Last week we had the wonderful opportunity of hosting our son Yechiel and granddaughter Chayale (age 1 1/4) for a week. I had hoped that this trip would ignite a spark to perhaps set the wheels in motion so as to have Yechiel, Rivki and family relocate here in LA for a couple of years, at least. I considered three possible advantages of having them move here: 1. It has been tough for them to make ends meet, and each month they seem to fall a couple of hundred dollars short. Perhaps there might be a position enabling them to save up a little. 2. Yechiel is a gifted and charismatic teacher and scholar in halacha, gemara, chasidus as well as kabbalah, and though he has followers in Elad, Israel, where he lives, I feel that his talents could much better be realized in a place like LA. and 3. Living here in LA for a couple of years would enable our grandchildren to learn and master English. Indeed the trip was clearly informative, but in a very unexpected way.
As I have written of before, I absolutely believe in and constantly work on focusing in on my "hevel ha'lev." I believe that we are constantly being spoken to by Ha-Shem, a message that our hearts receive, deep inside, of guidance on what is in our best interests, and how we can best connect to our Source. This communication, the kabbalists call "hevel ha'lev" and we all have it within our grasp to fine tune our receivers. Getting back to Yechiel and Chayale, though, it was interesting to note that this trip was probably the first time that Chayale had ever seen a dog, and rather than being afraid, she was delighted--chasing it with her doll stroller laughing and barking back, "uf uf!" in pure delight as the bewildered dog ran away from her! It got me thinking, this purity, this joi de vivre, how long would it last living in a city like Los Angeles? Opportunities? I made it very clear to a number of community leaders and educators who knew Yechiel growing up here in LA that he might be available should an appropriate opportunity present itself, and essentially the impression that I received was that the economy here in Los Angeles was actually worse than it is in Israel, and it probably would not change any time soon. But if something did come up, they would call me. (yeah, right!)
Bottom line, to relocate and uproot everything, based upon a nebulous maybe, seemed to be as clear a message as could be. (furthermore, it now seems that a local "Zevulun" is interested in a learning partnership with Yechiel, which should put his finances in balance, IY"H anyway!). So though it was bittersweet saying goodbye to them, in my heart I know that Israel is the place where he needs to be.
The second incident that I want to share with you happened this morning. My sister Hope has needed to move as her apartment is being converted to condos. Last week she excitedly shared that she had found a guy on Craig's list who owned a condo in a nice area who wanted to lease it out for 6 months for a reasonable price. They met with him last week, and gave him $5000 for first last and security, and moved in yesterday. But as they were moving in, the building manager chased after them, and informed them that the lease was fraudulent and the name he used wasn't even his, and the guy not only didn't own the condo, but was being evicted for not paying his rent. Therefore, the $5000 was lost, and they needed to get out of the apartment within 3 days. Hope called me this morning asking me what she could do, and I told her what I would have told myself, had I been in her situation, that everything that happens is guidance and communication from Ha-Shem, we need to reflect and hone in to discern what that message is, and we need to have absolute certainty that everything that happens comes from Him and is for the very best. But how to do you explain this to someone who has suffered so much already and is trying so hard to put her life in order? And who now seem to be on the threshold of losing everything she owns and being out on the street?
As I told her, I believe that the message is exactly the same, and even though one might think "easy for him to say!" nonetheless, do we have any constructive alternative to consider? Yes, this approach is asking someone to blindly go against all logic. Yet, it is that strength of character and optimism which is the essence of Judaism. As King Solomon says in Mishlei (proverbs) "know Him in all of your ways, and He will straighten you paths." It is the knowing and the trusting that opens new opportunities for us, and often, what we think is in our best interest really isn't, and only our Wise and Loving Father can see the total picture.
As I told her, I believe that the message is exactly the same, and even though one might think "easy for him to say!" nonetheless, do we have any constructive alternative to consider? Yes, this approach is asking someone to blindly go against all logic. Yet, it is that strength of character and optimism which is the essence of Judaism. As King Solomon says in Mishlei (proverbs) "know Him in all of your ways, and He will straighten you paths." It is the knowing and the trusting that opens new opportunities for us, and often, what we think is in our best interest really isn't, and only our Wise and Loving Father can see the total picture.
So what's going to happen with Hope, her husband and son? Well first, I offered to have them stay with us as long as they need to, but our place is just too small. I told Hope to contact all of her friends to see if someone might be able to take them in, for at least a month, so that they could find a place, but it seems that now that the chips are down, no one seems to be able or willing to help.
I've put out feelers and have made it clear that I will 100% vouch for them should someone have for rent a two bedroom ground floor or apartment with an elevator, in a decent area of LA, preferably in the west side, but really anywhere.
G-d willing they won't lose everything they have and G-d willing the story will have a sweet and happy ending, but again, I see this as another reflection of the filth, deceit and financial instability that our lives are surrounded with, as well as the lack of depth that so many relationships have (consider "friends" on Facebook?)
As I said, if anyone reading this has apartments for rent, please do contact me, and I will guarantee that you could not find better tenants, and I will stand behind them. As our sages tell us, a good name is a cherished possession indeed!
Again, as I review these last two weeks, I reflecting on whether it really is wise to stay here for the indefinite future or whether the time to start slowly considering a move to Israel has now arrived.
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