GREETINGS FROM NECHAMA #3

DANCING TO REDEMPTION

"We are Here, We Dance, We Live, We Celebrate and We Move On!"

Last weekend, my gracious hostess, Jenny Kdoshim welcomed me to Long Beach, CA. and I spoke for the women on Shabbos afternoon on the topic, 'Dancing to Redemption'. We shared tools for increasing love and joy in our lives.

I shared the following story.

In the year 1941, the Jews in the Lithuanian city of Vilnius were ordered to assemble into the Ghetto. Abe was only one year old and was separated from his family, and was taken into hiding by his nanny Ms. Kurpi, a Polish Catholic. It was a decision which was incredibly difficult forhe parents who had no idea what would become of their young son or if they would ever see him again.

Abe was now called Henryk Stanislas Kurpi and to the world, Bronislawa Kurpi was his mother. She had him baptized by a priest and raised his as a Catholic. He could not play with other children, as it was too risky that they would realize that he was a Jew.

Miraculously, Abe's parents survived the war and they returned to claim their son, four years later. The nanny, a devout Catholic was not very fond of losing a Christian. After all, she had risked her life to save this child. The nanny did not want to give him back and so a conflict ensued. After several custody battles, the parents won their son back.

Even once reunited with his parents, Abe was a good practicing Catholic, because this was all he had learned in his formative years. He had to learn how to be Jewish, which was a growing process. He only recognized the name Henryk, and did not feel attached to his parents or his people. You can imagine how his parents felt, after all they had been through. Avraham's parents prayed for their son to feel a sense of connection to his people and return to his roots.

Abe's father decided to bring him to the main synagogue in Vilna, on the joyous festival of Simchat Torah in 1945, only a few months after liberation. On the way there, Abe passed an actual Catholic Church and he crossed himself, greeted the priest and kissed his hand.

They arrived at the Synagogue where thousands of survivors gathered together to celebrate our Torah with singing and dancing. Jews who lost everything in the war, united to dance for hours for the first time in five years. They were broken, but they still sang and danced, with tears in their eyes. They declared, "We are Here, We Dance, We Live, We Celebrate and We Move On!

A Soviet Jewish officer came up to little Abe, who was standing in Shul, with a look of confusion, and offered to carry Abe on his shoulders. They began to dance together with great joy. Abe came home and told his mother, "Hey, I want to be Jewish. I like the Jewish church!"

On the shoulders of the officer, Abe recognized the strength of our people to love life, celebrate life and to sing and dance through the ups and downs of life!

Who did Abe grow up to become? Abe Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, dedicated to fighting Anti-Semitism.

As parents, educators, leaders, future mothers, we have the obligation to pass on the love and joy of Judaism to the next generation.

Let us ask ourselves daily, "How do we share the love and joy of Judaism with others? What can we do so our children, students, brothers and sisters, will turn to us and say, "I love Judaism. I want to do more Mitzvot!?"

There are many answers to this question.. but here is one simple solution.

SING JEWISH SONGS and DANCE EVERYDAY!

We learn this from Miriam, in the Parshah, who inspired hope and faith in the women during the bitter and difficult Egyptian exile. The women were always ready to Dance to Redemption with their tambourines in hand!

We are teaching Jewish girls around the world to join Miriam's Circle, to sing and dance and spread joy and love to their surroundings. This is our work at Jewish Girls Unite!!

Last Sunday, I was inspired by a Miriam of today. Miriam Rav-noy, who was a student of mine at Maimonides Hebrew Day School over 18 years ago, arranged a beautiful First Yartzeit gathering in memory of her husband, Ariel o'bm. Miriam spoke from her heart and thanked the L.A. community for all the support that she receives, and explained her own secret for survival. She said, “I ask myself everyday, where am I needed now? What does Hashem want from me NOW? Who can I help because of what I went through? Who can I comfort? Hashem chose me to go through this, in order to grow and fulfill my mission. My mission right now is to be the most supportive mother to my children, to which I started a weekly parenting class in Ariel’s memory.”

On the way home from the cemetery, with Miriam and her mom, I listened to stories about their family members who had survived the Holocaust. With love in their hearts, they spoke about one of their dear aunts, who made a firm decision to not become sad, but to raise happy children in a happy home. B"H, She raised a beautiful family, who give her much joy and nachat today.

Miriam mentioned that her first reaction to the shocking passing of her dear husband was the same. She said to herself, "I resolve that I am not going to allow this tragedy to pull me down. I am going to keep going and create a happy home for my seven children K"H!"

I packed inspiration, comfort and love in my suitcase to give, however, I returned home with so much more than I could ever have given. Miriam Rav-Noy became my teacher, showing me that we can all discover the "Miriam" in us and sing the song of our souls through the most difficult times.

All the Jews praised Hashem when the sea miraculously split. The men sang but the women danced with tambourines because "when you feel pain more intensely, you feel joy more deeply"*.

Yes, We have the power to choose JOY each day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our joy will lead to the time that we will ‘Dance to the Final Redemption’ with Miriam leading the way, along with all of our loved ones!!

In honor of Shabbat Shira - Song, please join "Miriam's Circle", the dance supporting our Jewish daughters with an $18 monthly donation HERE.

Art work by Rohn Sohn
*quoted from Shterny Ginsburg, 12 Connections.