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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 January 11, 2024, Teves 1, 5783=
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The impact we make can be immense and long lasting.
Two Lubavitcher Sheluchim and the Rabbi
The plane that took off but returned for two special passengers.
The tafkid of a Yid is to bring light to the world.
The world is topsy turvey. Moshiach must be just around the corner or
maybe on the block.
Parshas Vaeira, the four cups of wine – H Yisbarach will bring the redemption.
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Two weeks ago, my doorbell rang. There were two Lubavitcher Sheluchim. I greeted them and asked what brought them to my apartment. They wanted to meet Rabbi Blank who they heard so much about from unaffiliated Jewish neighbors. They would visit residents in the various buildings, sharing meaningful stories and pamphlets with them. The neighbors told them they already know of a rabbi who lives in their building and shared with them some nice things about that rabbi – me. They were pleasantly surprised but surmised he must be orthodox the positive light what that the neighbors shared about him. I was delighted to hear of the positive impact I made. I knew I had good relationships and meaningful interactions with Jewish community residents of diverse affiliations. I met some of the community residents at the shul and at the at the nursing and rehabilitation facility where I was also the rabbi. Many of those community residents were not affiliated or not observant. Yet, to me, they were all part of the same family. Whoever attended the shuls I was a rabbi at, felt at home. When the Bialystoker Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation was closing its doors, several women said they will never attend any other synagogue unless I was the rabbi there. And those women kept their word. But they would keep in touch with me. I shared with them how wonderful other rabbis were, but they continued to keep in touch with me. Those two bachurim were in awe and felt it special to have finally met me. I asked if they would like to share words of devrei Torah which they did. I noticed one of them was holding the pamphlet “L’chaim and I asked if I could have a copy. I mentioned to them that the next time they are in the building to stop by. They did and gave me another L’chaim and said a small devar Torah. I would like to share one of the stories in that L’chaim number 1805, 24 Tevet, 5784 “The Pilot and The Passengers, the Charge and the Silence” by Rabbi Mendel Rubin “ A few months ago, parents in Denver were called that their son was in a major accident, was brought to Albany Medical Center and at the time it was unknown if he would make it. Hearing this news, they rushed to the Denver Airport and tried to book the first flight they could to Albany. Southwest does have direct flights from Denver to Albany, they booked the flight, rushed through security, made their way to the gate-but just missed the flight. It took off moments before they got to the gate.
They explored their options, they looked for the soonest flights available, perhaps they could fly elsewhere and make connecting flights, get a flight to New York and Boston and drive 3 hours to Albany…they didn’t know how much time they had and they wanted to make it to be with their son.
Just then someone came out of Southwest Operations and said they should wait at the gate-the plane is coming back!
The couple couldn’t believe it. A plane turning back after take-off? But they were anxious, how would all the passengers feel about coming back to pick up two passengers? The delay, the hassle, they felt awkward about it. But the stewardess walked them onto the returned plane, found them their seats, there was zero fuss, and the flight took off again for Albany.
The father couldn’t help but ask the person in the seat next to him: “What did they tell you? How did they explain why the plane was turning back to Denver?”
Their fellow passenger told him: The pilot got on the mic and said what you were going through. He said if it were my son I’d want the plane to go back. But I have to ask the passengers, should we turn back to pick them up? And the whole plane shouted as one: “Go Back!”
Two takeaways from the story (aside for the obvious testament of empathy by a full plane of travelers…)
We’re all pilots of our own destiny. We’re charting our course through the ups and downs, takeoffs and landings, across the vast expanse, and all the ports of call in our lives.
But we’re not flying solo. This pilot was able to do what he did because he had the backing and encouraging support of family and community.
We’re not alone. We each do our own thing but we’re better when we’re connected to the community, when we have others along for the ride, backing us up.
It’s not a small thing that the plane was quiet when they boarded. Everyone somehow understood that it was best that no fuss be made, no clapping, no cheers. Just quiet. To paraphrase the Talmud, sometimes we’re credited for what we say (as in the “Go Back”) and sometimes for what we don’t say. Our experience is shaped by what we choose to do, and also by what we choose not to do. Both things. (This story was related by Rabbi Mendy and Devorah Leah Mathless who run the University Heights Chabad adjacent to Albany Medical Venter and Bikur Cholim services to patients and families at this major regional hospital and trauma center. Over this couple’s Albany stay, the Mathlesses helped with kosher food and support during that very trying time.) An amazing story that is unusual. We hear and read about people who are bumped from planes and here was a plane filled with passengers who were willing to exchange arriving on time to their destination to being altruistic on behalf of this couple’s plight. We also learned of the Kiddush H the Mathlesses made for not having lost their cool or any other negative behaviors.” Evidently, they must have had very strong emunah and betachon in H.
Here is another story of how kindness, respect and a sincere demeanor can cause a Kiddush H lighting up an entire community through one person. I heard this story which fits right into the saying “The tafkid of a Yid is to bring light to the world” A remarkable family member who spent many hours with her husband in the hospital shared with me how showing kindness can change a person’s negative opinion of the Jewish people and cause her to be a catalyst to reverse the negative vibes of her community. When the non-Jewish aide entered the family room she was warmly greeted. If the Jewish woman was on the phone, she would apologize whoever she was speaking to, she would hang up and give the aide her full attention. On the day that the aide’s patient was being discharged, she came to say goodbye, to her friend, the Jewish woman. She shared that she comes from a community where the population does not have a positive perception of Jewish people. She then said, “since I met you I realize how special the Jewish nation is and I will tell my neighbors and community.” This Jewish woman fulfilled the tafkid of bringing light to the world and making an impact on others, making a
Kiddush H.
The world seems to be topsy turvy. Earthquakes even in NYC, the weather that seems out of wack, protests about human rights but no protests about tremendous loss of life in many parts of the world. How do we explain to our mispallilim and to those who we minister to who might have doubts of who is truly running this world of ours. Is Moshiach nearby? Of course we know Who is running this world of ours and it will be our Creator, H Yisbarach Who will bring the redemption just as He always does for the Benei Yisrael.
From the Artscroll Chumash Mesorah Publication Ltd : Parshas Vaeira :The four expressions of redemption. Having told Moses that the impending revelation would be greater than that which was revealed to the Patriarchs, and that He was about to redeem the Jewish people, G commanded him to go once again to the Jews and tell them that He – as H, the Name that denotes His power and mercy – was about to redeem them. These two verses contain four different expressions, representing progressive stages of the redemption. These four stages are the basis for the Rabbinic requirement of the Four Cups (of wine) at the Pesach Seder. , “Vehotzeisi eschem -Vehitzaltzi eschem-Vegawalti eschem- Velawkachti eschem “ “I shall take you out, I shall rescue you, I shall redeem you, I shall take you to Me as a people and I shall be your G. He will take us out of Mitzrayim with an outstretched arm.”
From Darash Moshe A selection of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s choice comments on the Torah Artscroll Judaica Classics English Artscroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd, Parshas Bo Page 107 “This month shall be for you the beginning of the months (12:2)” “Rashi comments that this verse teaches that Nissan is to be the first in the order in which months are counted, while all the others are to be counted after it: Iyar is the second month, Sivan the third, and so on. The reason for this requirement is simple. For Jews, it is not enough to believe merely that H created the world, for which Shabbos is our sign and our everlasting covenant; we must also believe that H still continues to be the Creator and the Ruler of everything that happens to any human or animal. This is the lesson of the plagues and the Exodus, as narrated in the Torah.
This is why Nissan, the month in which the Exodus occurred, was chosen to be the first of the months, as a sign of H’s ongoing rulership over all people and events.”
“It is unclear why Nissan was chosen to be the first month, since neither of the world’s two great beginnings, the Creation and the Giving of the Torah, took place in it. If anything, Nissan marked only the start of the preparations for the latter event. Nonetheless, without the preparation that took place in Nissan, it would have been impossible to receive the Torah, and without the Torah the whole Creation would have been purposeless. With preparation, however, anyone can accept the Torah and make it part of himself. Thus, the month in which the main preparation for receiving the Torah occurred was chosen to be the first in the count of months.”
We as Rabbis, Rebbetzins and Chaplains are often considered the connection to the Ribono shel Olam and therefore have to have the right answers and the right path to take. We don’t always have the answers. Perhaps our Gedolim have a greater grasp of the Torah and know the correct path to choose. Nevertheless, we are always mispallel for and with each person. We have a responsibility to offer our wisdom, our Torah learning and our hearts filled with compassion, empathy, and sincerity. We don’t always know the positive impact we can have and have had prior years in the past. We can only try our best to share our wisdom and our knowledge and convey our love and our trust in H to the best of our abilities. It is so important to be kind and caring to all people regardless of their background. Only H knows what is best. We can say our bakashos seeking His guidance as often as possible, never forgetting that only He can bring the redemption for Klal Yisrael. Only He can bring us the Geula and only He can help and bring us simchas hachaim. But, it is up to us to bring achdus and shalom.
From Rav Pam on Chumash by Rabbi Sholom Smith, Artscroll Series, Meorah Publications Ltd. Parshas Bo Page 83 “ On the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh, we recite the Blessing of the New Month, in which we say, “May You give us long life- a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sufficient parnasah, a life of physical well being- a life in which our heartfelt requests will be fulfilled for the good.” “By utilizing the gift of time to its fullest, one will earn the full blessings of H to live such a life.”
May we have the wisdom to utilize and be blessed for every moment we have, to be given the opportunities to serve the Ribono shel Olam to the best of our abilities. May we be blessed to be Ambassadors of H and Klal Yisrael and to be able to bless others with much good health, happiness and joy in life. May we be zoche to help bring achdus, to help others, and to make a Kiddush H. May it be our e Tafkid to bring light to the world with our Torah knowledge, our goodness, our kindness and our sincerity.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
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