Sunday, July 13, 2008

THE VERY LATEST UPDATE…

BS"D

THE VERY LATEST UPDATE…

Motzei Shabbos Kodesh, parshas Chukas, 2 Tammuz/ July 5

"Tzaddik ba l'ir." Believe it or not, the holy little Tzaddikel has finally come home...

Chasdei Hashem Yisbarach. With endless gratitude to HaKB"H for His endless rachamim, we would like to inform all of you chashuv mispallelim that Tinok ben Aviva has, after close to six months post birth, finally arrived at his home in the heart of Sha'arei Chessed on Erev Shabbos Kodesh, parshas Chukas.

Yes, his bedroom is well equipped with several machines and thus (temporarily) looks a bit like a hospital room, but IY"H, this new move (after three different hospitals and six different wards) will help bring him even closer to a refuah shi'leima bi'karov—bi'soch sha'ar cholei Yisroel. With all of Klal Yisroel's incredible and persistent tefillos, we're hoping that parshas Chukas- all about the mysterious red heifer- will further foster the speedy recovery of this mystery of a child…

(My favorite part of his bedroom? In the corner of a bookcase sit a few new seforim that a close friend of mine sent to Tzaddikel a while back. When I asked why he was sending our son seforim that he naturally wouldn't be able to use for some time, he responded: "When Tzaddikel becomes a gadol b'Yisroel, IY"H, I want to be able to tell people that I bought him his first seforim…" He then added: "And tell him that he now owes me one, so that when I come to him for a bracha many years from now, he'll let me in no matter what…" Okay. Whatever HaKB"H has in mind… We'll try to do the best we can and we'll let HaKB"H take care of the rest…)

What sits in my mind at this very moment?

Over twelve long years of waiting. Close to six additional long months of more doctors, hospitals, tests, procedures, and surgeries—and this time all for our son whom we had to helplessly watch in a lot of pain, a lot of the time. And he still has, unfortunately, plenty more to go to get fully better. But as my wife detached him from all machines and brought our adorable Tzaddikel in his cute Shabbos clothes to greet me outside for the first time in my life as I returned home from shul on Friday night- well, what is there possibly to say…

Thank you so very much Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Thank you for always being there, for loving and caring for us together with all of your children. Thank you for simply everything. We have no questions—just an overflowing hakaras ha'tov, and abundant love for You that could never be properly expressed.

Shabbos endows us with a neshama yi'seira, an additional (elevated) soul. Tzaddikel in my arms with his delicate head cradled against my chest endowed me with yet another. (And "istinis" that I am, I never thought I'd so much enjoy getting his spit-up all over my suit…)

I'll do my utmost to latch on to that special memory and all the memories of Tzaddikel's first Shabbos home. (We had a lot of fun discovering his affinity for sweet grape juice…) Each and every dear memory HaKB"H sends your way and blesses you with-- hold it close forever, cherish it, and always be makir tov to the best of your ability. Don't wait. Pour forth the thanks and insert that sincere hoda'ah right into your very next Shemonei Esrei—and then make it a part of all future tefillos as well.

There is so much more to write, so much bandying about in my mind that I'd really love to share… just a bit too hectic right now and the hour is quite late. But please, heilig yidden the world over, accept our most heartfelt thanks and hakaras ha'tov for all of your continued tefillos and good wishes. You're the ones who have triggered Hashem's mercy thus far, and we humbly ask that you please continue to do so until a full refuah arrives.

Regarding Tzaddikel's bris, IY"H—don't worry, I'll keep you posted… Depending on the mohel's p'sak within the next few days, we're hoping and davening that HaKB"H will allow us to bring Tzaddikel into briso shel Avraham Avinu sometime during the week before Shiva Asar B'Tammuz…whatever HaKB"H decides…And, yes, we're hoping you'll be there…

We're hoping indeed that all of Klal Yisroel will be here in Yerushalayim bi'karov. The despicable and horrendous terrorist attacks so sadly continue; this past week here, as you know, was very rough. But the geula is coming soon, IY"H. We all believe it and we truly sense it. Torah, tefilla, mitzvos, and ma'asim tovim—all built on a solid foundation of complete achdus, caring and davening for all of our fellow Jews. For all our soldiers to be returned soon to their families, and for all of HaKB"H's children to finally come home to Eretz Yisroel to celebrate the ultimate geula and the kavod of Hashem Yisbarach and His chosen nation like never before. Let's do our utmost to maximize our limitless potential in ruchniyus and never lose sight of life's true priorities.

Wishing you all only Kol Tuv always and hoping we'll only share besoros tovos in the days and years to come.

A Gut Voch, Shavua Tov to all,

With sincere thanks,

Eytan Feiner