<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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 30 , 2024, Iyar 22, 5784***
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

This Moments of Inspiration is dedicated to Keila Lutza bas Shalom HaKohen
a”h whose 4th yartzeit is this coming 1st day of Shavuos.

The essence of “Life must go on” as shared by
Keila Lutza bas Shalom HaKohen a”h and Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l

The essence of the quote by Keila Lutza bas Shalom HaKohen a”h.

=========================================

Our home was very family oriented. Keila Lutza was a true Bubby, a wonderful mother and wife. She had tremendous emunah and betachon in the Ribono shel Olom. Our relationship with the Goan Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l and Rebbetzin Malka Feinstein techye was very special. Their home and their lives, were very family oriented and conveyed in the book Reb Dovid, The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Dovid Feinstein which gave many examples of the Rav and the Rebbetzin’s caring for each other and for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One important aspect Rav Dovid and Keila Lutza shared with me was the importance of being able to go on with life and not looking back with sadness but with deep appreciation for all that the Ribono shel Olam has done. They wanted my future to be meaningful, productive and full of simchas hachaim. It is this message given to me by Keila Lutza which meant so much to her even in her last weeks and days of life. She did not want me to fall into a life of sadness after her petira but to go on living, fulfilling all that the Ribono shel Olam wants of me. It is easier said than done but B H I and the entire mishpacha were able to overcome the grief of her loss, to find and have much happiness and to make simchas. Most of all she wanted us to continue doing the maysim tovim in our avodas H that meant so much to each of us and to her. Even in the last days of her life she requested that I include the following quote in my article “When things look blue, remember that tomorrow is another day and will be a brighter day”. Her love of H knew no bounds and throughout her life she was careful to be mekayeim her avodas H through her immense maysim tovim, her kindness and her gentleness. She always aimed to make a Kiddush H and it was truly magnificent. She showed and led by example with sincere emeskeit what family life was all about and also how to be kind to one and all. Rav Dovid also shared with me to go on in life and to continue my avodas H and never give up hope. Of course, it is easier said than done but it is not impossible. Since my wife’s petira in 2020, I I shared how to overcome my grief and was able to fulfill my wife’s and Rav Dovid’s words of inspiration to go on in life. It is my desire to convey the essence of never giving up hope, to go on with life whatever or however that is meant to be. Rabbis, rebbetzins and chaplains have so many opportunities of being the bearer of comfort. What we say and how we say it can make the difference in a successful relationship with those who we minister to. Of course, everything we say and do must come from our hearts and be as sincere as can be.

When a widow, widower or divorcee remarries, that new spouse becomes the main person in his or her life (of course children always remain special). He or she does not compare nor look back at how life was. Life goes on with a sparkling and tremendous simcha. The new life should be filled with happiness, joy, meaning and immense togetherness that can never be compared to anything else in the world. Life does go on but in a different way. 

From Reb Dovid; The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Dovid Feinstein by Rabbi Yisrael Besser; Artscroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd. Also featured in the Flatbush Jewish Journal May 16, 2024, Page 120 “He would open his home to chassanim and kallahs who wished to meet him before the wedding. He would welcome them at the dining room table and ask the Rebbetzin to join the conversation, as if to show the young couple how a married couple should feel, the bond between a husband and a wife.”  The same caring relationship should apply to those who remarry.

May the Ribono Shel Olom give our rabbonim, rebbetzins and chaplains continued wisdom to help Klal Yisrael know that tomorrow will be a better day. May we continue to be role models and guiding lights to inspire and encourage to elevate emunah, hope and betachon in times of need, in times of challenges and in times of difficulty. May we be able to bring joy, positivity in life and simchas hachayim. May all who seek a shidduch, a refuah sheleima and parnasah be blessed with all their needs. May we be able to help others to find hope and to be inspired to go on in life to the best of their abilities. 

May Keila Lutza bas Shalom HaKohen a”h be a melitza yeshara for the entire mishpachah and for Klal Yisrael. 

Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank