You may have to turn up the volume to hear everything.
Dear Friends,
"Coincidence is G-d's way of remaining anonymous. " Albert Einstein
Lately I had an opportunity to put this challenging quote to a test.
On Sunday, I was traveling light by air on a one-day trip. I was carrying with me only theTraveler's Prayer. As the plane landed and came to a halt, as usual the application of the brakes brought a few items shifting around on the floor. I felt something at my feet and could not have been more surprised when I looked down and discovered a Hebrew book. Not just any book, but one that is generally read at the graveside of The Rebbe of blessed memory. It contains blessings for one's family and I have prayed for the entire community many times using this book. BUT -- on this day I did not have this book or any other book with me.
I turned around and met the eyes of the gentleman in the photo. "Is this yours?" I asked.
"Yes, yes it is mine. Please, may I have it?"
"Sure," I replied, and then I asked if he could tell me a little about why and how he had it in his possession.
He said he was just coming from his sister's house and she was inspired by the Rebbe of blessed memory many years ago. She had given the book to him as a gift that morning. She had not said much more than she had been inspired by a rabbi in about 1991 and she told him just to have this and pray from it (there is also English in it).
We embraced and continued our conversation in the baggage claim area of the airport.
There is a lot more to the story (when things like this happen, there always is).
I spoke to his sister as well and she said we should continue doing goodness and kindness because that's what the Rebbe was all about.
My dear friends: you know the saying, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." That was the Rebbe of blessed memory, my mentor and inspiration. He brought light to this world. Here we have a non-Jewish woman giving Hebrew books to her brother and others and spreading goodness because of the Rebbe.
Now you tell me: was this a coincidence?
Wishing you a blessed Shabbas,
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
Dana Jaffe wrote...