Opinion

By now, the world has moved on from the news of the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. But a few weeks ago, it was all everyone could talk about. There were endless articles, tributes, and anecdotes about the Queen and her lengthy reign.

I always think it’s ironic when a security guard in the airport asks me the purpose of my visit to Israel. It would be a valid question if I was visiting London or Paris. But does a Jew need a reason to visit Eretz Yisrael?

On one occasion, after my wife and I had gone out for breakfast together (an occasion that doesn’t happen enough), we went to one of the local Jewish groceries. As we were entering, we saw the rebbe of one of our sons holding a few bags, about to exit. We began schmoozing (not about our son – no teacher appreciates improv parent-teacher conferences) and the rebbe shared with us the following personal story.

In a commencement address to the Eagle Hill School Class of 2013, noted educator Rick Lavoie spoke about the importance of education.

Towards the end of his lecture, he related the following:

It was the morning of the first day of the camp season at Camp Dora Golding a number of summers ago. I was a division head and was davening next to my campers and counselors. The chazan was finishing his recitation of Chazaras HaShatz when one of my counselors rushed over to me and quizzically said “Birkas Kohanim!” I smiled and motioned that it was okay.

On the morning of the fast of Asarah B’Teves a few weeks ago, I wanted to speak to my ninth-grade class about the reason and significance of the fast. I began by asking them, “So, what sad event happened today?” One of my students explained that the previous night during an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Damar Hamlin of the Bills went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field before being rushed off to the hospital.