A Mitzvah Helps Me Heal!

Four Years Alone Yet United in Community

Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 59 seconds

Today, I had the incredible opportunity at Calvary Lutheran Church in Cranford to help prepare 500 sustainable meals that can be eaten at any time without the worry of spoilage, along with 250 hygiene kits containing essential items such as toothbrushes, soap, razors, and other necessities for our unhoused neighbors and those facing homelessness. As the board chair for Bridges, I had searched for ways to unite our community and make our organization known to Congresswoman LaMonica Mciver, our new congressional representative.

Seeing more than sixty people join us for this event was heartwarming, despite the temperature soaring to at least 84 degrees. However, the true joy, the deep sense of fulfillment, came from knowing that we were making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need —a pleasure that I hope you can all share.

After the event, I shared a heartwarming lunch with Ana and Hugo. It was during this meal that I realized the profound significance of the day—it marked four years since my wife bravely fought her last battle with lymphoma. If my wife had lived, she would have been at the Mitzvah. Our shared vision of repairing the world amplified the meaning and impact of our efforts, making them even more significant to me.

Three years ago, the weight of this anniversary felt almost unbearable. Today, however, I stand stronger and healthier, having found the strength to live in the present and cherish the memories of our life together. This journey of personal growth and healing, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, serves as a beacon of hope for all of us, demonstrating that even in the face of loss, we can find strength and healing.

Each day, I feel my strength and health growing. Reflecting on Viktor Frankl‘s Man’s Search for Meaning, I understand that love and the capacity to be loved are the most potent forces in our lives. The key to humanity’s salvation lies in love and the connections we foster through it. Deep within my mind, body, and soul, I know love never dies; it is everlasting. The love I have given and received has made me who I am, and I am committed to sharing that love to help heal our world, making it a better place for everyone.

I hope this commitment inspires you to join us in this mission of love and healing.

Shalom!