Yes…..We
are totally sick to our stomachs ………with
this tragic accident resulting in the loss of Mrs Esther Ohayon and leaving
Orly critical condition – as an orphan All
of us are reeling ……..from this devastating blow to Orly, Esther’s family, the
Ohayon families, friends, co-workers,
The
Jewish communities of Jacksonville, Boca, ourselves, and all those directly
connected to this tragedy as well as and all of Klal Yisroel. It absolutely
hurts so much, so painful when things like these occur …. Oy……to a girl and
family like this ….. so good
Especially
when so many of us, so many people are so connected to this family that we see
so much beauty in them We Grieve – We
are so vulnerable – if it happens to people like these……Jittery, nervous,
…….what is going to happen next?
So
many real and challenging questions come to mind – you know the ones that Rabbi’s
have to respond “that God says your thoughts are not my thoughts” So many
conscious questions right in front of our faces …….and so many subconscious
questions forming as skeletons in psyches
But
-Nevertheless, although these questions must be asked and faced….the truth is
…. Is that now is not the time to try to address these very real &
important big questions -That are indeed are critical and essential for our
personal relationship with God and our Avodas Hashem
Not
now, when our heads are filled with such confusion; we are bewildered upset,
weary from one tragic event after another -At a time like this our heads are
like those plastic dome shaped winter wonderlands they sell in Manhattan around
x-mas time – you shake them, snow is flying
everywhere, visibility zero-all you can see is the snow
We
have to let the snow settle – let our mind settle -so we can see- clearly – get
to a calm place – Tonight we find ourselves in the middle of a war…joined all
together tonight in the firing lines
When
the Israeli troops have already entered the firing lines in Gaza to face Hamas
that is not the time for questions like why are in this war, what are we trying
to accomplish
When
it’s time to fight -it’s time to rely on
your basic training, your commanders, the foundation that your families gave
you, upon the shoulders of prior generations
These
were the absolute keys for my wife and myself in dealing with the loss of
Shoshie a’h – our training in Yeshiva, Our Rabbi’s, our families –the jewish
people
We
couldn’t think –not in the midst of the battle of dealing with the tragedy of
Shoshie’s loss
At
times like these we need to hop onto the shoulders of generations upon
generations of the Jewish people- spanning thousands of years -Who while facing
a long history of great tragedies – inevitably met the challenges of continuing
to see God’s goodness, God’s love, God’s continued direct guiding hand and
personal involvement in our lives despite everything that has happened
throughout our history
Yes,
it is true that in order to be positive, move forward and to do something
constructive, we need to form a bit of perspective, to seek understanding, a
way to think about it, and a measure of comfort but all for the sake of
Responding
and being helpful to Orly or anyone facing illness, crises at this time in an
effective, helpful and intelligent way. In a way calm way. We need to do this
for ourselves too
Note!
Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokainu Hashem Echad! Teache us that Hashem is 1- Hashem
is all –there is nothing that doesn’t exist within
Gd
at every given moment. Even us –moment to moment-every breath. God continues to
give us life-every moment in a completely loving selfless, altruistic loving
way.
Yet
the paradox of all paradoxes -God has placed us a world of concealment – a
darkness – it’s the worlds –hide and go seek game – where we have to find
(illuminate)god within the world of the mundane, ordinary and ho-hum everyday existence.
It
is precisely a time like this, a tragedy – where the curtain that normally conceals
the day to day ho-hum of existence of life is exposed and day to day mundane life
is exposed as a shallow replica of real “life”-ho-hum existence is s pushed
aside –
We
are faced with real life - And we are left with this overwhelming dread that
makes us totally alive in every way, more awake than ever, God doesn’t seem to
be absent right now but seems to be is more present at a time like this demanding
us to find and strive for meaning, significance and truth
I
found the problem through Shoshie’s Petira not to be not “Where is god”? – But
god is in my face –like a fish who hadn’t known that he was he was ever in
water –but all of sudden taken out to dry land. Realizing that every second
depends upon water
God
is challenging us through this tragedy to not only further define “life”, our
lives, and what is life all about? But challenges us to develop -a God
consciousness that permeates our entire lives and leaves us with the clarity- that
we must respond with light, love, laughter, goodness, compassion, mercy,
righteousness, -Fight God’s fight
All
of darkness, wrong, falsehood, evil – all exist only for us to choose to stand
up to it, fight it -push it aside- We are here to choose life.
God
has all of our attention – what do you want to do? It’s a shame that such
innocence has to be challenged at such an early age but it seems like that is
the plan
We
know what can help Orly, Mrs Ohayon – Tzeduckah, Chesed, & Torah – but 1
step at a time
Those
who want to be there for Orly – and other families who have other major
challenges such as illness – I can say that from our experience-
To
be there but don’t be there – don’t ask what you can do – just be around and
ask if you can be helpful –
Don’t
say too much – wait for the person’s lead – see if they want to talk, see what
they want to talk about, how much they want to talk-Don’t pity show support-
I’m so proud to be a part of all of you
Joy
will never let us down- it is when we are at our best- we can help the most
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