And it’s a lesson for you. For after all, we are all leaders in some way. In our own environments. Some larger in quantity, but all require the same leadership qualities. Don’t fall victim to ‘inattentional blindness’. Make an effort to notice ALL the people around you. To empathize with them. Try to get a sense of how you can make their lives happier and more meaningful. You may even be able to help them get a few steps forward in their health or finances. Who knows, you may even end up saving a life! Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Yosef Kantor
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