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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
**December 4, 2025, 14, Kislev, 5786**
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Black Friday. Growing up I never heard of Black Friday or for that matter, all the promotions of prices for desired items that have been slashed as it is the holiday season. The official holiday season begins the day after or for some on Thanksgiving Day. When I was a child, many of the major department stores such as Macy’s and Gimble’s would have all kinds of displays and even exhibits. Often free food or candies were given out. I often went shopping with my mother a”h to purchase clothing or other needed items for the winter or for Chanukah. We would pass by the Barton’s candy counter and of course being a cute boy, I was given a whole bunch of candy which was kosher. One of my favorite departments at Macy’s was the toy department. They had all kinds of toys for display or to try out. There also was a large model train display which I loved to watch the many trains as they moved around the set. My mother was very firm on sharing the essence of Chanukah and that our focus was the meaning of Chanukah, rather than getting presents. Of course, we did get Chanukah gelt. As a child I never felt deprived without all the glitter or excepting presents.
Presently, in my family, we also celebrate Chanukah in the same way that my parents celebrated. In order to include a terrific blend of “gashmius and ruchnius”, we include Chanukah parties, siyums, all kinds of delicious delicacies to eat, an occasional present, and of course the lighting of the Menorah.
In those days, one of the biggest challenges for many parents who had both sons and daughters is each one had different days off for Chanukah. However, we did manage to have a nice time with our children. The emphasis was always to focus on the spiritual essence of as well as enjoying this holiday as well. To my knowledge, we had jelly and plain without the jelly and sugar covered doughnuts. Today there are stores that sell not just the two “oldie” flavors but a choice of many flavors including cheese and some meat stores selling deli doughnuts. I forgot to mention looking forward to an enjoyable Chanukah kiddush in shul.
Just as in everyday life, we have to balance the “gashmius” and the “ruchnius”. It is important to appreciate all that H gives us and not to feel deprived of not having enough “gashmius”. We all have to live within our means and not put oneself in unnecessary debt. BH there are many types of gemachs and organizations helping families. There are a myriad of gemachim that assists different needs such as single parents who need financial support, medical concerns, psychological and psychiatric concerns, families with challenged children and the list is endless. Though they all depend on contributions to help sustain and assist with their programs and events, there are programs who will bend backwards to provide assistance to those in need. There is a wonderful expression “Mi K’amcha Yisrael. We as Rabbis, Rebbetzins and Chaplains must always be mindful of those who live with challenging situations especially around holiday times of the need to be empathetic and understanding of their specific needs and difficulties. This is especially so for those living with family loss including widows and widowers, those who are divorced, single parents, men and women who desire to find a shidduch, those who have medical conditions, those with emotional conditions, etc. Most of all we truly need to have achdus with emunah/faith and bitachon/trust in H. Especially those living with challenging situations, they need to know they are not alone in this world of ours. We cannot solve their difficulties, but knowing or feeling they are not alone is truly meaningful. There is one word I like to share with others and that is to be sincere. Being erlich, to be honest is important, but to be sincere can cover a huge territory caring for another person. Helping to bring simchas hachaim in someone’s life is very important. How we interact with others regardless of his or her background or faith is important. Making a Kiddush H is also important. Though the world will not let us forget we are Jews, we cannot depend on them to remind us how sincere we must be and always remember H who gives us everything we have.
I would like to share with my readers a beautiful story which shows gratitude to H.
“A Song of Gratitude” From 102 Stories that changed people’s lives. By Rabbi Tzvi Nakar, Volume 2, Tzutza Publications.
“When the plane began to race down the runway for takeoff, Yitzchak’s heartrate sped up with it. He had gone to Eretz Yisrael to study in a yeshiva for a year and was now on his way home to America. The metal bird spread its wings and soared between the clouds on his way to New York, with a stopover in Moscow.
In the belly of the plane were two suitcases filled with his personal belongings, sefarim, gifts for his brothers and sisters, and various souvenirs. He imagined the emotional reunion with his parents and was counting the minutes until he saw them again.
When the plane landed in Moscow, Yizchak hurried to retrieve his luggage and preceded to the gate where he would board another plane for the last leg of the trip. With quick strides, he made his way through the huge airport, gazing at the planes he glimpsed through the enormous windows and wondered which one would be taking him to New York.
Finally he arrived at the check-in window and put his luggage on the conveyor belt to be scanned, in a hurry to get to his boarding gate. Suddenly, a deafening beeping sounded, and several burly guards rushed over with weapons, ordering him in Russian sprinkled with broken English to lie down on the floor and put his hands on his head. Embarrassed and confused, Yitzchak dropped to the floor and began shaking uncontrollably.
During those moments that he lay on the cold tiles of the Moscow airport terminal his mind raced as he tried to figure out what was going on. He had packed his luggage himself and knew exactly what was in it; clothing, sefarim, toys and souvenirs. Nothing problematic. He was certain of it. It has to be a mistake, he thought as he was taken in handcuffs to a side room, where he was ordered to wait until a senior police officer arrived.
When the inspector arrived, Yitzchak was interrogated about the contents of his luggage, and he replied that he didn’t know of anything that could be a problem. An irritated expression crossed the inspector’s face as he held up three bullets and waved them accusingly.
“And what are these?” he roared. “Why are you carrying bullets in your suitcase? Don’t you know this is a serious criminal offense?”
Yitzchak was horrified. He had received the spent bullets from some soldiers on the northern border when stayed at a nearby village for Shabbos. He thought he would bring the bullets home to show his brother and sisters as a nice souvenir. He never imagined they would get him into such trouble. He tried to explain, but the inspector wouldn’t listen to his excuses.
In the ensuing weeks, his parents did everything they could to rescue their son, who was imprisoned in a malodorous cell along with the dregs of humanity.
A trial date was set for another three months. He was assigned a shred defense lawyer, who explained that even though by international law his offense wasn’t that serious, in Russia it was a different matter. The charge could incur ten years of jail time for attempted murder. Yitzchak , who had been sitting and learning in yeshiva not long ago, was now afraid for his life.
As he sat, despairing, in the prison cell, he remembered a lesson from his rebbe, Rabbi Zev Dinner, who talked about the immense power of acknowledging H as the Savior and Redeemer in every predicament and circumstance. With nothing else to do with his time, he took these words to heart, and amid the horrific conditions, he took out a small notebook and started to write down all the reasons he had to thank H for all the good and kindness He had bestowed on him, both small and large, during his period pf confinement.
After he adopted this practice of thanking H for every kindness, his days were transformed. He was still incarcerated with drunkards and murderers, but inside he sang to Father in Heaven. His feelings of thanksgiving filled him with the fortitude to cope with this challenge, and he tangibly felt that H was holding his hand and was literally with him in his troubles.
A suffocating, freezing prison cell in Russia had become a ray of light, a channel for thanksgiving and connection with the Ribono shel Olam.
Yitzchak dedicated most of his waking hours to thanking H- to simply thank Him for His kindness. Sometimes he felt like his soul was dancing, and sometimes he shed tears, but either way, he could almost forget where he was as he was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to H.
The trial had been set for a Friday, a few hours before Shabbos. The judge, an old, burly Russian, entered the courtroom, recited the indictment, and asked the lawyer for his statement. Once he heard the full story, he tore up the indictment in front of the prosecutor and acquitted the defendant.
In short order, the case was closed. A local Chabad shaliach advised Yitzchak to flee Russia before the prosecutor could file for an appeal. Yitzchak immediately booked a flight, and by the time Shabbos arrived he was already beyond the borders of Russia, never to return.
More than the amazing miracle that happened to him, Yitzchak tells of a much greater miracle: he discovered the power of gratitude and how far it can take a person. In the middle of a hardship, when a Jew focuses on thanking H for all the good he has received- even for that which seems less good, for the hard times as well as the easy- he gains the strength and courage to face any challenge, to overcome any battle.
Moreover, at the end of the day, a miracle occurred. Anyone who knows Russian legal system will wonder how it was possible that Yitzchak was released. It could be that being thankful has the power to save a person from his troubles, It opens prison gates – literally-and provides a yeshuah for any misfortunes a person might face.
This story was published in the Tiv HaKehillah parsha sheet under the auspices of Rav Gimliel Rabinowitz. Let us internalize the message that emerged from between the walls of a Russian prison cell, from a miracle that occurred in a foreign courtroom, as attested by the maggid shiur of the bachur himself.
Gratitude has a supernatural power. It can save and protect; it can shine a light where there is only darkness. Let us use this power, this instrument for redemption, during these hard times when each one of us is faced with formidable challenges. Everything will look different if we take upon ourselves to praise and thank H for everything, he does for us. The more we thank H for good and for that which seems less good, the more we will merit yeshuah from all our troubles.
Rashi comments on the pasuk ,” If he is bringing it as a thanksgiving offering…”(Vayikra 7:12) that if he is bringing the offering to give thanks to H for a miracle that was performed for him, such as those who have made a sea voyage [and returned safely] or have journeyed in the desert, been imprisoned, or recovered from an illness, all things for which one is required to give thanks, as it is written, “ They shall give thanks to H for His kindness and for His wonders to the children of men, and they shall slaughter thanksgiving offerings (Tehillim 107: 21-22), if he vowed to bring a peace offering for one of these things, it is a thanksgiving offering …”
We have no Beish HaMikdash today and we can’t offer the Korban Todah, the thanksgiving offering to show our appreciation for the miracles done for us. Instead, we must thank and praise H in other ways. With every vicissitude in life, a Jew must acknowledge H’s kindness and thank Him for every breath he has taken and every favor he receives, thereby increasing his faith and trust in Hakadosh Baruch Hu.” “The secret to a good life. When a person gives thanks and praise in sincere appreciation, all the gates are opened to him.”
May everyone continue to find opportunities to offer appreciation to the Ribono shel Olam for all that He does for us with His infinite kindness and goodness. May we always find goodness in others with great opportunities of making a Kiddush H, with Achdus, Shalom Al Yisrael and Chaveirim Kol Yisrael.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehdua Blank