UNCLE MORRIS AND REB YISROEL MEIR LINKED TO YUD SHVAT

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

We wish Avi and Family long life, on the first yohrtzeit of his father. Wishing you only joyous occasions in the future (and see below)

Mazal Tov again to Baty on her birthday which is now the Hebrew date!

The main event of this week was the celebration of Yud Shvat, which marks the day in 1950 when the Frierdike Rebbe passed on, and on the same day, 1 year later, The Lubavitcher Rebbe, with trepidation, accepted to continue the leadership of his predecessor, for the Lubavitch movement.

But 2 other events that occurred, ie the yohrtzeit of Avi's father, Reb Yisrael Meir Vogel ah, and the anniversary of Uncle Morris Davidoff's Barmitzvah, were very much connected.

And then there is a link also to this week's Sedra Beshalach.

I am going to start with the story of Uncle Morris Davidoff, my father's brother ah.

The story has been written by Kevin Marks in 2009, and as was mentioned a few weeks ago, we welcomed Kevin to our Group after the passing of his father. I am also copying in Kevins mother (and my cousin), Zelda. We wish you all again long life, and only happy occasions in the future.

Uncle Morris's story for me, is the revelation of the heart of a Jew.

The whole story revealed a life of his, which I had no knowledge of at all.

His story is attached, but in summary, his early years were linked to a religious life. He recalls having been horrified to see 2 men walk out of shul smoking, on Shabbat. And he had a fight with 2 other boys who he saw holding money on Shabbat.

Due to surroundings and circumstances, he became less religious, and joined a communist youth group.

I only knew Uncle Morris as a 'secular' Jew, and I remember that he used to play with us saying that he was an atheist. I even remember the twinkle in his eyes. Therefore unbeknown to me, and I suspect to most of the Family, I now understand, that behind the external 'mask', there remained a man with a heart burning with the love of Judaism and Hashem.

HE WENT TO SHUL EVERY YEAR ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BARMITZVAH (SHABBAT SHIRA - SEDRA BESHALACH), AND HE TOOK HIS GRANDSON KEVIN, WITH HIM!

This Shabbos is therefore the Anniversary of his Barmitzvah!

And how much more is unknown?

It is this HEART of every Jew, that the Frierdike Rebbe and the Lubavitcher Rebbe were so tuned into, and encouraged us to search out, and reach out, to.

And Reb Yisroel Meir Vogel ah, Avi's father, openly dedicated his life fully, to learning and teaching Torah!

Along the same lines, we see the quality of FAITH, so strongly demonstrated in this week's Sedra, by Miriam, the sister of Aharon, and the other righteous women.

They took tambourines with them when they left Egypt, because they were sure that Hashem would do miracles for them, and they would need these to celebrate! (Rashi 15:20)

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos!