Dear
Readers,
These columns began on my area of America Online, called: Judaism
Today: Where Do I Fit? People anonymously
sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response
in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become
quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many
Jewish papers and websites. I hope you find they help you
as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood
components of the Jewish way of Life. I welcome your
comments... see the end of the column.
Gil
PS
Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward
them or use them as you see fit. Please see the friendly
copyright notice at the end. |
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Unknown
Things About Rabbis
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Last
week, (1/29/98) as you can read in
this area, I wrote a response of the
week about a horror story involving
synagogue dues. I heard from a number
of people who told me of their
negative experiences with Jewish
Institutions and high dues.
And
then I received the following email. I
was so moved, I had to share it with
you:
Dear
Gil,
Recently,
I found out how my rabbi cares, in
ways most people don't see. I thought
I'd share this with you, maybe to help
others realize that their own rabbis
probably do the same, with no
recognition. Our rabbi is very kind
and caring...most people do not see
everything he does, that is the
wonderful things he does. This story,
is one I just heard. It is only one
person, but think of how many other
times he's done this. And no one
knows.
Our
synagogue is having a campaign to
raise money, to build a religious
school, enlarge our social hall, and
do many other things to improve our
temple. I am on the campaign, and have
been given the job to ask congregants
for money. I was given one women's
name.
I
called her and set up a lunch date.
The morning of our lunch date, I
thought it was stupid to drive 45
minutes to this woman's house, just to
ask for money. Little did I know her
heart was to come pouring out...
I
knew that her husband had died
recently, just 12 days after her son's
Bar Mitzvah. But, I did not know much
else about her.
She
told me this story how before her
husband passed away she had become
seriously ill, and almost died. While
in the hospital, our rabbi went way
out of his way to visit her every
evening. She recovered, and bounced
back to her normal self. Three months
later, her sister was diagnosed with
cancer. When her sister died, she had
to fly out to the funeral. My rabbi
said he needed to go with her, and
paid for himself, the woman, and her
husband, to travel and stay there.
Then,
two months later, her husband was
diagnosed with cancer and died a month
later. Between all of this, she had a
Bar Mitzvah going on. My rabbi made
all the arrangements for the service
and party, and pitched in a little,
from his own pocket.
When
her husband died, my rabbi drove 45
minutes to her for shiva, and 45
minutes back. He gave up time with his
own family, to be with their family.
Now,
one year later, she is preparing for a
Bat Mitzvah. She has very little
money, and will be unable to throw a
party. My rabbi again, stepped in, and
is planning their party. He is paying
for the whole shebang, and is going
the extra mile to make it wonderful.
The touching part is that he is
planning it from Israel, and will not
even be able to attend. He feels that
their family needs a party. He is also
a little low on cash, but he insisted
on doing this.
My
point of the story is that no one from
our congregation knows this story. It
is all unknown to the world. If this
is one of the things he's done for one
family, that is not known...think of
how many other things he does that no
one sees.
Thank
you for taking the time to read my
letter. I hope it makes people realize
that just because you don't see it,
doesn't mean it's not happening.
Sincerely,
C.
Dear
C.
I
cried when I read your letter. So
often people write to me to tell me of
their problems with Judaism and Jewish
Institutions. I have heard many
complaints about rabbis and in all
candor, have some of my own.
But
almost every rabbi I have ever met is
truly a nice person who is trying the
best they can to further Judaism and
to help people. Your letter is a most
remarkable example.
I
was so moved by your letter that I
plan to use it as a response of the
week...perhaps this week. Of course I
will change details in an attempt to
conceal your rabbi's identity. Tzaddik
(righteous person) that he appears to
be, I suspect he would want to remain
anonymous.
Still
like you, I think others would benefit
from reading of your rabbi's selfless
dedication to a member of his
congregation. The confidential nature
of a rabbi's job requires him or her
to keep their acts of kindness and
assistance to themselves. But I agree
with you, this rabbi--and I believe
countless others-- regularly perform
acts of gemilut hasadim (acts of
loving kindness) and no one ever
knows....Now many do.
Thanks
for writing!
Gil
A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Copyright Gil Mann
These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org. Not
only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email
columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!
All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you
also include this little copyright notice. Thank You!
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