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Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126  rablenblank@gmail.com
***Thursday December 28, 2023, Teves , 5783***
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This Issue of Moments of Inspiration is being dedicated for the refuah sheleima
for a good chaver Alter Yosef Aryeh Leib ben Nechama Yenta,
Alter Yosef Peretz, President of the Bialystoker Shul

אלתר ‘וסף אר’ה ל’ב בן נחמה ‘ענטע
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Kindness, goodness, achdus, Kiddush H, Shalom Al Yisrael, Am Yisrael Chai,
Chaveirim Kol Yisrael, Torah, Avoda and Gemilus Chasadim.

Moshe Feder who gave up his first class airplane seat for a very special person.

“Boosting Our Faith.”
Preparing For The Coming of Moshiach.

Ambassador of H and Klal Yisrael

Kiddush H

Bringing smiles to the staff at the medical center.

Achdus with Klal Yisrael. Saying Tehillim for Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael and
how comforting it is knowing Klal Yisrael is saying Tehillim for all cholim.
Additional hope with the Ribono shel Olam.

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When I recently visited several patients at NYU Langone Medical Center in NYC, I greeted staff with season’s greetings and good wishes for a good year. Everyone thanked me, wished me well and shared their appreciation for my greetings and kind words. Two groups of staff actually responded with how sweet and nice I was for the kind words I said including my emphasizing the kindness they give to the patients. They all gave me big smiles. We often don’t realize the impact we can make and the positive impression we give. Most of all the important Kiddush H as goodwill ambassadors of H and Klal Yisrael.

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     A remarkable story of how an act of kindness can turn into a Kiddush H.

From the Yated Ne’eman December 22, 2023, Page 69 Living Kiddush H by Rabbi Shraga Freedman. “Moshe Feder from Lakewood, NJ, was waiting for his flight in Newark Airport when an announcement reverberated over the public address system, “Ladies and gentlemen,” an airline employee intoned into her microphone, “we have the honor of having a 96-year-old former soldier on this flight who served as a lieutenant during World War ll. This gentleman will be seated in row 15, and he would certainly appreciate it if you would approach him and thank him for his service to the country.” 

As far as Moshe was concerned this was a signal for him to act. He rose from his seat and approached the flight attendant at the desk. “I have a first class ticket, “he informed her, “and I would like to offer it to the former army lieutenant. I would be happy to switch seats with him.”

The woman was amazed and delighted by his offer. Picking up her microphone again, she announced excitedly, “Ladies and gentlemen, the passenger standing in front of me has just offered to give up his first class seat for the former lieutenant.

After the passengers had boarded the plane, she escorted Moshe to the first class section to introduce him to the former soldier, who thanked Moshe profusely for his kindness.

Since he was seated in the economy section rather than at the front of the plane, it took Moshe a bit longer than usual to disembark. When he finally made it through the airport and reached the car rental office where he was scheduled to pick up a vehicle, he somehow caught the attention of another customer, who spotted the logo on his employer, Modular Closets, on his shirt. “Excuse me,” the man said, “but do you install closets in apartment buildings?” 

Moshe confirmed that he did, and the man introduced himself as the manager of a major company that owned multiple residential buildings. Moshe had to suppress a twinge of excitement. His own company had been trying for years to attract this particular real estate company as a customer, and an encounter with a representative of the company had practically landed in his lap! That meeting marked the beginning of a business relationship that was to continue for years to come.

“The only reason I met that person, “Moshe later reflected, “was because I had been delayed for those extra few minutes after giving up my seat. That was what led us to run into each other exactly at the right moment. I saw this as a reward from H for the kiddush H I performed on that flight.”

If a person keeps his eyes open, he will spot many opportunities for Kiddush H.”

Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the educational director of Living Kiddush H Foundation and the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush H and A Life Worth Living. Email LivingKiddushHashem@gmail.com for a free download of the sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources.

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There are many events taking place not just in the world but locally where we are saying Moshiach must be coming soon. The turmoil between and amongst nations are enough to state Moshiach must come soon. The many protests, some of them shouting, hurtful and violent slogans are truly frightening.  Recently, I wrote about machlokes in Eretz Yisrael and elsewhere amongst our brethren and it must not occur. There are thousands who have returned to their Jewish heritage, wearing tztzis and tefillim, observing kashruth, tefillah, learning the Daf, and many other mitzvos.  We are all brothers and sisters. We have one G and one Torah. It is unbelievable how strong our achdus must be to ensure the coming of Moshiach. The following is from an article by Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteiman zt”l found in the Yated Ne’eman December 22, 2023 page 44. “Boosting Our Faith” “What does it mean that the entire world is entering a new situation? Rav Shteinman explained that when Moshiach arrives, there will be a major change in the world order. That is why the nations are fighting with each other: to test Klal Yisroel and to indicate to us that we must take hold of ourselves and strengthen ourselves. If we pass this test, the entire world will move on to the next stage: the coming of Moshiach. And if that is true when the nations of the world fight each other, it is certainly true when they fight Klal Yisroel. The hostility against the Jewish people certainly signals that Moshiach is on his way. We must prepare ourselves for the ultimate geulah by learning Torah and davening with greater intensity, and by engaging in teshuvah and good deeds.

Nevertheless, Rav Shteiman pointed out, we are required to await Moshiach’s arrival every day. What does it mean, then, when Chazal tell us to look out for Moshiach’s arrival specifically at a time of war between nations? Aren’t we supposed to be waiting for Moshiach in any event? 

Rav Shteiman explained that this means that there is a greater obligation to have faith in Moshiach’s coming at such a time, which transcends the usual requirement to anticipate his arrival. (This does not mean that Moshiach will certainly come at such a time. After all, there have been many conflicts between nations in the past and Moshiach hasn’t yet arrived. Nevertheless, we must increase our hope that we will have the privilege of greeting him soon.)

“Although we are always required to strengthen ourselves and work on bolstering our avodas H, there are sometimes when we must do so to a greater degree than others,” Rav Shteiman explained in a discussion that took place during the Gulf War. “For instance, during the period of the Yomim Noraim, we are expected to be even more diligent than usual in our service of H and to undertake more kabbolos than at other times. The Shulchan Aruch states that even if a person does not abstain from pas akum throughout the year, he should refrain from consuming it during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. Even though we are always supposed to behave in a proper fashion, it is human nature to  fall at times, but at a time when we are being judged, we must change our behavior and strengthen ourselves more than usual. At this time, when nations are at war with each other, we can see that there has been a change in the world. We are in an unusual situation, and it is impossible to know what will happen. In such cases, however, a person can always work to improve himself, to increase his emunah, his Torah learning and his yiras Shomayim. This is the call of the hour, and it is a vital thing to do, since we do not know what the immediate future will bring.

“This process must begin with the belief that H is the sole Power controlling the universe. We must know that nothing occurs in the world without being decreed by His Hashgacha. As a result, we should be increasing our Torah learning. The situation today has caused some lazness, but we must make every effort to redouble our Torah learning and mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro. The more we improve our actions, the more we can hope H will help Klal Yisroel experience great things, and we will truly receive our final redemption.”

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HOPE and ACHDUS

How comforting it is to have those who truly care about me and my loved one.

How comforting it is to know my close and dear supportive friends, neighbors, rabbis and family care so much for my loved one and myself. 

How comforting it is to know that my supportive group will do anything to be of help but are understanding, non-intrusive, non-invasive but there for either of us whenever we need any of them for their spiritual, emotional and any other support we might need- even at the spur of the moment. 

Most of all, how comforting it is to know we are never alone. We are always in the presence of the Ribono shel Olam. We also know each and everyone who knows us and those who don’t have my loved one in their prayers and me too.

It is also comforting to know that whatever assistance is needed, help is on the way 24/7. 

This is the wonderful achdus of Klal Yisrael- caring, loving, whatever and whenever but never being intrusive and always with sensitivity and sincerity. 

May Hakadosh Baruch Hu bring a refuah to all cholim with His blessings for the cholim and their loved ones.

All of the above and more gives me HOPE. 

“Yehiyu leratzon imrei fi vehegyon libi lefanecha H tzuri vegoali.”

“May they find favor the expressions of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart before You H my Rock and my Redeemer.” Artscroll Siddur,  Mesorah Publications Ltd.

Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank