I feel so close to so many Chabad shluchim because of all that they represent and all that they have done for our Jewish community and for me personally. I waited until Shabbat acharon shel Pesach ended in California and I immediately contacted my friends who are shluchim there. I am blessed to share a special connection with the Cunin family, whom I frequently lean on for help and support and with whom I often speak several times a week. When I spoke to Rabbi Yossi Cunin, he especially encouraged me to travel to Poway for the levaya of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, z”l. He said that this is a really important time for our community to show support and solidarity. And so I am on my way to attend the funeral. My plan is to return, Gd willing, on a “red eye” in time for Shacharit on Tuesday morning. In traveling there, I feel that I represent so many of our community who share my feelings of solidarity and love for Chabad of Poway and recognize the importance of honoring the memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, z”l. I am grateful to my dear friend, Joseph Gitler, for arranging and sponsoring my travel arrangements.
In the airport on my journey, I have met relatives and friends of Chabad of Poway all traveling to the levaya. Even though we have just met, our connection is strong.
Yesterday, I watched a powerful video of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein offering all of us strength and retelling the story of what occurred.
Rabbi Goldstein locked eyes with the murderer while he was washing his hands for the mitzvah of netilat yadayim before Yizkor. Rabbi Goldstein’s interaction with the murderer at that moment saved many lives. The rabbi held up his hands — literally netilat yadayim means “lifting up of the hands” — to shield himself and the bullets tore though some fingers. His hands, which had just been used for a mitzvah, now took bullets to protect his congregation. He did a literal netilat yadayim to save his congregation. He then wrapped a tallit around his fingers to stop the bleeding.
There is a long tradition of our holy ancestors dedicating their lives to the mitzvah of netilat yadayim.
The Talmud in Eruvin 21b tells us that the great Rabbi Akiva risked his life for the mitzvah of netilat yadayim.
The founder of Chassidus, the Baal Shem Tov, once cried out, “Better to not be created than to not have water to wash my hands before praying mincha.” At that moment, Hashem made a miracle and a spring of water was created. To this day, people immerse in that spring as a mikvah and according to tradition it carries special healing powers. I myself immersed in that mikvah and believe that I was blessed with a healing.
The holy netilat yadayim of Rabbi Goldstein now takes its place in our history and tradition as a special performance of that mitzvah that symbolizes our faith and dedication to Hashem.
In the words of Isaiah as quoted by Rabbi Goldstein from his hospital bed, “This is the Gd of my salvation in whom I will be secure. I will not be afraid.”
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld
(202) 812-8900
RabbiShmuel@ostns.org
Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue 1600 Jonquil Street NW Washington, DC 20012
