A Birthday in the Hospital

By the Deren family

Sitting here in the Intensive Care Unit of New York University Hospital, anticipating Hashem’s help and mercy in a miraculous complete recovery for our son, Menachem Mendel HaKohen ben Shifra Aviva, we are acutely aware of the heartfelt good wishes being directed our way (and tefilot directed heavenward), for which we are deeply grateful.

“Is there anything we can do?” is the question that keeps coming to us, directly and indirectly, from so many.

And the answer, truthfully, is – You bet there is!

We don’t for a minute believe that things are supposed to be this way. In King David’s words – “Ad Mosai?” – “Until When?”

The Rebbe taught us that Hashem actually wants us to ask that of Him, that we forcefully demand that He put an end to all the terrible suffering in this world.

And that we are meant to be active participants in making that happen.

We all know what we want – a world of good, of kindness, of happiness and health. But we need to “prime the pump”, by doing the good things, the kind things, that define a good world.

One mitzva, another mitzva. Maimonides says every single one of us needs to understand that WE are the one to do THE mitzva that will tip the balance.

When Mendel was born he was unusually small and I wrote to the Rebbe, expressing concern. The Rebbe’s answer was ויקוים בו זה הקטן גדול יהי’ “v’yikoyam boi zeh hakatan gadol yihiyeh” – “In him will be fulfilled” [the words that are part of the bris blessings] “this little one will become big”.

We are humbled and grateful for all of Hashem’s many many blessings, large and small, that we’ve received through the years until now. But we, all of us, need so many more.

Please help us reach for bigger and for more, for a complete and speedy recovery for Menachem Mendel HaKohen ben Shifra Aviva, b’soch kol cholei Yisrael, along with all who need Hashem’s blessings for healing.

Please, together, let’s cry out to Hashem – “ad mosai”? Our hearts are shouting – let’s shout with our actions along with our words. Loud actions, bigger than what we have done until now. Please undertake another mitzvah, a mitzvah of your choice, on behalf of our son. Please help us storm the Gates of Heaven for Mendel and for everyone.

And may Hashem answer our prayers and heal our whole world with Moshiach, Now.

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COLlive.com note: Rabbi Deren requests that people encourage others to take on a Mitzva in honor of his son’s full recovery and to please update him at rabbi@chabadstamford.org so he can share it with his son and add it to his duch to the Ohel.