How Numbers (& Feelings) Can Deceive

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​Step Toward the Invitation

I have tremendous gratitude to filmmaker and educator Rabbi Yoel Gold for telling a story that emblazoned on my heart one of the keys of Elul, Ani l’dodi v’dodi li: I wil step toward God because I  know You are stepping toward me.
 
Here’s a recap of the short video and my takeaway for Elul.
 
Chaim Ginz is a scribe in Bnei Brak who had lost a young daughter to illness.  After the Lag B’Omer tragedy of 2021, he was moved to visit the mourning families.  Perhaps, he thought, my experience of loss could strengthen others.
 
He visited the Zekbach family whose 24 year old Menachem died in Meron.  At the Shiva house, the family gave out Blessing After a Meal pamphlets because Menachem had from a young age been a tireless advocate for reciting those blessings carefully, from a written text, rather than by heart.  Chaim Ginz was moved.  For the elevation of Menachem’s soul, he accepted this upon himself.
 
About a month later, Chaim finished a writing project and was looking for additional work.  The writing  samples he brought to others were met with a lukewarm response:  “They’re nice but they don’t stand out.”  He felt discouraged.  MORE