By the Grace of G-d
Dear Friend,
The Chagim, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana are now several weeks behind us.
The ‘regular’ year has begun.
The exciting events, sumptuous festive holiday meals and hours immersed in praying, study and holy camaraderie of last month are a warm memory.
Back to 9-5 work.
That is no reason to feel like you are living a life of drudgery.
The best way to live every day of our lives is joyously.
What motivates this joy?
A brief meditation on the following should put a bounce in your step, a smile on your lips and a cheery tune humming in your mind.
Life is one long series of interactions with Hashem in the world that He created.
He has appointed us as His agents to transform the world into an abode for Him.
If landing your ‘dream job’ in the workplace and getting a humungous pay package makes you feel good, when you work for Almighty G-d how much more should you be happy and joyous above and beyond.
What an epic honor, pleasure and privilege to be given a mission by G-d to transform our material world into the Garden of Hashem that it is destined to become.
It is a good reason to dance. Literally.
Yet, we all know the realities of life and especially the unprecedented times we live in. Admittedly, this can make being happy quite challenging.
Let me share some of the lessons I learned from contemporary heroes this week.
Earlier this week Avi Borenstein shared the story of the life of his eldest son Ori Moshe hyd.
The talk was titled ‘From Ostrowiec to Har Hertzl – a bereaved parent’s hsperspective on Israel at war and Am Yisrael’.
Ostrowiec is the village in Poland from which Avi’s family comes. The Jews were all taken to Treblinka to the extermination camp. Avi’s father survived and recently celebrated his one hundredth birthday in Toronto.
Har Hertzl is the site of Israel's main military cemetery.
Tragically, two days before Yom Kippur, Ori Moshe was killed in Gaza at the young age of 32 as his convoy came under enemy fire.
After his death a letter that he wrote to his younger brother surfaced. There are many life lessons to be gleaned from that letter.
Avi, who travels the world for business, has made it his mission to share with others the inspiration that his son shared during his lifetime. From a busy day at a trade show in Bangkok he hurried over to the Chabad House to give his talk.
I was mesmerized by Ori’s father Avi. Here is a father, who lost his son three weeks ago, that is actively and energetically spreading encouragement and hope. He is a man with a mission to share life lessons to be gleaned from his sons honesty, caring and searching for deeper relationship with G-d and Torah. Avi has revealed his indomitable faith and spirit and is using his grief in a positive way by creating an impact and inspiring others to bring more light and goodness to the world.
From where does he take the strength to keep going with energy and positivity?
Clearly his neshama (soul) that is referred to as a ‘candle of G-d’ is fueling his unshakeable belief and devotion to Hashem and Am Yisrael.
Let me share another story I heard this week.
Oriyah lost so many friends on October 7th that he felt compelled to run away from the memories that haunted him in Israel. He spent the last year traveling in Thailand.
He spent many a Shabbat at Chabad House in Bangkok with Rabbi Nechemya.
On the first night of Simchat Torah during the dancing, R’ Nechemya noticed that Oriyah was not there.
The next day at the meal he asked him where he was.
Oriyah told him ‘I just couldn’t dance. My memory took me back to the horrendous losses that I suffered, and I ran out of the Synagogue to my room’.
Rabbi Nechemya told him ‘Tonight there is a second night of Simchat Torah dancing. Please join in the dancing even for a very short while. When you feel you have had enough and can’t dance any more, please come to give me a hug before you go’.
Bolstered by this hug even before it was given, Oriyah danced and danced and danced that second night of Simchat Torah till the dancing finished.
He came to R’ Nechemya the next day and thanked him for the gift of healing. He had thought he could never dance again but on that night of Simchat Torah he found the inner strength to proclaim his love to Hashem and His Torah together with Am Yisrael.
Oriyah said he felt uplifted, inspired and ready to resume the trajectory of resuming his life in Israel. The next day he flew back home to rebuild his life and please G-d start a family.
These stories among so many others touch me deeply.
They are stories of deep tragedy.
Generational suffering.
As well as a story of resilience.
The unbelievable inner strength of the heroic People of Israel to continue to dance with the Torah against all odds.
A story that depicts the journey that Am Yisrael has been making for the thousands of years of our history.
In this week's Parsha named ‘go’ ‘lech’ we find the beginning of our journey. Avraham is told by Hashem to leave his land and go to the land ‘which I will show you’.
Avraham and his wife Sara arrive in Israel (Canaan at the time) and immediately a famine hits the land. They need to go to Egypt to find food.
Rather than start questioning G-d they simply continue to journey.
Avraham's life is filled with challenge but it is also filled with deep faith, benevolence and proactive outreach that transmits a joyous positive message as we relive the events in the parsha.
His namesake in 2024 Avi ( = Avraham) Borenstein continues in that special path forged by our forefather.
I feel humbled and inspired by Avi’s greatness.
And the greatness of the other bereaved parents, spouses, children and friends in the ‘club’ that he represents.
Israel is filled with contemporary heroes who have lost loved ones.
Heroes who are putting their lives on the line to protect our people.
Families whose husbands and fathers have spend the better part of last year in ‘milu’im’ army service.
I am inspired by my brethren in Israel who live in a constant state of alert for incoming missiles and projectiles.
Under the greatest of challenges, the spirit in the country of Israel and in Am Yisrael as a whole, is one of positivity, unity and mutual responsibility.
The ‘hit song’ that is wildly popular in Israel today has the following lyrics:
‘Hashem always loves me and always makes sure that I will have only good. And even better, and yet better….’
השם יתברך תמיד אוהב אותי, ותמיד יהיה לי רק טוב. ועוד יותר טוב ועוד יותר טוב...
This is the Jewish story.
A story of indomitable trust in Hashem.
A story of care, compassion and love.
A story of joy and positivity no matter the circumstances.
It may be scary out there, but if we stick together, we are unbreakable, and we have G-d’s promise that He will bring Mashiach and Peace will reign in the world.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yosef Kantor