What a Special Nation We Belong To!

Several months ago, I wrote a letter explaining how my family and I had been

victims of an electrical fire on Erev Pesach. I would like to take the

opportunity to share with you the experience of the aftermath. The breadth

and scope of the chessed that went on was mind-boggling. From the neighbors

that called us the day of the fire to tell us we can live in their basement

so hard setting that apartment up with beds, linens and household essentials

right after Pesach so we would have a place to come home to from our

to ask them to work out special prices with us so we could start rebuilding

better!) prices but made us feel like we were doing them a favor by allowing

them this mitzvah. The list of people who helped us out- financially,

emotionally, cooking suppers until we were able to buy kitchenware, going

through clothing and toys and giving any surplus they may have- it literally

is endless. This assistance came from friends and family, people we knew and

total strangers, with knowledge and anonymously. But every act of chessed

was done in such a kind and gracious manner, it has taught us an enormous

amount. This has truly been a humbling experience. I, who has always been

used to being in the position of being the giver, had to learn how to become

a taker. The transition was made as comfortable as possible by the way the

chessed was done. I think that from all the enormous acts of chessed that I

have experienced in the past five months, the one that touched me the most

was this: I was at a store buying dishes. The man who works there toiveling

all the purchases heard me telling the owner my story. He slipped her $20 to

give to me to help me out. I was moved to tears. This was a complete

stranger who was obviously not well off and yet, he gave what he could to

someone he felt needed it. I don’t think I will ever forget that single act

of complete chessed, or the feeling I felt right then. What I felt was

gratitude and amazement and such a deep feeling of utter belonging to the Am

Kadosh. Earlier this year, I started a small-scale email tzeddaka campaign

to raise funds for an almana. I must have emailed about 50 people. I actually also posted the letter on this website. The

worldwide response I got just blew my mind. I know that we take for granted

that we belong to Klal Yisroel, a nation that cares deeply for family and

strangers alike, because at the heart of it all we are all one family. This

year has been such a difficult one for all of us. We have suffered the loss

of Tzaddikim and Tzidkanios, mothers and fathers, young children and

grandparents. The political landscape in Eretz Yisroel grows more

frightening by the day. I read every week the crises we experience, the

vendettas people feel against each other. I wanted to use this forum as a

medium to publicize how amazing and kind and good Klal Yisroel is. Now, in

this month of Elul, I want to remind every reader about the chassodim, small

and large that are done every day by each and every person in Klal Yisroel.

I want each person who reads this to carry it with them in their heart and

when they are davening on Rosh Hashana, they have something to come to

Hashem with. Cry out- Hakadosh Baruch Hu, there is no other nation in the

world who would give selflessly and without a thought to someone who was

going through a hard time. Yes, we make mistakes and yes, we are not

perfect. But we are humans, and as much as we have messed up, the amount of

chessed that was perpetuated by this fire we experienced should tip the

scales and give Klal Yisroel the Zechus to have a Kesiva Vechasima Tova and

a Gut Gebentched Yohr.

Rivky Greenspan

Lakewood, NJ