Page 36 - חזקו בשנה החולפת

A Ray of light in
the Darkness

From the depth of the ordeal, in the midst of the cutting pain and daily struggle, when the ener-
gy is focused on the attempt to grope after some tranquility and rest, glowing is the character
of those chosen few, who with bravery of their soul chose to grasp the torch of light and alle-
viate the stress of their fellow sufferers | this wonderful and unique phenomenon bursts out in
the most dark and painful places. Precisely out of their personal experience in the path of hard-
ship, are these people of loving kindness acquainted with the burning needs that no one has so
far given them an answer | Towards the festival of Sukkot, we decided to have a close look on
the first steps and unique activity of these organizations | Stockpiles of belief, a strong feeling
of mission, and a burning will to do good and make happy form the building stones, while the
personal pain drives them to restless action and incessant progress | U'mi C'amcha Yisrael |

Be of Good Courage and He shall Strengthen Your Heart )Tehilim 31, 24(

Exciting interview with Rabbi Avraham Kluger Shlita,
founder of HIZKU organization for bereaved parents

From the depth of the terrible pain, Rabbi Kluger discovered the supporting hand which helped him come back to
life. He decided to leverage the hardship and sorrow that he experienced, and give parents who cope with the loss
of their children the vital support for continuing.

Like a Thunderbolt Out of The Blue

"My youngest son, Yisrael Chaim, was at that time eighteen and a half years old", starts Avraham Kluger his spine-
tingling story, "he is the son of my old age" – the mefarshim say, because of the wisdom of the Torah. Such was my
son of old age, my youngest Yisrael Chaim. At his early age he already knew six hundred Gemara pages, and was
adorned with the worthy title customary in the Sanz community for distinguished Torah scholars 'the friend'. At
that time shadchanim started to knock on our door with respectable offers, and we had prepared ourselves to get a
handful of Chassidic nachat".

But then suddenly, Yisrael Chaim fell ill. In the beginning we did not worry too much, as the diagnosis was pneu-
monia. However, to our great horror, the local infection rapidly developed severe complications. We found our-
selves running around between hospitals, watching the worsening situation helplessly . At a certain stage we have
understood that the situation has gone out of control. Heart-rending prayers were uttered by all our acquaintances
everywhere, but the decree of The Divine Providence was different…"

At a few days distance only from the normal and happy routine, the long-standing practices of daily life have
changed radically for Rabbi Kluger. Wearing torn cloths he stood beside the death-bed of his son and delivered the
hesped. "I did not eulogize him as a father", he recalls in a choked voice, "I said in the funeral that I eulogize him as
a learning companion, as a chavruta. Let the walls of the Beit Hamidrash in Yehuda Halevy Street come and testify
about the ongoing hours that we have learnt together".

"The terrible tragedy astounded the people who knew him. During the shivah days the house was full with con-
dolers. At that time Rabbi Kluger, an outstanding Jew, showed the strength of his emunah, and those who came to
console him left being strengthened and encouraged. However, belief in the Creator does not contradict feelings of
suffering and mourning.