Shalom and blessings for the new month of Shevat!
I have a wonderful story for you!
Chana, a young orthodox woman, was staying in Jerusalem. While travelling to do a favor for a friend even though she was not feeling well, she got on an Arab bus in error and found herself in a remote Arab area. There was no visible bus stop to return to Jerusalem, the street was empty, it was evening, the signs on the walls looked menacing. And her cell phone was out of battery.
Genuinely concerned for her safety, Chana began to say Tehilim (Psalms) and suddenly thought up a plan. She would look for the most well-kept house, knock on the door and play the part of a social justice, English speaking pro-Palestinian student, writing an essay on the Palestinian cause, and that she wanted to interview them.
She found an appropriate house and knocked. A young Palestinian woman opened the door, and shouted happily – “Chana!”. She pulled Chana into the house, hugged her warmly, and showed her a greetings card that she took from a shelf. “I’m so happy to see you,” she said in Hebrew. “Look, I still have your card!”
Chana then remembered that a few weeks before, when she was staying at a Jerusalem hotel as a leader of a Jewish youth group, she decided to note down the names of all the staff at the hotel, their shifts, and their interests. She made of point of connecting with all of them – all 50! On the last day of the program, Chana noticed a young Arab woman – a new member of staff. Chana chatted to her with warmth and interest and, when she gave thank you cards to all the staff because she could not afford a tip, she also gave one to this Arab girl, Aisha, who responded, “Thank you. Please come one day and visit me and my family.”
Chana then recognized Aisha and understood! Aisha thought that Chana had taken up her invitation! Chana was brought in to meet the family all eating together (it was a Ramadan fast day), many of whom also worked at that hotel and greeted her warmly. She hung around politely for a few minutes and then asked how to get back to Jerusalem. A member of the family drove her, along with Aisha, right to a Jerusalem light rail station.
(Story told by Rabbi Yoel Gold)
You might think the amazing part of the story is the miracle of Chana returning home safely. But what is really special is Chana’s thoughtfulness and concern for others which was clearly repaid by G-d’s Divine providence (Hashgacha Pratit). The seeds of kindness she sowed bore fruit that surrounded her with love – and safety.
Shevat heralds the beginning of the beginning of spring, a new beginning for each of us. No better time to start new good habits. They are not just good for us, they are good for others also. .
? ? ? (Shevat) = : ?????? ?????? ????? a cronym for ”We should share good news”.
May this be the month that we hear the ultimate good news of the redemption.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe stressed that we should increase our actions of goodness and kindness to others in order to hasten the redemption.
Chana’s story of personal “redemption” shows how one person’s kindness and consideration probably saved her from harm. When we act in a good way with others, G-d acts in a good way with us.
Rabbi Shaul Leiter