When a Dream Was a Long Shot

By: Moshe Kravitsky
Photos by Alex Gorokhov – GlattPhotography.com

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like father, like son. Chip off the old block. Such true adages used to express the common belief that as we are, so will be our children.

Now, one can argue that we, the members of the human race, came to this understanding by the simple process of observation. Yet as we well know, in Judaism, observation is but a step which enables us to correct the past by way of bettering the future.

Indeed, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but if left unattended how can we, intelligent and right-minded parents expect this apple to one day bear fruit of its own?

The weather on the streets, just outside Brooklyn’s prestigious celebration hall, “The Palace” fell to the mid-teens last Sunday evening, but on the inside, a community, rather, a family of 250 gathered as one to proclaim victory upon breaking the status quo of education for 13 consecutive years.

The common thread of all present? New York’s very own Bais Yaakov Ohel Sarah.

The date on the Hebrew calendar was the 7th of Adar, known to all as the day of birth and the day of passing of the Torah’s most humble leader, Moshe Rabbeinu. And with less than a week to Purim, the holiday which emphasizes the brave leadership of both Mordechai Hatzaddik and Queen Esther, what better theme could Ohel Sarah’s founders, Rabbi Schneur Zalman and Sarah Mendelsohn choose to highlight their annual dinner than “Leading By Way Of Example” or as the Torah recognizes it, “Maaseh Avos, Siman L’Banim.”

With a potpourri of speakers ranging from parents and students, to faculty members and and several pillars of the world-wide Jewish community, inspiration for the coming challenges of the future could be drawn by the bucketful.

“If you were an observant Jewish mother living in the year 1813,” said Rabbi Feivel Rimler of the NJFCE, “chances are, you’d never participate in a shiur Torah of any kind. Leave all the heavy learning for the men. But when Hashem wanted to Moshe to prepare the Jewish Nation for the giving of the Torah–” Rabbi Rimler’s voice escalated, “he instructed Moshe to first speak to the women. It was G-d’s way of telling us the Mothers will be the ones who will always carry the mantle of Torah leadership in the home.”

With a captivating approach of his own kind, Rabbi Nochum Kaplan, director of the Merkos Chinuch Office, took the audience on a trip down memory lane. He told a story of how a Chabad husband and wife once walked into his office with a dream of opening a girls school with a unique method of education in their own community of Flatbush, Brooklyn.

But with years of experience behind him, Rabbi Kaplan admitted he was a bit skeptical they’d be able to pull it off.

“To dream of building a unique school,” he said, “anyone can dream. What separates the doers from the dreamers could be summed up in three words. ‘Hamayse Hu Haikar.'”

Rabbi Kaplan described how over the years, Rabbi and Mrs. Mendelsohn constantly came back to my office or called, at times, with earth-shaking challenges. But that they never dared to throw in the towel.

“And that’s why we’re all sitting her today. Because you followed their lead of courage. Everyone dreams of a bright future for their children. But you, sitting here today, your commitment, your support and devotion– that’s what made this dream a reality!”

Using her opportunity to impress the theme of “Maaseh Avos, Siman L’Bonim” upon the all present, Mrs. Sarah Mendelsohn spoke of how she drew much of her life’s inspiration from the holiday of Purim.

“While Purim is an extraordinary part of our history, what’s the single most powerful lesson can we extract for our children? Is it to be modest like Esther? Is it to be courageous and strong in your emunah like Mordechai?”

The room sat at the edge of their seats. “No. It is us! We, the parents and educators, are the lesson for our children. At their young age, a child has a hard time grasping the true essence of Esther’s modesty, or the fearless bravery and emunah exemplified by Mordechai, but we understand it.

“And so it’s up to us to emulate the way of our Avos so that our children, from an early age, will at least recognize the beauty of the Torah! Be Tznius. Help another Jew in need. You want Nachas and good middos? Let’s try to work on ourselves. That’s the only road to a future of Jewish pride and leadership.”

But perhaps, the highlight of the evening came about when the Guest of Honor spoke. Mrs. Shula Kazen recounted how, at a young age, her father educated her to always serve G-d with happiness.

“He would say to me ‘There’s no place for crying here. Only simcha, joy.” And even after her father had been killed by the Russian government for being the village’s last-standing mohel, her mother took leadership of the home and continued to enforce the “No tears, only simcha” policy.

Through her delicate voice, Mrs. Kazen, who was being honored with the “Legendary Leadership Award” conveyed how throughout her entire life, despite the daily life-threatening challenges her family faced, this policy was the only thing that kept her alive for her many years.

After a childhood of running from a blood-thirsty government, hiding and sleeping in a barn at times, having only one tattered dress to wear per year, and often facing bitter starvation, Mrs. Kazen had every justified excuse in the book as to why she should be angry at G-d, and give up on life. But it was the way her parents instilled the “No tears, only simcha” policy which enabled her to see a bright future.

Indeed, years later, she got married, and was directed by The Lubavitcher Rebbe to go and spread Yiddishkeit through the power of Simcha in Ohio. And together, she and her late husband, Rabbi Zalman Kazen, transformed Ohio into a thriving hub of Yiddishkeit.

Looking further down her life’s timeline, we can see how through one simple policy of mesiras nefesh through simcha, she merits today to see hundreds upon hundreds of grandchildren and great-great grandchildren who, ironically, do the very work for which her father was killed.

After 13 years, a family, 250 strong, walked away with new life, new inspiration, and new hope towards a future of “No tears, only Simcha.”