The purpose of this blog is to save someone's life, maybe at your very own Shabbat table. Please print and share., forward, post on facebook, etc.
In memory of Yizchok ben Yoseph and the Meiron victims.
In memory of Yizchok ben Yoseph and the Meiron victims.
(Written on April 30, 2021, but inadvertently not published on time.)
Yesterday morning was the funeral of a dear friend, Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun, z''l.
Yesterday evening we saw the death of 44 innocent people, crushed by the overcrowded Lag b'Omer celebrations in Meiron.
Itchie was a great, caring soul whose heart and mind were always on helping others. For nearly two decades, he brought together rabbis and other Jewish leaders from around the world with one singular goal: Jewish unity.
One of his former students said,
From the first time I met him as a 5th grader at my first Jr. NCSY Shabbaton, I was attracted to his excitement and passion for Judaism and Jewish kids.
Back in the day Reb Itchie was this cool Chassid who water-skied, break-danced, played electric guitar, could party like no other and got up with sunrise every day to learn Torah and pray before most people even woke up. He was loving, intelligent and when he spoke he could really pull your heartstrings.
He taught me to dream big and never give up, he taught me Hakaras Hatov and he led by personal example. Every time I started a new school or job he visited the Rosh Yeshiva or called my new Boss to tell them how lucky they were to have me. He is still my biggest fan and I will always be his!
We had collaborated on several projects together, and helped each other on numerous occasions.
He had been sick with progressive cancer for a long time. And for as long as I knew him (nearly 20 years), he had suffered various health problems related to obesity.
Some consider it impolite to mention underlying causes, because it sounds like I'm blaming him.
However, I spoke with him about this a few months ago. He was aware that some of his own lifestyle choices may have lead to these outcomes.
If hearing this message will inspire one reader to make serious changes regarding food and exercise, then it will be a great merit for the neshama of Yitzchok ben Yoseph.
Who will be that reader?
My grandfather of blessed memory used to say to me, "Take care of your health - without your health, you don't have anything."
Question #1 for your table: If we're supposed to take care of our health, and protect people from stampedes, does that mean God has nothing to do with it?
Question #2: Stampedes are unfortunately common enough in human history to merit their own Wikipedia article. Does that make them "normal", and therefore last night's tragedy comes as no surprise?
Shabbat ShalomYesterday evening we saw the death of 44 innocent people, crushed by the overcrowded Lag b'Omer celebrations in Meiron.
Itchie was a great, caring soul whose heart and mind were always on helping others. For nearly two decades, he brought together rabbis and other Jewish leaders from around the world with one singular goal: Jewish unity.
One of his former students said,
From the first time I met him as a 5th grader at my first Jr. NCSY Shabbaton, I was attracted to his excitement and passion for Judaism and Jewish kids.
Back in the day Reb Itchie was this cool Chassid who water-skied, break-danced, played electric guitar, could party like no other and got up with sunrise every day to learn Torah and pray before most people even woke up. He was loving, intelligent and when he spoke he could really pull your heartstrings.
He taught me to dream big and never give up, he taught me Hakaras Hatov and he led by personal example. Every time I started a new school or job he visited the Rosh Yeshiva or called my new Boss to tell them how lucky they were to have me. He is still my biggest fan and I will always be his!
We had collaborated on several projects together, and helped each other on numerous occasions.
He had been sick with progressive cancer for a long time. And for as long as I knew him (nearly 20 years), he had suffered various health problems related to obesity.
Some consider it impolite to mention underlying causes, because it sounds like I'm blaming him.
However, I spoke with him about this a few months ago. He was aware that some of his own lifestyle choices may have lead to these outcomes.
If hearing this message will inspire one reader to make serious changes regarding food and exercise, then it will be a great merit for the neshama of Yitzchok ben Yoseph.
Who will be that reader?
My grandfather of blessed memory used to say to me, "Take care of your health - without your health, you don't have anything."
Question #1 for your table: If we're supposed to take care of our health, and protect people from stampedes, does that mean God has nothing to do with it?
Question #2: Stampedes are unfortunately common enough in human history to merit their own Wikipedia article. Does that make them "normal", and therefore last night's tragedy comes as no surprise?
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