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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
<><><>March 20, 2025, Adar 20, 5785<><><>
(Please note there are two separate links.)
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Purim with the Tantzers.
Click here and here to see two pictures of my son Aryeh, my einikel Moishe,
together with Avraham Fried and some of the Tantzers.
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Caring, Kindness, Happiness, Compassion, Understanding.
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Purim is over but the concerns about drinking are not.
There is also a link at the end of this article to a special riveting,
strong, powerful and graphic video from the Yehuda Aryeh Mund
Foundation to be viewed with discretion.
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How do we look at life – positive or negative? Do we look at the glass being half full or half empty or is it truly only half? Are we too judgmental and “kvetch” about things too much or can we see things in a good light. If there is something that could and should be made better, can we find the strength, the productivity with positivity to make things better. Most of all, why should things that have nothing to do with us bother us at all.
I once wrote about an experience I had with a group of seniors about caring for each other and themselves. The group consisted of men and women of diverse backgrounds Jewish and not Jewish. While welcoming everyone and loosening up the audience with some chit chat, when a woman in her 70’s walked in to take a seat. So what happened, everyone stopped to look her over, up and down with their mouths agape. Why, she had colored hair and I mean different colors, a hat on backwards, a leather vest, earrings and nose rings. So now you know why everyone stopped talking and was gawking at her. This woman felt insulted and said to the group, “ thanks for your wonderful welcome to a stranger” and left. This gave me a chance to make the best of a terrible situation. I gave opportunities for the group to speak about what happened. I asked for a volunteer to share what really went wrong and how they thought how that woman felt. They all admitted they should not of looked at her in such an unfriendly manner. Why did the way she dressed cause others to feel uncomfortable? Did it really matter to them how she looked? They felt a woman of her age should not be dressing as she was dressed. Why did it bother them and they had no answer. They wish they had another opportunity to welcome her again. They were very lucky because I ran down and met up with her. I spoke to her with sincerity and she consented to come back up to the discussion group. This time when she opened the door and came in, they all welcomed her, shook her hands and asked if she wanted forgiveness and she replied absolutely not. She was truly happy to be together with the others and even offered them the opportunity to try on her hat, vest made of feathers, etc. She offered to show them how to put rings all over if they chose. Not everyone was in such a hurry to try some new styles but they all made a wonderful effort to welcome this woman into their group and have a great time. Of course there had to be someone in the group who said, “and what about you rabbi- how about a little change, like a zippy doo change, colored shirts, and some accessories. “We all had a good happy laugh and I was able to blend the topic of the day with what just happened.
When I was younger, (well I still try to be that way) Purim was celebrated with giving meshloach manos with simple down to earth edibles, often home baked or simple fruits, hamantashen, (prune or mun,known as poppy). Noise makers were the tin gragers and of course the family Purim meals (yes, tzedakah too). Today, “shalach manos” as many call it can consist of platters costing lots of expensive items not available years ago. I recently saw an ad for a 7 meat board -WOW ! and all other kinds of platters. Gezunta heit, there were Jewish people buying them and Jewish people selling them. Money all around helping the economy. Are there people complaining about the extravaganza? If yes, why? No one is forcing anyone to purchase them. It is important not to look down at or to admonish anyone for what they do. How they spend their money and what anyone does for Purim or for anything else in life is their business.
When I was growing up my non Jewish friends joined me when I went to my Jewish neighbors for meshloach manos. They would tell me how much nicer my holiday was from Halloween. On their holiday the children of all ages would say you get a trick if there is no treat. Also, many of their costumes and decorations were spooky. On Purim costumes and decorations are meant to be cheerful and happy. They also mentioned that on Purim bringing food to neighbors was much nicer than expecting to be given treats.
When we give someone collecting tzedakah do we do so begrudgingly or with a full heart? What about someone selling a sefer for parnasa. Sunday before Mincha, a person came around selling a sefer. I asked the person if he was the author, the mechaber, and he said no. I said ok you are selling it for someone which I presumed it was for himself. I asked how much and I just happened to have that amount with me. I purchased that sefer was about bris milah, and paid for it and that person was very thankful. I received one mitzva for buying the sefer and giving this person tzedakah money in a positive and in a respectful way. I mentioned to a young bachur who was nearby that the Ribono shel Olam gives each of us different ways of doing mitzvos and grab those opportunities and give thanks to H for letting it happen. The Chofetz Chaim mentions in his sefarim that a better way of giving tzedakah is in a manner that is respectful. In this case, purchasing this sefer was the right thing to do. We all have to be caring for each other with “gutskite” with “menchlichtkeit” and with a good heart.
Two years ago I co-authored an article in Torah Umesorah’s annual magazine with two addiction specialist’s. (Anyone who would like a copy please contact me). I also want to reinstate the concern of drinking and addiction. Drinking is a major concern especially when available at a kiddush or other simcha. Often, it is the adults who are poor examples to teenagers. They encourage the younger generation with excessive drinking and even sometimes offer drinks and have them join in a lechaim. By the way, this is not just on Purim or Shabbos kiddushim but at Simchas Torah day and or night when drinks are available. I often listened to Rabbi Dr. Twerski zt”l speak about this concern and he is also seen on the video that was produced by the Mund family, from the Yehuda Aryeh Mund Foundation in memory of their son Yehuda Aryeh a”h who was in a tragic accident. Though I want my articles to be uplifting, I have included a link to the video which is about Yehuda who finally succumbed to peer pressure. You will also see in the video how adults encouraged the teens to have a lechaim. In another scene at a simcha an adult gave a drink to a young boy with the disapproval of the bartender. Why show this video even though Purim is over the concern exists in many ways. We have to strengthen our resolve and watch out for our youth. It is important not to demonize the teenagers but to help offer available resources. The video is not for underage children to be watching. Aside from the Mental Health Professionals, our Rabbis, Rebbetzins and Chaplains can play a major role in helping us raise the bar and bring goodness to our nation.
We all have a responsibility of being wonderful role models of kindness, gentleness, sensitivity, compassion, love of life, love of H and love for Klal Yisrael. There is so much goodness to be found. All we have to know is to look around us and we can find that simchas hachaim is right in front of us. We are all one family and should look out for each other.
From: The Jewish Vues March 12, 2025 by Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss about Rav Moshe Feinstein ztk”l whose yartzeit was last week pages 68-69.
“An appreciation of his all- encompassing knowledge and depth of the full gamut of Torah is beyond the scope of this short appreciation. Suffice to say that the entire world recognizes that when he rendered a halachic decision, he took everything that was written in the Talmud and Shulchan Oruch, the Tur and the Rambam, the Mishna Berurah and the Oruch Hashulchan, the written law and the oral law, countless Rishonim and Acharonim. Without forgetting a single detail. He was an unparalleled master at applying the full range of Torah law to any question that was posed to him, even concerning the newest modern technology, scientific breakthroughs and medical advances.
To close this appreciation, which of course barely touches the surface, we must mention that it might have been the Rosh Yeshiva’s crowning virtue. All his life he was a man of peace. When asked the perennial question why he thought he merited living so long, he answered, “Mein gantz leben hab ich kein mahl nit g’ton vay tzu ah mentchen-My whole life I never caused another pain.” He was universally loved by Jews of all stripes and from all continents. He would say that it is not enough to learn Torah one must learn Toras Shalom and would quote the Rambam that the whole Torah was given to promote peace, as it says, “D’racheha darchei noam, v’chol nesivoseha shalom- Its ways are ways of sweetness and all its paths are paths of peace.”
May we all merit to follow in his glorious footsteps, may he be a mailitz yosher, a good intercessor, for world Jewry about whom he cared for with every fiber of his being. May his Neshama have an aliya from the inspiration that his life continues to generate in us , and in that merit may we be blessed with long life and everything wonderful.”
Another wonderful article from “Living Kiddush H- Kana’us and Compassion by Rabbi Shraga Freedman found in the Yated Ne’eman, March 14, 2025, page 88. “Rav Aryeh Levine would walk through the streets of Yerushalayim every Friday afternoon, encouraging shopkeepers to close in time for Shabbos. There was one particular ice cream shop owner who struggled with this, often keeping this store open well past the onset of Shabbos.
One Friday, Rav Levine decided to visit this shop. He stood quietly, watching as a crowd of customers lined up to buy ice cream. Without saying a word, he sat down calmly and observed the bustling activity.
Eventually, the shop owner noticed him and approached, asking, “Kevod harav, is there something I can help you with?
Rav Aryeh looked at him with empathy and responded. “What can I say? This is an incredibly difficult challenge. You have so many people here, and Shabbos is quickly approaching. I can only imagine how hard it is for you – the temptation to keep the store open must be overwhelming. But Shabbos is Shabbos.”
With that, Rav Levine stood up and began to walk away. As he did, he noticed the store owner starting to shut down his shop, sending the customers home.
A little while later, Rav Levine encountered the shop owner again. The man explained, “For the first time, I felt that someone truly understood me – understood the challenge I face and how difficult it really is. You didn’t judge me. You simply showed that you cared. When I felt understood and accepted, I was able to see your perspective – the importance of Shabbos and what it means. It was only then that I found the strength to make a change.”
This story holds a powerful message for our times.
Even while we remain steadfast in our ideals, it’s critical that we also show compassion and understanding toward those who are not aligned with our values.
Even when we disagree, we must strive to understand the challenges and struggles ithers face. By empathizing with their predicament and recognizing their pain, we create a bridge of mutual respect and understanding, which is essential for fostering harmony and possibly even creating some change.” (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 Living KiddushHashem.org for more resources.)”
Though the opportunities of the mitzvos for Purim have come and gone, all the other mitzvos and wonderful opportunities exist throughout the year. Shalom al Yisrael we pray for but it is incumbent on all of us to help make that possible. Of course we seek the help of the Ribono shel Olam, we seek His guidance and His blessings but we must want to make it happen. Achdus is not a magic word, just as making a Kiddush H. Those are words which have to be translated into making it happen. We pray for Moshiach but we, Klal Yisrael, have to make it happen. So, we could ask the question how it will be possible for all of Israel to come together for the sake of each other. Honestly, I don’t know. However, I do know with every effort we make are a step closer. By the way how we speak and act towards each other and every human being will surely make a dent and bring us closer to H. What is truly important is for us to bring H and His Torah and mitzvos closer to us and our children. Sincerity is always of utmost importance and with the help of H we will help to make it possible for H to send us Moshiach ASAP.
In the Jewish Vues, March 12 -March 18 ,2025 Purim Issue were pictures of the Tantzers on the front page and pages 30-31 and a number of them were pictures of my son Aryeh with his son Moishe. Several of the pictures were with Avraham Fried and the other Tantzers at a fantastic Purim Party. When I visited the Blank family on Purim there was a group called the Reismans, a magnificent Chasidik group, who brought a large speaker with music, dancing and singing with such freilichkeit that it brought much happiness for the whole family. Even the nurses in the background were dancing to the music. May we all be able to bring happiness to each other. Just like Purim- a joyous and meaningful holiday, our Torah should bring joy to every single Jew. May we truly have Shalom al Yisrael and peace for all mankind. Let us all have the fortitude, the ability and the desire to be kind and caring human beings.
Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes!
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
I recommend the link to the Yehuda Aryeh Mund video be viewed with discretion. It is powerful, with a graphic opening. The video is to be taken seriously. When necessary, contact a mental health professional for advice. There is an important message from Rabbi Dr. AbrahamTwerski zt”l at the conclusion of this video.