Founder’s Blog
In the Hands of Hatred
"May God have mercy and say "enough!" to the affliction of the Jewish people and to my personal torment. May He return to me my dear, sweet, and modest daughter Rekhil Yehudit, long life to her, who was kidnapped from me on the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, Friday in the week of Shoftim 5702 [August 14, 1942]." R'Kalonymus Kalman Shapira
Rabbi Kalonymus [tz"l] lost his life by the hands of hatred. Yet, his voice lives on. In the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto a fragmentary dairy was found that records the inner life of this martyred Rebbe. The book "To Heal the Soul" records his words. On this day of Yom Shoah (the day of remembering the Holocaust.) I thought it appropriate to allow his words to live on and encourage us. Here are some of his journal entries.
#12 "Leaving your mark on the world"
He who knows his place: Be creative and contribute to the world, give it the best you have. Make a niche for yourself that will always be felt in the world. Are not the "places" of our forefathers, the prophets, and other tzaddikim to this day not known in the world? What a void there would be in the world if, for instance, there had been no Baal Shem Tov?
So "he who knows his place"--who leaves a mark in this world with his life--his "place" will forever be known, even beyond his life.
#13 "The ultimate proof of God"
Certainly you have heard of or seen the books that deal with the existence of God. For those who find it hard to believe, they try to prove that there is a God. They bring their proofs from Creation itself, its inherent wisdom and almighty nature. But woe for you if you need their proofs.
Have you not felt, have you not seen, how your soul is so sure it sees God? You speak to Him in second person both in formal and informal prayer because the truth is that your soul does see Him present, right there before you.
And when your soul cries out in pain, "I shall not fear because You are with me" (Psalm 23:4), you feel as if you are clinging to God, who then will heal your soul. Or when you yearn or pour out your soul, you say, "God! Please bring me closer! Help me to surrender my very self to You, because I yearn greatly to come closer."
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