לקריאת המכתב בעברית הקליק\י כאן
B"H
Ribbono Shel Olam (Ruler of the World)! I have something to say to You – right now, before we enter the Yamim Noraim – the High Holy Days, with their Selichot and the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers.
You know that every year I open the Machzor, that special holiday prayer-book, and am overawed by its contents: everything is so real and relevant. The prayers express in the best way possible what I have to say to You, to request from You on the days in which You, dear Father, are judging me and my family for the coming year. And the accompanying tunes – oy, they fill my heart to the point that my feelings overflow into tears.
I recruit Avraham, who went through fire and water for You; I call upon Eliyahu on Mount Carmel, and Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah in the fiery furnace; and in my heart, wordlessly, soundlessly, I add in my fellow Jews who gave up their lives for You, time after time. The babies who were torn from their mothers’ arms in Lodz, and the soldier who threw himself on a hand-grenade in Lebanon. They are all there with me, under the Tallit (prayer shawl), in a silence that encompasses everything.
But today I would like to speak of simpler things – not about dying Al Kiddush Hashem – for Your Name, and not about suffering. Today I want to tell you about your sons and daughters, who love You and your nation:
- About the Protestant minister who at age 45 discovered he was Jewish, and cried in my Succah last year, beseeching You: Ribbono Shel Olam, will you accept me back?
- About the young girl who studied with me during the year, and last Pesach called me, in tears, to say that she is having problems eating only Kosher for Passover food, which she had just learned about for the first time in her life. She was crying, because she “wants to be a good Jew.”
I want to tell you about a local Jew whom I really didn’t know much of, who sent 500 francs before Pesach and asked me to please give the money to some needy family… and that no one should know about it,
…and also about the email I received today from an older woman who lives somewhat far away, and was pleading with me that I should come and blow shofar for her. Of course, I will.
So I must tell you today, that I am proud to be part of Your people – proud and also compelled! These people (and I don’t have to tell You that these are just a few – but typical – examples) have set a high standard, but I’m sure that with a bit of help from You I will be able to reach it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Ktiva v’Chatima Tova, and a good sweet year to all,
Zalmen Wishedski
Some info:
SLICHOT - Saturday midnight 1:30am at Chabad. Join the very special begin of the High Holidays with traditional Midnight Slichot.
Rosh Hashana traditional Meal – there are another few places left.
