Have you ever
had an unexpected visitor whose surprise visit made a big difference in your
life?
It might
have been an old friend who showed up one day to express appreciation for a
long forgotten kindness that you had done for her. Perhaps someone appeared
unexpectedly to apologize for slighting you a while ago. Or maybe you have been
a hospital patient and a visitor arrived with words of such profound support
that they actually helped you heal.
Rabbi Jay
TelRav is the rabbi of Temple Sinai of Stamford, Connecticut wrote the
following. Many years ago, when I was a
rabbinic student, my father died at the young age of fifty-one while I was out
of the country. The shiva took place in Washington, D.C. where my parents had
been living. To my surprise, Rabbi Balfour Brickner, z"l, showed up to
offer his condolence and support. I had met him only a few times and my parents
did not belong to Rabbi Brickner's synagogue, but rather to another one in
Washington, D.C. I have no recollection of his words to me, but his presence
gave me strength at just the moment that I needed it the most. It felt like a
gift from heaven.
You see,
it is not necessary to have a deep relationship with someone before reaching
out to them. So, please think about visiting
someone who is sick, or inviting someone you recently met at Temple for coffee,
or just say thank you for something nice that they have done. Take the risk, reach out to someone and I
guarantee that you will brighten their life and enrich yours.
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