THE YEAR THAT WAS AND THE YEAR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN…

This past January I shared in a miraculous moment for any person – I became the proud father of twin daughters. Two weeks earlier, my wife was diagnosed with a serious illness. We were devastated. Life can deliver both exhilarating highs and disappointing lows – sometimes in very short order. I remember the cold morning in January when I went to daven in shul on the first Shabbat following the birth of my girls. The baby-naming we had planned for months before, was cancelled. While we should have been celebrating the miracle of life, our lives were riddled with fear and uncertainty. In spite of everything, the most unbelievable aspect of this experience has been the overwhelming love and support my family has received…sometimes from the most unexpected places.

As a Hazzan, I am constantly surrounded by death, mourning, shiva and sickness. In my young life, I have been fortunate enough to never have been touched by these hardships—until now. Dealing with tragedy is a regular part of my job, but it has not been a regular part of my life. No one is immune and no one is exempt from life’s challenges. I have learned the hard way that even those closest to me, despite their age, can be stricken with suffering and adversity. In the past year, I have come to understand that we cannot control our destiny and that one moment in time can change life forever.

During this difficult and challenging period in our lives, we have received so much support and inspiration from family and friends. Old friends rekindled relationships, and true friends showed tremendous support. Throughout the last nine months we have been touched by telephone calls and cards, baskets of food, donations and round the clock babysitters for our three children under the age of 2. What is truly remarkable is the kindness and support we received from complete strangers. Day after day, homemade meals arrived at my doorstep, fresh baked challahs were left hanging on my doorknob, and my wife’s name was included in prayers recited by people all over the world. These overwhelming acts of kindness, from people I may never have the opportunity to meet or to thank, has given my wife and I tremendous strength.

In life, I find it very easy to do nice things for my friends, family, and members of my community. However, I must admit that apart from making donations, I don’t take time out of my busy life to make a real difference for a stranger less fortunate than me. Over the past few months I have come to realize how much goodness can be created by providing the gift of time to those in need.

I had an interesting discussion with the owner of a local restaurant last week. We were discussing the Holocaust and the grim reality that people turned a blind eye to the atrocities that were being committed to “other” people. In the same discussion, we acknowledged the fact that so many risked everything to help complete strangers. While it is easy to focus on the majority who did nothing, it is compelling to remember those who did so much. It only takes a few great people to change the world. Such people have certainly impacted our lives this year.

In the year that lies ahead, I encourage you to reach out and do something special for someone you don’t know. You may never completely understand how much a small measure of kindness can help someone in need until you find yourself on the receiving end. If you are living with tragedy, illness and disappointment, these seemingly small gestures can make an enormous impact.

The high holidays are a time of celebration -- a time to enjoy the festivities in the companionship of those whom we love. For many, the holidays are not the same this year – the year that passed has left an indelible imprint on their lives. In a year filled with emotional highs and lows, anguish and frustration, I can only say that I am a different person because of my experiences over the past year. I often feel that life is a test and every new challenge measures our ability to live up to our fullest potential. It is my prayer that this Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur will inspire my family and others to set goals in an attempt to reach new heights of excellence as human beings. The greatest act of loving kindness is that for which we do not need to be thanked.

Shana Tovah,
Cantor Eric, Melissa, Samuel, Aviva and Talia Moses