Help Rabbi Rottenberg's Community Heal
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Together with Rabbi Ezra Seligsohn and Rabbi Avram Mlotek, we felt drawn to be in Monsey. To be there just two weeks after the horror - in that place, at that time. To be there for Rabbi Rottenberg’s Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) melave malka.
To be there and humbly say, we are with you in your pain.
In next week’s parsha God reveals Himself in a sneh, a burning bush. Why a thornbush? Say the rabbis, as the Israelites were enslaved, God felt their pain and could only appear in the lowly sneh. We, too, must feel and empathize with the pain of our brothers and sisters.
It was uplifting. Rabbi Rottenberg, whose Abba was a rabbi in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx, was gracious beyond words. Here we were with our kippot srugot, the Rebbe and his chassidim in their garb – and there was no distance. We were together; that’s all that counted.
We embraced Dovid, whose father Joseph still lies critically wounded in a hospital; hugged Yosef Gluck, who stopped the attacker, humbly telling us “only with the help of God”; met one of Rabbi Rottenberg’s sons, wearing a shtreimel with a circular metal base that had been gashed in the attack.
We shared in a melave malka, a heimishe meal, with songs, listening to the rebbe’s inspirational Torah and story of a poor chassid who miraculously turned darkness into light.
In a deep moment, Rabbi Rottenberg privately opened up to us, describing the horrific scene of fear, screams, blood, heroism; of children, parents traumatized; of miracles that countless were saved.
While sharing the pain, we left uplifted. We experienced a glimpse of redemptive times, when Am Yisrael, our people, our family, is forever together.
May we learn this lesson not in grief, but in smachot, in joy, through the niggunim we heard that night; singing about Eliyahu, singing “do not be afraid Yaakov”; singing melodies that go beyond ourselves, encompassing our people and the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We, all of us, must do more to connect to this beautiful, holy community. In the wake of the attack, it is in need.
And so, I ask for your help. Our goal is $10,000. Checks can be made out to Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, earmarked “Kehillat Rottenberg fund.” 100% of the monies received will be given to Rabbi Rottenberg’s Kehillah. If donating through gofundme, all funds minus gofundme’s fees will be given to Rabbi Rottenberg’s Kehillah.
Thank you, thank you for your consideration.
To be there and humbly say, we are with you in your pain.
In next week’s parsha God reveals Himself in a sneh, a burning bush. Why a thornbush? Say the rabbis, as the Israelites were enslaved, God felt their pain and could only appear in the lowly sneh. We, too, must feel and empathize with the pain of our brothers and sisters.
It was uplifting. Rabbi Rottenberg, whose Abba was a rabbi in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx, was gracious beyond words. Here we were with our kippot srugot, the Rebbe and his chassidim in their garb – and there was no distance. We were together; that’s all that counted.
We embraced Dovid, whose father Joseph still lies critically wounded in a hospital; hugged Yosef Gluck, who stopped the attacker, humbly telling us “only with the help of God”; met one of Rabbi Rottenberg’s sons, wearing a shtreimel with a circular metal base that had been gashed in the attack.
We shared in a melave malka, a heimishe meal, with songs, listening to the rebbe’s inspirational Torah and story of a poor chassid who miraculously turned darkness into light.
In a deep moment, Rabbi Rottenberg privately opened up to us, describing the horrific scene of fear, screams, blood, heroism; of children, parents traumatized; of miracles that countless were saved.
While sharing the pain, we left uplifted. We experienced a glimpse of redemptive times, when Am Yisrael, our people, our family, is forever together.
May we learn this lesson not in grief, but in smachot, in joy, through the niggunim we heard that night; singing about Eliyahu, singing “do not be afraid Yaakov”; singing melodies that go beyond ourselves, encompassing our people and the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We, all of us, must do more to connect to this beautiful, holy community. In the wake of the attack, it is in need.
And so, I ask for your help. Our goal is $10,000. Checks can be made out to Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, earmarked “Kehillat Rottenberg fund.” 100% of the monies received will be given to Rabbi Rottenberg’s Kehillah. If donating through gofundme, all funds minus gofundme’s fees will be given to Rabbi Rottenberg’s Kehillah.
Thank you, thank you for your consideration.
Organizer
Avi Weiss
Organizer
New York, NY