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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BC
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
October 22, 2026, 11, Cheshvan 5787
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Ona a recent Yeshiva World, it had an article about a special handwritten ketubah written by and about Rav Moshe Feinstein tz”l which demonstrated why he was such a special Adom Gadol not just for his Torah knowledge but for his unbelievable and undeniable midos we can all learn from. It is often challenging to put aside a desire to acknowledge one’s accomplishments solely to one’s own abilities rather than attributing any of his or her chachmas from the Ribono shel Olam. The same holds true for a person who develops a written masterpiece, develops an idea or has a specific way of doing something and another person might have a different approach for whatever it might be. Is the first person willing to acknowledge that the other person’s idea is better or more acceptable than his? The same can be true should a person who a chaplain, rabbi or rebbetzin is ministering to is willing not to disagree, change the outcome of a personal story, try to fix, or offer a better idea or solution than the person he or she is ministering to. This would prevent making the other person not feeling he/ she is not capable of being right, not taken seriously or acceptable. that only the chaplain, rabbi or rebbetzin can be right. Such a situation would possibly make a visit by the chaplain, rabbi or rebbetzin uncomfortable, uneasy or meaningless. We can see from the article about Rav Moshe and how a handwritten ketubah and not the usual printed one came about. That article including information about the forthcoming auction by Mizrachi Judaica Auctions of that ketubah which was posted on Yeshiva World, October 18, 2026, can be viewed by clicking the link below.
There is an expression “being in the right place at the right time.” A person should always acknowledge what happened because of H and not by chance or due to one’s causing something to happen. The essence of Hashgachos Pratis, or Min HaShamayim is all about what transpired because of H’s “hand” is in everything that happens to us and not just by chance. Nothing happens just by chance! I want to share an amazing experience that happened to me on the first day of Sukkos. Some have said what happened was not one but two Nisan. This occurred at the Bialystoker Synagogue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC. I was standing near the left side of the Bimah in the direction the person carrying the Torah was walking. I was waiting to kiss the Torah when unexpectedly the man holding the Torah shifted slightly to his right and tripped. What would have thought would happen did not. He did not fall to the floor with the Torah. Somehow, he pushed the Torah on me and followed me as I was falling backwards. I kept going backwards with the man holding the Torah pushing against me until I fell upon a nearby bench. I was laying backwards with the Sefer Torah on top of me rather than falling on the floor. The men standing nearby were amazed how the Torah was lying on me without sliding off on to the floor. The Rav and others on the other side of the synagogue thought I had fainted They summoned a Hatzalah member who was also standing on the other side of the synagogue who came running together with the Rav with oxygen and emergency medical equipment. The Hatzalah member, the Rav and all those who surrounded me were astonished how I did not get hurt. Most of all they were amazed and grateful that the congregation were spared from a serious consequence of a Torah falling to the floor. News of what happened spread with people wanting to hear about my personal experience. Was I in the right place at the right time or was it Hashgachas Pratis? Of course, it had to be Hashgachas Pratis. It was determined by H and not my being in the right place at the right time. We must always believe in whatever happens in our lives is up to H.
It is important to acknowledge and appreciate all that H does for us everyday of our lives. There is a silver lining in everything He does for us even if we do not see or understand the nature of that silver lining. Avraham Avinu was able to view everything that happened to him with positivity, love and appreciation of H. He shared the greatness of H with the multitudes wherever he went. It is truly helpful to have emuah/faith and most of all, bitachon/ trust in H. It is essential to believe that there is a purpose for everything that happens in our lives and to improve anything we envision as negatively as best as possible. H truly wants the best for us, but we have to encourage those we care for to see the love H has for us and to enthuse significant ways to uplift a person’s spirits and find meaning in their lives. It is important to be empathetic, sincere, kind and understanding for everyone from all backgrounds even if they have different opinions or lifestyles. It is vital to be mispalel/pray for achdus/togetherness and shalom amongst all of Klal Yisrael. It is also imperative to find opportunities of making a Kiddush H. Most of all, we must imbue with encouragement that despite any negativity in the world around us, we are always in the presence of H/G. It is essential to remain strong and steadfast with positivity, kindness, goodness and to be proud of who we are and of our heritage.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank