A Lesson from Rachel Goldberg-Polin
During her heart-wrenching and emotional eulogy for her son Hersh on September 2, 2024, Rachel Goldberg-Polin expressed her extraordinary faith so profoundly:
"I have had a lot of time during the past 332 days to think about my sweet boy, my Hersh. And one thing I keep thinking about is how, out of all the mothers in the world, G-d chose to give Hersh to me.
The King is in the Field
At the start of the pandemic, I received a remarkable email from Brandon Steiner, Founder of Steiner Sports Agency. The message began with these words: “Over the past 7 or so years, I have posted over 2,500 blogs. Last week's blog, 'What if you could talk to G-d? My question for all of you is - if you could have a conversation with G-d, what would you say? What questions would you have?’ had the most responses I have ever had!"
It brought to mind the Midrashic statement, “We are believers, the sons of believers”. This is true at all times but especially pertinent during challenging moments.
But Where is G-d?
Eliot Lasky, who was born to Holocaust survivors, grew up in a traditional Jewish community. At the age of 18, he left school and eventually joined the Rolling Stones on their American tour during the height of the hippie era. In this time, Eliot desired to fit in more than anything else.
As time went on, the allure of his new lifestyle faded, and he found himself grappling with profound philosophical questions about faith and life in general. One question in particular kept recurring in his mind: "How can Judaism be right while the rest of the world is wrong?" Upon seeking advice from a friendly rabbi, he was directed to seek counsel from the Rebbe.