Page 28 - חזקו בשנה החולפת
P. 28
‘ The organization gathers all the approximately 600 ...BEAR THIS IN MIND THE PICTURE IS
parents of the ‘Chizki family’ once a year at a large Kinus, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
where parents draw chizuk from each other and are
fortified emotionally to cope with the ongoing pain of the ... ‘DON’T TRY TO REASSURE YOURSELF
loss. The kinus takes place on 19th Tamuz – the day my WITH STUPID ANSWERS AND REASONS; IT
HAPPENED BECAUSE THAT WAS THE WILL
precious Srulik returned his holy neshama to Hakodosh
Boruch Hu. Another project of Chizki is the Shabbos OF OUR MERCIFUL FATHER IN HEAVEN.’.
we parents spend together at a secluded countryside
location where, far from the hustle and bustle of
the city, shattered parents can find solace and
rejuvenation together. My husband is involved in
these endeavours day and night.’
‘And what is your role in all this?’ I ask.
‘I stay home,’ answers Mrs Kluger. ‘I must prepare him a package of ‘gite zachen’ – the type that would
remain strong at home. I knew from the reach him even when is far, far away: I lit a candle for his
first minute that I must not allow myself neshama, said a kapital Tehillim and bentched with kavanah.
to break down. My children were all These ‘gite zachan’ calmed me greatly by evoking a sense
completely shattered – they needed of closeness to my precious son. He is my son and I am his
me and I had to use all the strength I mother; the fact that he is no longer in this world does not
possessed to indeed remain strong and change the reality.
thus be able to comfort and strengthen ‘Srulik lives on with us. Till now he was in Yeshiva in Netanya
them. A mother is always a mother – now he’s a bit further away in the Yeshiva Shel Maalah.
even in a time of extreme tragedy; until True he is now further away, but our connection with him is
today I strengthen myself for the sake unbreakably strong.
of my children. ‘A month after the Levaya my husband and I went to the
‘Even Srulik still needs me,’ she says Premishlaner Rebbe shlita. He had been Srulik’s sandek.
quietly. ‘He used to call home from When we entered his chamber, the Rebbe started crying:
Yeshiva every morning at ten thirty. I “’How can we be comforted?” he asked. We cried with him
was always home and waiting for his and then the Rebbe calmed down and said softly, “Every
phone call at that time, looking forward morning the sun rises in the East – first the sky is a bit
to spending time with my precious dark but soon the sun shines with its full strength and with
youngest. For a long time after his every hour that passes the sun climbs higher into the sky
death I used to wait by the telephone and shines more brightly. At midday the sun reaches its full
every day at ten thirty. I could not strength and then slowly starts to go down, its rays growing
occupy myself with anything else weaker until it disappears completely and the world is dark.”
during that time; to me nothing existed Mrs Kluger’s eyes are wet when she repeats the Rebbe’s
on the world except me and my words: “The light is not extinguished – he is just on the other
precious son who was side of the world, but he will soon come back, his light will
no longer alive. During soon shine brightly again.”
that hour I felt a special ‘We wait and we yearn,’ concluded Mrs Kluger with deep
closeness to him, as longing, ‘for the bright moment when our precious flame will
though he was literally once again shine brightly. Only then will we understand that
sitting next to me - to the darkness and pain was but a short stop on the path the
the point that many times great light.’
I simply could not contain
myself and would literally
speak to him, as a mother would
to her child.
‘During that time I felt as though To share your pain, or help Chizki with its holy work
Srulik was back at home and that please call Mrs Kluger on +972(0)53 3184012
he’s waiting for something from
me, anticipating my help. I would
get up from my place and
