Dedicated Anonymously
This is based on the speech I wrote for the International Conference of Chabad Rabbis, it was delivered by my thirteen year old son, Shalom, in front of a crowd of 5800.
In parshas Toldos, we read how Yitzchak dug wells, and we are taught that this was his soul's purpose, to find the G-dliness within the physical world and uncover it, to find the water, the source of life within the earth. Not to impose G-dliness from above, but to reveal the hidden treasure that was always there.
This is what the Rebbe wanted from us, to look deep into every Jew and reveal his or her neshama.
To take this teaching a step further. Not only is this true about the world and every Jew, but it's also true about every situation and every challenge we face. We are meant to find the good and purpose of the challenge, until we don't see it as a challenge, but as wings with which to soar.
Many of you have been following my story and my struggles. Many of you have sent me messages of encouragement and I can't begin to tell you how it energizes me. Especially the ones that come from you who have your own struggles. It's incredible the love and strength that you are capable of.
One thing I have learned from my experience, is that there is hardly a person who doesn't have struggles. Whether it be health, money, Shalom bayis, shidduchim, children, or something else. In my case it's open and impossible to hide, so I am on display. But that doesn't mean that your struggles are any less.
You need to know that whatever you are dealing with, it's directly from Hashem. That means that He wants something from you that can only be realized through your difficulty. It doesn't mean that your mission and purpose has to end, rather that there is something else being asked of you, a new stage of your purpose and mission. You don't have to fight it, rather, you should find a way for your struggle to take you to the next level.
We are so lucky to have the Rebbe, this is his way of thinking and that's what gives me the strength to go on.
This is positivity in the face of any challenge, not only to deal with your challenge, or to learn from your challenge, but to use your difficulty to lift you and your family to heights previously unimaginable, and even more, to use your difficulties as a platform to lift others up. Because there is nothing better than lifting the spirit of a Jewish person.
When I went for the first round of tests, I was given a devastating diagnosis, "You have bulbar ALS."
I didn't understand what the doctor was saying, so I asked him to explain. He said, "It's very serious, you are going to lose your muscles and you will be paralyzed, it's the most aggressive form of the disease, you have two years to live." As you could imagine, I was shaken to the core.
When I left the office I was all alone, walking into the empty hallway I broke down in a fit of bitter tears. When I composed myself, I exited the building, and I saw a man falling on the ground having a seizure and I ran to help him. At that moment, I realized that there is still a lot that I can do.
I resolved right there and then that no matter what the results of any further "tests," I am going to remain positive and find a way to make a difference. I couldn't imagine how high that way of thinking would take me.
Another thing I learned is, "don't underestimate the power of friendship and community."
A lot of people hide their struggles, understandably. But when is the time to confide in a friend? When it's impossible to do it alone.
It's so important to have a friend or a few friends that you talk with on a regular basis. Just the feeling that you are not alone, will help you deal with the challenge. Just knowing that you have someone that you can call, will relieve some of the stress and the pain associated with your challenge.
We are living in a beautiful time now, the walls of division between the Jewish communities are coming down, the unity is becoming stronger and stronger and we should embrace it. We all have something to contribute and we have to be there for each other.
I see this every day, as I have visitors from all walks of life.
When I was diagnosed, the first to come to our aid were the Chabad Rabbis, then the Chabad community, then the Los Angeles Jewish community, and finally Jews from all over. We were falling and you caught us, and we are grateful. At a time that we could have been drowning, you poured out your love to us, and instead of going down, we were on a high.
Unfortunately, the nature of this exile is that we have challenges, but it's those challenges that brings out the best in the Jewish people. Just like Yitzchak avinu, who revealed the G-dliness in the world, we reveal the G-dliness in the Jewish people, and our challenges reveals the G-dliness within us, our families, our friends, our communities, and the whole Jewish world.
I give you a Brocha that you shouldn't know of any devastating challenges, pain or suffering. We should be blessed with happy and healthy children and our children should be blessed with good and healthy parents.
And I bless my wife and children that Hashem should give them a miracle, that I should return to complete health and be able to be the husband and father they need and want.
Perhaps seeing the power of our challenges is what's going to be the final blow to the exile and usher in the coming of Moshiach, when there won't be any more challenges, pain or suffering, there will be only revealed good. May it happen now.