As I see it, it is quite fitting that the double Parsha we read this Shabbos is Acheiry Mos - After Death and Kedoshim - Holiness....this the second Shabbos since my life began anew.
The most stirring commands that have always shaken me on Shabbos have been twofold: Be joyful and work to make Shabbos holy.
My dear friend Rabbi Yakov Couzens reminds me of a teaching by The Slominer Rebbe who said, "the holy Shabbos is the neshama and life force for the whole world". The Slominer explains that "the holy Shabbos breathes just enough life into the world to keep it existing until the next Shabbos when it is renewed fresh again. This is why amongst other reasons Shabbos is the source of all bracha for us and the world".
Hashem loves us all soooooo much!!!! He created the world for our pleasure and wants us to be happy and love Shabbos....which will draw us closer to Him.
Over the next three months I will receive 18 more sessions....CHAI.... of chemotherapy for four hours per day. This is the next stage in the battle plan my skilled team of surgeons and doctors have outlined in their efforts to annihilate the death which is working overtime not to lose in its effort to kill me.
My dear friend Rabbi Yechiel Biberfeld pointed out to me that my strength and tenacity will of course serve me well in the trenches of this war. Yechiel went on to articulate that Ratzon....will power....is one of the strongest weapons we possess. Ratzon to do His will; Ratzon to do good; Ratzon to elevate ourselves; Ratzon to live!!!!!!
In this week's parsha - Acheiry Mos - we are commanded to live. In chapter 18 (no coincidence) we are told "v'chai bohem" and you shall live by them. (Chai - 18). Live by the Torah and its commandments. Do not die from them or with them; rather live with them and become alive through them. And understand what life - chaim - can really be when one is close to Hashem and His commandments.
Adam and Danielle will come to Sloan Kettering today and along with Lisa and I our small ship will be reunited to bring in the Holy Shabbos. My dearest Brothers of Pey Dalid will join us. Together, (although there are several floors above us here), we will marshall our every effort to rip the roof off of SK and show The Master of the World our unabashed JOY and our SIMCHA.
I hope Hashem hears our Shabbos niggunim and finds them pleasing.
My Ratzon coupled with the weapons provided and administered by my doctors will Bezrat Hashem help me to eradicate this death within me and help me break through Acheiry Mos ---after death and transform it to Kadoshim---to holiness and life.
Good Shabbos!!!
B'simcha!!!!
michael
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Michael,
ReplyDeleteYOu are such an inspiration to all of us! You and your wonderful family, who share such love and devotion to each other. As you sail your ship through the roughest of waters, I am sure your faith and focus will carry you to calmer seas. Be strong and be well my friend.
With great warmth and caring, and hopes for HUNDREDS of joyful Shabbaton,
Mark and Jeannie Cohen and the whole clan
BH"
ReplyDeleteIn Parshas Acharei we revist the souls leaving the bodies of Nadav & Avihu. There death is described as a result of the extreme longing to connect with Hashem. So great was their love that their bodies could no longer contain their souls. The portion of Kedoshim informs every Jew that they are capable of achiening greater heights. For the pursuit of holiness is never ending, climbing from one spiritual level to another, elevating higher and higher. Nadav & Avihu reached such heights, but in fact forgot that we are charged with making our world a dwelling place for Hashem. As in fact did the students of Rebbe Akiva, who passed not only from a physical plague, but also a spritual connection with Hashem that connected, but forgot the true meaning of our existence. To bring Heaven and Earth together, resulting in the bringing of Moshiach (G-d willing right now!).
Michael, as I think of the numerous times we have run into each other on Shabbos or spent time together, you always challenged me to "go ahead, give it to me!" So, I've given it to you for this Shabbos. You glow from the spiritual climb that you are on. Your family has hitched their cars to you. Keep climbing higher, understand that you must stay grounded here to bring about the ultimate Redemption, the coming of Moshiach mamash, it should happen tonight as your beautiful family gathers for Shabbos.
Have a good Shabbos, we should hear the niggun resonate here in Bala Cynwyd.
Michael
Thinking of you Michael. Thinking of you and praying for you every day. You are not fighting alone my friend. There are many in your corner. May you and your family be blessed with a good Shabbos.
ReplyDeleteShiroff
Michael, so many of us are reading your daily thoughts not because we want to but because we have to. Something is drawing us to you and your strength in this overwhelming circumstance. We are compelled to read, smiling at times, crying at others.
ReplyDeleteYou are an absolute inspiration. Marlene and I think and talk about you often, hoping and praying for you and your family.
All our best and I look forward to seeing your smiling face soon!
Jon
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI know your emunah is very strong.
But Hazal tell us that Hashem never confronts any individual with a test too difficult for them deal with. So know that HIS faith in YOU is extraordinarily strong as well, my friend—and it is a faith shared by all who know you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Lisa and the kids. Indeed, my brother-in-law (a serious kabbalist, as you may recall) is davening for you netz at the Kotel each morning, while Mira and Aryeh have enlisted their classmates for mishaberachs as well—a family project.
All the best for a wonderful and restful Shabbat with your family,
Mel
Dear Michael,
ReplyDelete18 is chai and the 4 hrs each = 72.
72 is the numerical value of the expansion of the holy name of Hashem that stands for chesed.
Hashem will show his chesed to you and will rid you of all illness.
Shabat Shalom to you and your family.
Stan Sara and the Kopels
Dear Michael ben Yehudas Miriam-
ReplyDeleteTO LIVE , AMEN SELAH. WISHING YOU AND YOUR LITTLE SHIP A WONDERFUL SHABBOS WITH SONG, JOY AND SIMCHA - YOU ROCK THAT SK, LET THEM ALL SEE JUST WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND BRING KAVOD TO HASHEM.
Avy and Miriam
Dear Michael, Lisa, Adam and Danielle,
ReplyDeleteMay your little ship and the brothers bring Kedushah to the Shabbos as not too many are able to! Sing with joy, happiness and hope and know that we will be doing the same in your Zechus!
Let Shabbos be a true day of rest for all of you........we will be thinking of you.
All our love- Shabbat Shalom and l'Chaim!!!!!!
Debbi and Marc and the kids <3
This comment is from Mike Palmer:
ReplyDeleteDear Michael
The coming of the Shabbat seems to have instilled more energy and determination, if that is possible, into the 'battleship Wachs'.
I hope it will provide some comfort to know -that tonight and every Shabbat until you are back driving 5 hours for 30 minute meetings your name will be brought before the congregation of Temple Beth Torah before they recite the Mi Sheberakh.
We all look forward to your message on the 20th Shabbat telling us the storm is over and your ship is once again sailing in calm waters.
...M
Dear Michael, Lisa, Adam and Danielle,
ReplyDeletewishing you all a beautiful, peaceful, and restful shabbos!
Thinking of you all- will miss having you around here - our loss, SK's gain to have your kavanah and kedushah filling its space. So happy you can all be together for shabbos.
Lots of special love
The Libesman Clan
Michael, Lisa , Danielle and Adam-I saw this quoted on David Wolpe's FB page and thought it was very relevant.
ReplyDeleteWhat do we need to live? Food, shelter, clothing? But there is an answer that goes still deeper:
Rabbi Hugo Gryn tells story of being in a concentration camp along with his father in 1944. He writes that one evening "My father took me and some friends to a corner in the barracks. He announced it was eve of Hanukkah, produced a small clay bowl and began to light a wick immersed in his precious, but now melted margarine ration. Before he could recite the blessing I protested at his waste of food. He looked at me, then the lamp, and finally said ‘My child, you and I have seen that it is possible to live up to three weeks without food. We once lived almost three days without water. But you cannot live properly for three minutes without hope.'"
Hope is a transmissable quality -- we can give it to one another. Let's learn to live with all the things we need: not only material but spiritual as well. Let us have food, shelter, friendship, love and beautiful, flourishing hopes.
This is what you are doing for each of us in sharing your dreams, thoughts, love and of ourse, your fight. It all translates to hope. Thank you for your inspiration.
Love, Naomi
Michael, Lisa, Adam & Danielle,
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Shabbos together. We just finished havdalah and I rushed to my computer to let you know how much I thought of you all -- I missed you by your shtender and your seat to the left of me during class, but I am so honored that you wanted to learn with me before Shabbos. So many people asked for you and I dedicated learning in your merit for a refuah shelaimah. Gut woch! Love ya guys, Naph
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of Shabbos is more evident than ever when we see (or hear) what you do to elevate everyone around you - in every situation. We certainly missed you this Shabbos in Flatbush, but your name was floating amongst the thousands of Yidden daveneing with us for you on an inspiring Shabbaton.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEmail from Barry Feinman on April 24th:
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking about as you enjoy your first shabbot since surgery - i am not good with the blog so i am emailing - the old fashion way - hoping the chemo is working to cleanse your body - just remember when your body is fighting the chemo - the kinder need more property - u have a beautiful wife and children and they need you - to answer your favorite question: how are you going to be - you arer going to be GREAT!!!! If you need anything let me know - i am there for you - love you
Barry Feinman
This email is from Sunday, April 25 at 6:23:
ReplyDeleteShalom and Shavua Metzuyan (excellent ...a level above Shavua Tov-good) Michael,
I have to tell you something from deep inside. I spoke about you at our Shabbat table. In addition to giving a short Dvar Torah about the parsha, i spoke about appreciating what we have today - for tomorrow all could change. I spoke about your emunah in accepting that Hashem orchestrates, plans and challenges all of us and of course about your passion to live.
Michael - I look at the beautiful sunrise and sunset over Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim every day now, with new and different eyes. I think about you, your struggle and i think about how i have to view life. I think that when someone is hit with news from above, it effects a whole range of people, even well beyond the immediate family. When such news and challenges hits a person like yourself, you can and have had a positive effect on many. Countless people surely think like me and will relate to their own challenges in a different way...they will also treat their children and wives in a different way - a hug, a kiss, time spent with children doing homework, even petty arguments has new meaning. Everything with a new bright and lively approach - everything taken in proportion and with new understanding. And all this, because of you !!
So Michael - Toda Raba. Thanks.
Refuah Shleima and thanks for being a true messenger from Hashem.
Michael - i dont know if this is possible or realistic, but im throwing out an offer to you - in New York on Thursday evening 13th May, we will be celebrating the liberation of Jerusalem and the return of a united Jerusalem to its rightful Jewish owners. The evening is one of uplifting and joy for Am Yisrael.
Maybe such an evening could be a needed break and maybe a boost for you - although reading your progress you are already upbeat and looking only forward.
If you and Lisa would like to come - let me know and i'll organize it. If its not realistic -you will still be there in my thoughts.
Feel well my friend. Before you know it - it will be not "chai" Chemo, but rather "bye" Chemo !!!
Lehitraot
Daniel
Michael,
ReplyDeleteRarely am I at a complete loss of words...as I am right now. I am...
so humbled by your approach...
so filled with the faith that seems to escape me so often...
so grateful to you and your family for allowing us all "in" as you have..
And so completely positive that this evil attempting to overcome you is no match for you MIchael Wachs. This demon has no place in the ring with you...your strength is so far beyond it's power...
Sleep well tonight my friend...it's time to reboot!
Danielle