From the Dollar Line – a Lech Lecha Moment

Exactly 35 years ago today the 7^th of Cheshvan 5750 (Sunday, November 5, 1989), I traveled from my residence (at the time) in West Hartford, Connecticut to Crown Heights to participate in the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Sunday Dollars initiative. I must admit I stood in line with a particular request, and left completely confused as to what had transpired other than the fact that the Lubavitcher Rebbe z”l called me back and gave me two dollars (instead of the customary one dollar) and the positive reinforcement given to me by the Chabad shalucha who accompanied me (Rebbetzin Miriam Gopin of Chabad of Hartford) – who said I received a very good bracha. Watch this video for a view of the significance of the dollar line and distribution from the hand of the Lubavitcher Rebbe z”l

https://www.chabad.org/372586

My Own Lech Lecha

As I expressed in a prior blog entitled Sunday Dollars to Beit Ma’asim Tovim and the Rebbe, it took me years of reflection to connect the Torah portion of the week of the Sunday dollars visit which is this week’s Torah portion of Lech Lecha and to realize that the Rebbe had in fact given to me a bracha for our aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, which was not even a thought at the time!

Only after actually making aliyah was I finally able to connect the dots and appreciate the incredible vision of the Rebbe’s in terms of the parallel events of the Torah’s description of Hashem’s commandment to Avraham and Sarah to leave their birthplace and come to Eretz Yisrael and my own journey to Eretz Yisrael which followed after the Sunday encounter.

Gratitude to the Lubavitch Rebbe z”l

Looking back also on that encounter with the Rebbe z”l, I have enormous hakarat hatov for the impetus it gave to the privilege of living in Eretz Yisrael. Especially in this time of uncertainty there is no other place where as the Rebbe often quoted G-d watches over from the beginning to the end of the year.

The Rebbe’s inspiration was likewise a catalyst to this day for my involvement with marriage education and the decision to start a non-profit Together in Happiness whose mission is to promote healthy and happy marriages especially in Eretz Yisrael.

Another Reason for Gratitude

This week, the non- profit sponsored a Zoom Webinar featuring the father of marriage education Dr. Howard J. Markman, entitled “Positive Steps for Preventing Divorce and Building a Lasting Love.”

The YouTube link for the webinar which was more like a fireside chat with myself as moderator is:

https://youtu.be/bljBLcLEXcA

I can honestly say that but for the bracha to make Aliyah and given that my background was not in mental health – the creation of the non-profit for marriage education (which does not require a degree or license) in Eretz Yisrael would have the odds stacked against either.

Certainly the fact that the webinar took place during this watershed week on my own journey is one more reason for gratitude for the bracha from the Rebbe z”l.

A Blessing for ALL

So, on this historic day which marks my own Lech Lecha, I can only say that the legacy that I am especially grateful for are my two grandchildren born in Jerusalem and praying that they will always be safe and healthy and live their days in Eretz Yisrael knowing that they had a tremendous bracha on that fateful day that I stood in line for the TWO dollars – which are attached for my precious possession in life.

Wishing all of our soldiers and our hostages a safe return to their homes in Eretz Yisrael and that we have the promise of the redemption realized this year and real Shalom.

Wishing all a shabbat shalom.

Original Two dollar bills given by Lubavitch Rebbe z”l on Cheshvan 7