THE BRIGHT SIDE WITH FASHION-ISHA – TRYING TO FIND SOLACE
In light of this week’s horrific news, the entire world, Jewish and secular, is trying to make sense of the unimaginable. Tears from all around the globe have been pouring out, hearts are broken and people are angry. As frum Jews we believe that all that Hashem does is good and we must humble ourselves by giving over our faith and trust to Him even though at times like this, it seems impossible to wrap our brains around what is going on around us.
But we must believe that from darkness, goodness can be born, and it is now time to focus on bringing some positivity into this world. The unity brought about in our community and in the entire world at large has been overwhelming and unprecedented and I feel we must continue this outpouring of love and unity, no matter how different people may be from us. Let’s agree to sometimes disagree, accept others unconditionally and focus on being the best person we can be. This is how we can change the world and bring some light into the darkness.
I recently found this beautiful note on facebook and found it to be extremely touching and a bit comforting…may we only hear good news from now on and may the Kletzky family be comforted.
Here is the note:
I found this really helpful in dealing with this tragedy, from the Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman in Passaic, with permission-
Dear Leiby,
I just returned from your Levaya (funeral). You might be wondering why I went.
After all, I never met you and I am almost a half century older than you.
I don’t know your parents or any of your family members at all.
I am not a member of your parent’s Shul and never even met your parents.
I know that where you are now, you realize the reasons things occurred the way they did.
However, we down here are struggling to make sense out of the senseless; to comprehend the incomprehensible.
Why then did I trek out to Borough Park to be at your Levaya?
The reason Leiby is simple, I went because you are a very special young man.
Chazal (our Sages) have taught us in the Gemara (Shabbos 105 b) that whoever sheds tears over a ‘adam kasher’ literally a ‘kosher’ or proper person, Hashem counts those tears and places them in His ‘treasure trove’.
Leiby, more people cried today for you than for anyone I can recall in many years.
These tears shed openly and unabashedly certainly indicate that you are a special young boy.
However, there is another, more important reason I went to your Levaya.
The reason I went to the Levaya is because you are one of the most precious souls that Hashem has given us and to give proper respect and kavod to your special Neshama, I went to the Levaya.
Leiby, I cannot recall a single person has caused such unity; such an outpouring of togetherness; such fervent recitation of Tehillim as you caused these two days.
Leiby, today when I came to your Borough Park neighborhood, your presence could be felt by all. Everyone and I mean everyone, Jew and Gentile were more somber, more serious, indeed, nicer to each other.
Leiby, only a special person could have been chosen by Hashem to be the conduit of such an outpouring of care and consideration.
The Gemara teaches us that when Hashem wants to send ‘zechusim’ (merit) to His people, He chooses an individual who is already full of ‘merit’.
Leiby, you are obviously a young man with much merit; why else would Hashem choose you to be His agent to send His people so many opportunities for mitzvohs?
Leiby, I do not know why this happened. Indeed, this is not the way life is supposed to be.
The way of life is that young people are not supposed to die young. They are not supposed to be abducted by anyone, certainly not by a fellow Jew.
The way of the world should be that old people pass on and that young people live on.
However, in your case, the opposite has occurred.
I know you are a special young man; and I know your parents must be special people to have been blessed with you.
Leiby, it seems to us that you were with us much too short a time.
However, in your too short life you gave us the gift of appreciating the importance of unity.
You gave us a wake-up call to remind us to take the mundane incidents in life and place them in their proper perspective.
For two too short days you allowed us to be more forgiving, more accepting of each other and ultimately more loving of each other.
For that and for so much more, I and thousands like me went to your Levaya.
Please Leiby, do what you can for us and help all of us maintain the unity and togetherness which you caused these last two days.
May we merit to see each other one day.
With much love and respect; your friend…..
