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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
<><><>July 18th, 2024, Tammuz 12, 5784<><><>
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We almost lost complete civility with the attempted
assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Unfortunately, a civilian was killed and two others were severely
injured. Former President Trump thanked G for saving his life. Had he
moved his head just another inch or so, the bullet would have killed him.
All Americans should thank G that former President Donald Trump was not seriously injured and that the process of all candidates running
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency can continue in peace. All derogatory words should be removed and replaced with words of respect.
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We do not give up. If there is a will there is a way. We believe in the hand of H. We try our best not to despair but to have emunah and trust in H that eventually everything will work out even against all odds. If one believes in something very important in life, just don’t stop and give up should the going become difficult or any obstacles that might be in the way.
The first of the Thirteen Principles of Faith. “Ani Ma’amin be’emunah sheleima, Shehaborei Yisbarach Shemo Hu borei umanhig lechal haberurim veHu levado asah veoseh veya’aseh lechal hamasim.” Translation from Artscroll Siddur Mesorah Publications Ltd. “I believe with faith that is complete that the Creator blessed be His name He creates and guides all that were created and that He alone made, makes, and will make everything that is made.”
Everything is min haShamayim. We believe and know that anyone in the midst of a crisis, a challenging time or doubting one’s self may be due to a lack of confidence or fear of the present and future.
From Artscroll Siddur, Mesorah Publications Ltd. “The “Thirteen Principals of Faith” are based on the formulation of Rambam (Maimonides) in his Commentary to the Mishnah (Sanhedrin, Ch 10) and have achieved virtually universal acceptance. It is commendable to recite these principles every day after Shacharis. As Rambam himself writes, one does not become imbued with them from a perfunctory reading. One must constantly review and study them. The Thirteen Principles fall into three general categories: a) the nature of belief in G: b) the authenticity of the Torah, its validity and imitability; and c) man’s responsibility and ultimate reward.
G’s Existence. There is no partnership in Creation. G is the sole Creator and the universe continues to exist only because He wills it so. He could exist if everything else were to come to and end, but it is inconceivable that there could be any form of existence independent of Him.”
When a person who we are ministering to shares his/her doubts about being forgiven is it appropriate for us to say “yes you will be forgiven” or better to say G is a forgiving G and will hear your prayers and know what is in your heart.” What about discussing with this person how to improve oneself by doing teshuva or one new mitzva. Will these actions do the trick and change everything for the better? Only H knows but one cannot give up trying. Hopefully, it can be the beginning of a bright future. Giving encouragement and support is very important. We are not privy to H’s ways and therefore cannot and should not give the impression of what and how H will forgive, bless or respond to the person’s bakashos and prayers. It surely would be helpful to share what the essence of emunah is and ultimately to have trust in H. Aside from the fact that just as there are no reasons that are given regarding the different types of chukim such as the Parah Adumah, we just have to believe in G and accept, even if we do not know what the rational is.
From Zera Shimshon: The sefer. The stories. The segulah by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer in conjunction with Rabbi Menachem Binyomin Paskesz and Rabbi Yisroel Zilberberg. The Shaar Press Distributed by Mesorah Publications Ltd. Pashas Chukas. “Parah adumah is a chok, a mitzva that we don’t understand. We do not need to comprehend H’s reasons. It’s enough to know that He knows the reason.” “Sometimes H lifts the curtain and shows us how a piece of the puzzle fits in.” In this chapter the story of how and why, well at least to us we could understand why certain events took place on a late evening or I should say 1:00 AM in Ashdod, Eretz Yisrael. Nussi had to meet Gabi at his home located in Ashdod. Nussi would be coming from Beit Shemesh at 10:00 PM. Due to Gabi’s meeting with a distinguished Rav about another important reason, Gabi and Nussi’s meeting regarding helping a person they both knew on best ways to help him was delayed. Nussi and Gabi finally met and concluded their meeting at 1:00 AM. Not realizing the time, it was way past the last bus back to Beit Shemesh. For some mysterious reason there was a taxi waiting across the street. Nussi asked the driver if he could take him home. The driver said he was waiting for someone who called for a taxi to Beit Shemesh. After giving some thought, Nussi asked the passenger if he could go with him to Beit Shemesh. The other passenger was none to happy to have Nussi join him. The other passenger explained what he was doing at 1:00 AM on that street going of all places to Beit Shemesh. He explained to Nussi, “My wife and I attended a wedding earlier this evening in Yerushalayim. After it was over, we headed to the bus stop on the corner of Bar Illan and Shmuel HaNavi streets. Now, anyone who has been to that part of Yerushalayim knows that there is a constant stream of buses coming and going from all over the country passing right by that bus stop. It’s extremely busy from early morning till late at night, but especially so when people are returning home from weddings in Yerushalayim.
Anyway, my wife and I got to the bus stop and waited for a bus to Ashdod, When it pulled up we realized that since it was a Mehadrin bus, I would be entering from the front, while my wife would be getting on at the back door. Since there was a huge crowd between the front door and the back door, and it would be difficult to reach the door she needed, I suggested that she walk around the back of the bus stop and join the line at the closest angle to the back door. She followed my advice and boarded the bus and found a seat. We left the bus stop about seven minutes later and I rested for the journey to Ashod. When we reached our stop, however, and I disembarked, I discovered to my surprise that my wife was not on the bus! I couldn’t understand what had happened, but I found out shortly afterward when she called me up.
“Where are you?” I asked her.
“Yanky, you are never going to believe this,” she began.
“Where are you?” I asked again.
“Beit Shemesh,” she replied.
“When I walked around the bus stop, I saw a line leading to the back door of a bus. I didn’t understand that another bus had pulled right behind the first bus and that the line I was joining led to that one and not to the bus to Ashdod. I boarded the bus, found a seat and fell asleep.”
The rest is as they say, is history.
“I assured him that I understood just fine and then he asked me how I had come to be in Ashdod at this time of night, and I shared the entire timeline and history of my last few hours, which had led us to meet on an Ashdod street.
“I guess it was all meant to be,” he said.
“I guess so,” I agreed.
Then we rode the rest of the way home enjoying each other’s company. As we rode, I couldn’t help but marvel over the incredible events that had led me to this taxi and how every single thing in our lives is so brilliantly orchestrated from Above.”
“As Yidden who believe in the Ribbono shel Olam, it is obvious that He directs us to the precise spot where we need to be, every second of our lives. Sometimes we understand why we needed to be there, sometimes not, but there’s no question that every move is orchestrated from Above.”
However, we are mispallel to be able to be a shleliach of H to be able to give the appropriate support, encouragement and advice to those we minister to in their time of need.
There are many zechusim and personal yeshuos that are health related, for panassah, having children and other simchas that can be attributed to learning as well as supporting publications of Zera Shimshon. These sefarim are available in Hebrew and English. The latest Zera Shimshon in English is on Sefer Tehillim.
I would like to share this delightful story from Hagaddah shel Pesach: Night of Emunah by Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky: Artscroll Series, Mesorah Publications Ltd. From Maggid, Mission Possible. Pages 64-67. “Do me a favor and fly in on Sunday morning,” the askan beseeched Rabbi Fishel Schachter over the phone. “I’ll book a hotel room where you can rest, and I’ll be much more relaxed knowing you’re already here in Montreal.”
Rabbi Schachter was scheduled to fly from New York to serve as the emcee for the annual fund-raising dinner of Yaldei, Montreal’s state-of-the-art school for special needs children. Rabbi Aharon Weinberg, the guest speaker, would be traveling with him. The askan, who anticipated a crowd of about 1,500 attendees, including some prestigious political figures, wanted to ensure that nothing went wrong.
“There is just one problem with coming Sunday morning,” Rabbi Schachter explained. “I’m a rebbe. I can’t just take off from class for the day. But don’t worry, we’ll take a 3 o’clock flight and be in Montreal by 4. That’s still plenty of time to spare.”
“I don’t know,” said warily. “Things can go wrong.”
Rabbi Schachter assured him that everything was under control. But is wasn’t long before the first glitch surfaced. After yeshiva on Sunday, the cab to the airport arrived late, few minutes past 1:30 P.M. They asked the driver to hurry, but he couldn’t go any faster than the clogged roads allowed. It was 2:45 when they finally got to J.F.K Airport. They didn’t have to rush, though, because the plane was delayed until 4…then 4:30…then 4:45. Meanwhile, the askan was receiving regular updates and repeating: “Just get here as fast as you can.”
The two travelers tried to stay calm. They took seats in the waiting area for the gate next to theirs, since their own gate was already overflowing with passengers milling about. There were a few more announcements, but from their short distance away, the sound was just a blur. After about 10 minutes, Rabbi Schachter decided to check at the information desk and see what was going on.
“Didn’t you hear the boarding announcements?” the clerk asked.” We kept calling your names! The plane left five minutes ago!”
The next flight out of J.F.K wasn’t until 9 P.M. Rabbi Weinberg took upon himself the unpleasant task of calling the askan with the news. “Find another flight!” the askan responded.
“You have to be here. We’re counting on you!”
Back at the desk, Rabbi Schachter found out there was a flight from La Guardia Airport in 45 minutes. How they would get on that flight he could not say, because with Sunday traffic, the drive to New York’s other airport would take at least 45 minutes. However, it was worth a try. Perhaps a miracle would occur.
The two men caught a cab to La Guardia and urged the driver to do his best to get them to the airport as fast as possible. The driver took up the challenge, weaving in and out of every little gap in the traffic, speeding and braking and driving in lanes that weren’t quite lanes. They arrived at La Guardia in 40 minutes: five minutes to spare. But they hit another brick wall! The gate was closed and they wouldn’t be allowed onto the plane anyway without going through security. The next flight was at 7:55.
Rabbi Weinberg called the organizer to suggest that maybe this just wasn’t meant to be, but the many had not yet run out of ideas. “You’re taking a private plane,” he told them. He wasn’t yet sure exactly what airfield they should go to, but he knew it was north of the city. “Just get a cab and start heading north. I’ll get you the details soon.”
At this point, the two travelers had no choice but to blindly follow the askan’s instructions. They hailed a cab and gave him directions that sounded more like a line from a cops-and -robbers story than real life: “Head north!”
The driver thought they were joking, but soon discovered that they were not. Right before they got to the George Washington Bridge, the askan called with a specific location, “When you get there ask for Jack,” he instructed.
The little airfield had just one building, and it was inhabited by just one man- Jack, their pilot. He brought them to an airplane that seemed more like an old Toyota with wings. “One of you sit on each side to balance the plane,” Jack suggested. They buckled their seatbelts and prepared for the ride.
Jack started the engine. It growled, then groaned, then died. “Looks like I need a boost, he said. ‘Don’t worry, we be taking off in no time.”
“A boost? On an airplane?” Rabbi Schachter thought.” Is this even safe?”
But he didn’t have to long, because the boost didn’t work.
“O.K., I think H has a message for us here,” Rabbi Schachter said to Rabbi Weinberg. Another call was made to the askan. “We’re truly sorry, but this just isn’t happening,” said Rabbi Weinberg.
“Let me speak to Jack,” was the askan’s only reply.
Jack told the askan that there was a small corporate jet he could use. “ I’m going to have to file some paperwork to use that plane,” Jack explained. “Just do whatever you have to do to get them here,” was the answer.
At this point, Rabbi Schachter got back on the phone and tried to inject a little reality into the askan’s view of the situation. “We’ll be lucky to get there at 11,” he said. “Just GO! GO!” the man replied.
The paperwork was filed, the men boarded the jet, and Jack arrived in Montreal with no further problems. When the emcee and guest speaker walked into the dinner hall, it was 10 P.M. The attendees had been apprised of the situation and welcomed the heroic travelers warmly.
Rabb Schachter opened his remarks with a question: So now do you believe my stories?
But later, he had another question, this time for the askan.
“Where did you get this incredible determination to just keep pushing to get us here? Anyone else would have quit hours before!”
“If I wasn’t this way, the school wouldn’t be here,” the askan replied. “I built this school against impossible odds because I viewed it as my mission in life. There were many times when I could have given up but knew that H would help me if I tried my best.”
Tonight, as we begin to retell the story of Klal Yisrael’s journey from galus to geulah, our emunah in H is renewed. This is the story of how we as a people, against all odds, were able to overcome the impossible. As we traverse the path of our forefathers, we realize that their mission is our mission today: to see the miracles in our daily lives and internalize the message that when we call out to H, He will answer our call. There is no giving up, because H will always be there to help us accomplish our mission in life.”
We surely can apply this message to our own lives and especially to those who we minister to. We must not give up even when things might look gloomy or disheartening with any obstacles that might come our way. Savlanus is very important. Patience takes a lot of willpower when offering care to a person who might have a lack of self-confidence or someone whose situation seems to be bleak with no way out. There is always hope. But it really is necessary to understand the nature of concern or issues a person is facing. We cannot generalize for each issue has its own need for understanding and ways of dealing with it. We are always mispallel to the Ribono shel Olam for the right words to say or advice to give. There are various methods that are important to be aware of. There are all types of hope which I shall review in coming articles. But nothing is impossible to deal with. We cannot and must not give up. H does not want us to give up. Our desire to care for others with all of our hearts filled with compassion and sincerity is so important. If there is a will, there is a way.
We are mispallel to H to give us the koach, the direction, the guidance to truly help those who seek our chizuk in their time of need. May we be zoche for all of us to reap the rewards of His kindness. May we all be able to bring brightness and happiness to the lives of others who might be struggling and dealing with their life’s hardships and challenges. May we all be zoche to have many maysim tovim, simchas hachaim, hatzlacha and sweetness in our lives as well. We thank H for all that He does for us and for Klal Yisrael. May His love for us and Klal Yisrael continue and may our love for Him continue with tremendous strength. During these challenging times we need H more than ever before. May there be Shalom al Yisrael. May we all strive to eliminate machlokes and loshon harah, to seek achdus and truly understand Chaveirim kol Yisrael and Am Yisrael Chai.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank