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One Letter. One Life.

Chana's Note: We never know when we will do something seemingly simple that will make a huge impact. Here's a great true life story, from one of my colleagues, illustrating how a short response to a letter actually saved a life. Of course the greater message to all of us is: what "little" act can each of us do that may have a life-altering result?

Here at he.chabad.org, Chabad.org's Hebrew site, we receive hundreds of letters each week. Some are written by travelers looking for a Chabad center in a specific area (is there is Chabad center in Venice?—There is). Others have halachic questions (is it permissible to eat bread without rabbinical certification in Turkey?—No). And still others are looking for advice on personal matters, or for information on an endless variety of topics.

Among the questions we received recently, one stood out:

"I became pregnant a few weeks ago… I already have several small children, and I cannot care for another baby… Can I pray to G‑d to terminate the pregnancy?"

The letter was assigned to Mindi Schmerling, who serves as a Chabad emissary in Tel Aviv. She identified with the writer: "Thank G‑d, I am the mother of five children. I know what it takes to raise children. It's not easy. Still, to bring a Jewish child into the world is a great merit, which, to our sorrow, not everyone gets a chance to have!"

She continued: "Take a break for a moment, ignore the chaos, breathe deeply, and imagine yourself and your family in twenty years. Picture yourself a little older, surrounded by a warm and loving family, sons and daughters, brides and grooms, grandsons and granddaughters. Try to feel those emotions. You did it? You experienced it? Now try and remove some of the family members standing next to you from the picture.

"Can you do that? I think that you can't—it is nearly impossible. It is not possible in a dream, and it's also not possible in reality!"

Mindi concluded with some advice on how the woman could more easily meet the blessed challenge of raising children (click here to read her complete answer).

A few weeks ago, she received the following email:

"Hello, dear Rebbetzin. I want to tell you that we have a baby boy, and his name is Oshri. I thank you for your letter. It helped me put things in perspective. I was able to completely abandon my previous thoughts about the pregnancy, and accept everything with love. Thank G‑d, I gave birth to a boy who is amazing and like an angel, and I would not exchange him for any amount of money. May you be blessed for saving me and Oshri."

Hundreds of questions each week, thousands every month. We helped another child come into this world. And that makes it all worth it.


Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: July 30, 2009
Congratulations....
...on little Oshri's birth. May he have a long, healthy life filled with love, peace, joy, and may all his dreams come true.
Posted By Alice

Posted: July 29, 2009
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story
In my opinion, this story also illustrates how to approach people and counsel them toward the right path. Mindi could have said something like, "How could you even think of such an evil thing!"

However, Mindi showed such a great empathy and understanding and with G-d's help, Oshri and his mother were saved.

May Mindi, Oshri and his mother merit life in the world to come!
Posted By Matthew, Staten Island, NY

Posted: July 26, 2009
Questioning a Pregnancy
Any Jewish woman questioning whether to continue her pregnancy should call the organization Just One Life either in New York or in Israel. 917-685-4953, YLC@JustOneLife.Org. They help with financial assistance and other needed assistance.
Posted By Anonymous, Tenafly, NJ
via chabadlubavitch.org

Posted: July 26, 2009
What a special job you do
I can only imagine that the people answering emials at Chabad must have the most important job in the entire world! Helping strangers all over the world grow in the most spectacular ways!

May you go from strength to strength!
Posted By M K


 



By Mendy Kaminker   More by this authors...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Mendy Kaminker is the editor of Beit Chabad, the Hebrew edition of Chabad.org.

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