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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126  rablenblank@gmail.com
May 9, 2024, Iyar 1, 5784
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A silver lining in the present turbulent times.

The appreciation of an acquaintance of an unaffiliated Jewish woman.

The guests who attended Shabbos services with their pocketbooks.

“The Rusty Coin.”
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When we speak about our brothers and sisters from diverse Jewish backgrounds especially the unaffiliated, we truly have to be sincere in our feelings about them. For those who have watched ,listened or read about  the reports of how the Jewish students have been treated, harassed and at times, physically attacked make us want to do something to help them. For all of us patriots, we are truly saddened and angry how the protesters have defaced special monuments and desecrated our American and Israeli flags, shredding them and setting them on fire.  So where is the silver lining? There have been groups of students joining together singing the National Anthem, and groups replacing foreign flags with the American flags. But there is another silver lining that is bringing pride to all those who are Jewish by proudly wanting to attend their Hillel, connecting with campus rabbis including Chabad and proudly sharing with many news reporters that they are Jewish and not trying to hide that fact. These students are not being treated harshly because they are proclaiming to be Zionists, but that they are Jewish. Boruch H our rabbonim and their congregations have opened their hearts and their doors to all of our brethren being mispallel for Shalom al Yisrael and encouraging Chaveirim kol Yisrael . We do so with the guidance from our Torah and our love of H. We are ready to embrace our fellow Jews  whenever and however possible to share with them the beauty of our religion, of our Torah and of our mitzvos. We are grateful to all government leaders and law enforcement who have come to protect and defend our Jewish brethren and all citizens in these difficult times. Most of all, we are grateful to the Ribono shel Olam for all that He does for us.

Years ago when I was the rabbi of a shul on a quaint street on the Lower East Side I had all types of classes and events for diverse backgrounds and ages. This was in addition to our regular services and mispallim. On occasion, it was not strange for someone who heard about our shul and programs to visit even on a Shabbos especially for Shabbat Across America. Some of our “old timers” would question what to do when a woman would arrive on a Shabbos with her pocketbook or not dressed for the Shabbos. We never asked anyone to leave. I engaged our guests about Shabbos and suggested the next time they would come to leave their pocketbooks at home. They were not about to leave their pocketbooks in the shul. Everyone was made to feel at home which they appreciated. The same when I was the rabbi at the nursing home and rehab which also had a shul for the patients and community residents who came to join us on Shabbosim and Yom Tovim. Everyone was welcome and those who came respected our traditions including  the separation of men and women during the services. When I became the rabbi there, I ordered Artscroll siddurim, Chumashim and other Jewish books of interest. I also added programs that were meaningful and appreciated by the patients and community residents of diverse backgrounds. I also replaced the original very old mechitza dusty drapes that were so thick, not even Superman could see through with his Xray vision. The new mechitza drapes were very pretty, colorful and also fire retardant as required by law.

There is an employee at a local store who I befriended some months ago. Every time she would see me would engage in light conversation. After the first time we met, she mentioned to me that she was Jewish- but not observant. She was taken by my telling her at that time we are all family  no matter what our Jewish backgrounds might be. She felt very proud and since then, always found some time to speak to me. Recently she asked me how my Passover was. She mentioned to me that she did not celebrate the holiday. When I reminded her despite whether or not one celebrates the holiday, we are still _ she didn’t let me finish my sentence and instead said to me “I know, we are still family and I shared what you told me with others how we Jews are all family. I have not forgotten what you said to me and I am proud to be Jewish.” I am hoping to gently engage her to learn if she has a Jewish/Hebrew name and anything else she would like to share with me. Of course, not all at once as she has limited time to speak to me.
It is important to remember the well known phrase “Pintele Yid”. There is the spark of Jewishness in every Jew.

What we say, how we say it, how we approach others and what we think of others are all important attributes. This story of “The Rusty Coin” is a wonderful example of how we should be. From the Scroll Weekly Reader Chabad.org. Issue Acharei Mot May 3, 2024 Nissan 25, 5784 “Who’s Counting?” by Tuvia Bolton. “There once was a wealthy man named Mr. Solomons. Despite his riches, he was miserly. Rabbis and beggars alike avoided his home. Anyone who ended up on his doorstep was offered a single rusty copper coin, which even the most desperate pauper would promptly refuse.
The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, arrived in town seeking funds to ransom Jewish prisoners. He planned to visit Mr. Solomons and wanted two rabbis to accompany him. Puzzled, the community elders gave him the escort he required.
Approaching the miser’s mansion, the rebbe beseeched his companions not to utter a word, no matter what. Soon they were sitting in the luxurious front room, and the owner was approaching with a money pouch. Predictably, he handed a rusty coin to the rebbe, asking him to accept his humble donation.
To his surprise, the rebbe smiled warmly and said, “Thank you, Mr. Solomons. May G bless and protect you always.” The rebbe then wrote him a receipt, adding blessings in a beautiful script.
The rebbe shook the man’s hand, looking him deeply in the eyes with warmth. “And now,” he said to his companions, “we must be off. We have a lot of collecting to do tonight.”
“You should have thrown it back in his face,” hissed one of the rabbis as the door closed behind them.
“Don’t turn around and don’t say a word,” whispered the rebbe as they walked to the gate.
Suddenly, the door opened behind them and the miser called; “Rabbis, please come back in. I must speak to you!”
Back in the drawing room, the rich man paced restlessly. He stopped and turned to the rebbe, “How much money do you need to ransom all the prisoners?”
“Five thousand rubles,” the rebbe replied.
“Well, I am giving you one thousand rubles,” said the miser as he laid out a stack of bills.
The other rabbis stared in astonishment. But the Rebbe shook Mr. Solomons’ hand, warmly thanking him again, and wrote him another beautiful receipt with blessings and praises.
“That was a miracle!” whispered one of the rabbis as they left the house again. The rebbe signaled him to be still.
Once again, the door opened. “Rabbis, I have changed my mind. I want to speak with you again,” Mr. Solomons called out.
As they entered the house, the miser said, “I have decided to cover the ransom in full. Here is the money; please count it.”
“What is the meaning of this?” wondered the rebbe’s companions after they had left for the third time. “How did you get that miser to give 5,000 rubles?”
“That man is no miser,” said the Alter Rebbe. “No Jewish soul truly is. But how could he desire to give if he had never in his life experienced the joy of giving? Everyone to whom he gave that rusty coin threw it back in his face.”
What we say, how we say it, how we approach others and what we think of others are all important attributes. The Alter Rebbe response when given the rusty coin was with tremendous menchlichkeit. Not only did he not throw the rusty coin in that mans face, he thanked him and wrote out a receipt with kindness and blessings. The rebbe showed tremendous midos tovos with sincerity setting important examples for the two rabbis to see and to learn from.
I often speak about chaplains and the amount of understanding and patience in the face of those who are in all types of pain- physical, emotional and spiritual they might have. Through the years, I have received requests from individuals who want to know how to become a chaplain or where to get a chaplaincy position. Many have no idea what chaplaincy truly is. They will tell me about their work and personal experiences they believe is the core of being a chaplain. Aside from the training that are prerequisites for becoming a chaplain, they are often taken back when I would ask how they would fare “ministering” to men and women of diverse backgrounds and ages. I would present examples of scenarios and not surprisingly they sometimes would be unable to share what to do or what to say that is appropriate in those examples.  Of course, I would offer whatever advice I could give that would help them in their desire to become chaplains and seeking positions they are hoping for. For some, they felt they had enough knowledge and experiences to find a chaplaincy position. I wished them well with an open door for any further advice I could be helpful with.

In the story of the “Rusty Coin”, the Alter Rebbe showed the difference between the two rabbis who escorted him and how they perceived Mr. Solomons.  There is much we can learn from our Gedolim and Rabbeim we seek guidance from. Our Torah values are what guides us during these turbulent times. The difference between emes and sheker, the importance of midos tovos and most of all, never forgetting our kesher with the Ribono shel Olam. We are all ambassadors of the Ribono shel Olam and Klal Yisrael. We are mispallel to bring kindness and goodness to this world of ours and help share the pride we have as Jews under all circumstances.  We always strive to find opportunities of making a Kiddush H and there are many every single day and night. May there be Shalom al Yisrael.

Hodu la  – H  Ki Tov, Ki Leolam Chasdo. Give thanks to H for He is good;
for enduring forever is His kindness!

May we be zoche to the coming of Mashiach Tzedkeinu Bemheirah Beyameinu Amein Selah.

Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank