Page 32 - חזקו בשנה החולפת

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We present you here an exclusive interview with Mrs Kluger, wife of Harav Avrohom.
Harav Kluger is the founder and director of the acclaimed organization ‘Chizki’, which
is there to help and support parents who have lost a child l”o.

The conversation with Mrs Kluger is fascinating, and yet unexpected. The pain flows quietly and
plainly beneath the words and yet this heart-wrenching conversation is still a song of Emuna,
Bitochan and gratitude. Over and again she enumerates the favours and chasadim which supported
her along the difficult journey. This is a mother who has stood at the ‘Mizbeach of the Akeida’, and
yet her words carry us into the realm of endless Hakoras Hatov, Ahavas HaBorah, and hope that
the candle will soon be burning brightly once again.

The Last Song Very soon, the whole family was
‘It was Friday 16th Tamuz,’ begins Mrs Kluger. ‘The following gatheredinthekitchenwithus. For
Sunday was to be The Taanis of Shivah Oser B’Tamuz. In our his nephews, Srulik – the masmid
home, the Shabbos somehow appeared to be almost a Yom- who had recently been tested
Tov’dige gathering. I cannot even explain why the family on 500 blatt Gemara – was the
united for that last special Shabbos: The oldest son invited most beloved Uncle in the world.
himself already on Tuesday, the second one decided to come The family sat down with a plate
over for the meals, a third arranged himself an apartment of fresh cake and thus, in the
nearby and so it went with the rest of them... B’h my children midst of frenzied Erev Shabbos
are all blessed with large families but I didn’t tell any of them preparations, ensued a precious
not to come – after all, if there’s room in the heart there’s moment of brotherly love and
room in the house. On Friday, the nachas started arriving family togetherness which will
one after the next as my sweet einiklich and their parents forever remain imprinted in my
filled the house with happiness. Suitcases and mattresses heart.
covered every inch of floor space and the scent of Shabbos
food permeated the atmosphere. Suddenly, the commotion ‘It is three ‘o’ clock
faded away for me: my precious Yisrulik walked in from in the afternoon,
Yeshiva. just hours before
‘Srulik was my ‘ben zekunim’ and truly beloved. I cannot Shabbos. The
explain it rationally, but I always felt that Srulik was a precious brothers beg Srulik,
present granted to me from Shomayim. Of course I love all “Please there are only
my children fiercely and think the world of them, but Srulik a few hours till the start
truly was my Crown Prince. Not even yet eighteen years old, of the mourning period
his aristocratic bearing and refined appearance seemed to of the Three Weeks, play us
glow with trued, deep-seated happiness and an essence of some songs”. Srulik was a
pure goodness. skilled clarinet player; as soon
‘I took leave of my Shabbos preparations and went to greet as he placed the instrument to
my precious Srulik. It had been two months since he’d last his lips one could sense that this
been home from Yeshiva and my love and longing were was not just a song but a melody
distilled in our kitchen reunion. that came from deep in his heart,
sung with his whole neshama.
He never played modern songs,
only traditional Yiddish songs full