The Chabad world is reeling from the sudden passing of four Shluchim/emissaries in the last 10 days. Rabbi Danny Moscowitz, 59, OBM - Head Shliach - Chabad Emissary in Illinois. Rabbi Yisroel Boruch Butman, 56, OBM - Chabad Emissary to Naharia, Israel Rabbi Motty Gal, 62, OBM - Chabad Emissary to Petach Tikvah, Israel. Mrs. Rashi Minkowicz, 37, OBM - Shlucha -Emissary in Alpharetta Georgia. Our prayers go out to the bereaved families and communities that G-d gives them the strength that they need in this time of great pain and loss. “Rashi” is a familiar enough name. An acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki , “Rashi” is the most prolific commentary on the Torah, so indelible to it in fact, that it is printed in on many editions of the Torah and universally studied as the “go to” guide for understanding the Torah. In his own words, Rashi defines his commentary as “ peshuto shel mikra” - the simple (literal understanding of the text. As generations of Jews pored over Rashi’s sacred commentary, Rashi’s “simplicity” grew more captivating. No one ever analyzed Rashi like the Rebbe. Over the course of many years, in his weekly Farbrengens, the Rebbe would select and expound on one Rashi’s comments on a verse in that week’s Torah portion. The “simplicity” of Rashi had almost deceptively obscured its profundity until the Rebbe unearthed the layers and layers of profound insight and truth behind Rashi’s every word. Another “Rashi”- a young 37 year old mother of eight has been in the hearts and minds of Jewish people the world over, as news of her tragic and untimely passing this past Tuesday night spread. Overcome with a migraine headache while hosting a pre- Purim Hamantashen baking class in her home in Alpharetta Georgia, Rashi excused herself and went to lie down. She never woke up. Rashi was a very close friend of my sister in law (Ahuva’s sister) Dena Schusterman who heads up the Chabad of Intown Atlanta with her husband Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman. Rshi and Dena were forever texting and whatsapping each other. For a little glimpse into who Rashi was, here are a few excerpts from Dena’s journal in the wake of Rashi’s tragic passing. “ I am probably one of a hundred or so to say this but Rashi was one of my best friends. There are people who come into your life at different ages and stages and with my dear, dear Rashi, our relationship was born in her first week of Shlichus (establishing a Chabad House) in the exciting new suburb of Alpharetta GA, and grew up with each child, program, party, BBQ, and simcha we shared together. I barely knew Rashi growing up, sure we had many connections and mutual friends in our intimate Chabad world, even sharing relatives. But the first time I really got to know Rashi was when they spent Shabbos with us during their first months in Atlanta. I was thrilled to be having a young shlucha (emissary) move in nearby- someone my age to share this life-long journey, in a foreign town. That first Shabbos we hit it off immediately. Rashi was a breath of fresh air, so practical, oh so practical! and down to earth. Early on it was clear that I had so much to learn from Rashi; her work style, her dedication and commitment to all she did, was truly revelatory. I had never met anyone with such a way about her. She came to Atlanta and hit the ground running, it was clear if I wanted to keep up, I had to reach out to her, because she was zooming past me (I had 2 babies when she moved here, within three years we both had 3, and then our 4th within a week of each other, you do the math). In the early days, when she had a camp, and we did not, I would drive out to Alpharetta (40 minutes each way) to bring my kids to her camp. Some days, when lineup was done, we would sit in her kitchen and schmooze over whatever cookies and cake she had freshly baked, or I would spend the day in the shops up North, specifically scrap booking stores, all while she was running camp and of course refusing my help or even camp payment. She would wave and say, Have fun making your beautiful scrapbooks! Keep me in mind. When I think back, she allowed me a young mother of 3 to have a summer vacation of sorts, while she was busy getting done, what needed to get done. Rashi had much to get done, a fire (or baby) in her belly, no time for rest. Certainly no time to scrapbook. Of course she too cared about her photos and childrens memories, but she would come up with a more efficient way to do it. I could dawdle all I wanted, Rashi had things to do. She was the most generous person in all her ways. I had never encountered someone who opened her heart and her home to everyone. To her family, community and of course children and her husband Hirshy. She was generous with her time, you never felt rushed in her presence, (even though she had so much to accomplish), she was generous with her affection and she was generous with her things. …...She greeted everyone with the same amount of exuberance and tolerance. She was open with and to everyone. She did not classify people, everyone had a chance with her. ….... Everyone, including myself, felt safe and real with Rashi. This is not to say that she didnt say it to you like it is and sometimes that can be hard to swallow, but you knew it was coming from such a real and true place. She was never afraid to speak her mind, never! She had so much to do. I can now see that if your life is going to be short you need to get it all done now! I would often chastise Rashi, when she would complain that she felt overwhelmed, and say, let someone else do it, or do it later or who cares, but no, she had a mission and needed it done. The stories of her food, gifts, and allowing all the counselors to use her washer and dryer all summer are legendary. I remember coming into her home one summer evening and seeing about 14 young girls splayed on her rugs, couches and dining room table, all immersed in various stages of conversation, or i-pad/touch/phone media. One girl had a red iced tea next to her, precariously wobbling on the plush white carpet. oh, I always have to get new carpets after the counselors leave, matter of fact for Rashi, mind-bending to me….. …...Last week, when Rashi posted yet another picture of her divine looking baked goods, for her Tea & Torah class, I whatsapped her to please, please put some in Tonias back pack, right now, for me, for tomorrow. Sure enough, Mira came home from school with a squishy brown bag, with 5 Hamentashen in it, it said For Dena, (heart) Rashi” Like the Purim story we read in the Megillah, there’s nothing miraculous about the anecdotes shared by my sister in law about Rashi. Simple stuff you might say. Ah, but don’t be fooled by the “simplicity” for like the Rashi of yore, such simplicity is borne out of great depth. I always get a kick out seeing “Living Simple” , a thick monthly mag, that purports to offer readers the secret to simplifying life. All those pages are supposed to simplify life ? And just when you get through all those pages and articles, the next issue arrives ! Gotta simplify all over again? I and many here in Boca had the distinct privilege of knowing Rashi’s grandfather Rabbi Hirsch Gansbourg OBM, who lived the last years of his life in our midst. Reb Hirsch was a master of “simplicity”. He embodied and personified everything a Chassid strives to be: he was, unassuming, unpretentious, steadfast , determined, and he was sensitive , loving and nurturing. He wasn’t about himself, he was a simple servant to the greater calling of life. “Simple” as in, uncomplicated, wholesome, pure, transparent. These kinds of men produce children and grandchildren like Rashi. Their example speaks more a thousand words. The single minded devotion to responsibility, to what needs to be done (and not to what I want to do) that is so evident in my sister in laws reflections on Rashi, speak volumes about the legacy of Reb Hirsch. But you don’t need to take it from me, you can find it in Rashi’s own words, penned just six months ago after the untimely passing of her aunt, Rebbetzin Shaindy Lieberman (age 59) wife of Rabbi Aaron Lieberman of Chabad of Lauderhill. She passed away just a few days before Simchas Torah. Here Rashi reflects about the passing of her grandmother and namesake –wife of Reb Hirsch Gansbourg who also passed away at age 37. Her passing (like Shaindy’s) was just prior to Simchas Torah “This Friday is Bubby Rashi’s Yartzeit and I keep thinking today of the story of how Zaidy Gansbourg was dancing on Simchas Torah just a few days after a Bubby Rashi died with such intense joy. I keep asking myself what am I taking from todays tragedy and the Yartzeit of Bubby Rashi... As my bitter tears fall into my mixing bowl I cant help but wonder if Zaidy Gansbourg would be proud of my falling apart. Would he be looking down and seeing that we are truly living his message or are we falling apart which is the easy way out. Obviously we know what we need to do. Somehow we need to transform the energy of our crying into joy because joy is as productive as sadness is destructive . Both require energy... To be joyful in face of unbearable sadness is the hardest challenge of all. But Zaidy did it as a true Chassid and an entirely godly man. We need to take his lead and triumph over our natural reactions to this crazy world of pain and darkness. If God could be crazy so can we. Crazy enough to accept His challenge and forge ahead. Just rambling but I need to keep saying this so I dont completely destruct. May Zaidy Gansbourg and Bubby Rashi and Shaya Gansbourg look down at their family and offspring and know that while they’re gone, we continue to keep their spirit alive by smiling while we are weeping and by continuing to climb the arduous mountains that are put in our way. And may the neshoma of Shaina Chaya bas Rochel Leah be begging Hashem along with all the other special neshomos that were take way too soon they Moshiach should come now! With love, RASHI! Rashi of yore wrote his commentary on the Torah as he saw it. He wrote it as commentary, not prophecy. History however, has readily attested to the prophetic nature of his words . Young Shlucha, wife, mother ,daughter, sister and friend, Rashi Minkowitz wrote about her aunt’s untimely passing as she saw it, as she felt it. The sad and sudden tragedy of her passing now attests to the prophecy of her words. It is Purim ! We must rise above the pain and rejoice. We must dance, we must sing, we must embrace life with ever greater vigor, greater zest, and greater enthusiasm. We must, for ourselves, for Reb Hirsch, for Rashi. Good Shabbos and Happy Purim, Rabbi New
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:22:38 +0000
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