On Tuesday night, 17 Elul (September 17) hundreds of people from Kew Gardens and other communities came together at the Ner Mordechai Congregation on Lefferts Boulevard for a night of chizuk and t’hilim for a r’fuah for all cholei Yisrael, and specifically for Alexander Zisha ben Alizah (Rosenblum), the renowned “tantzer” and baal chesed, who was in a horrific car accident almost three years ago and needs a major r’fuah sh’leimah.
After opening remarks from his uncle, R’ Pinchas Rosenblum, the evening began with warm and very moving remarks by HaRav Aryeh Sokoloff, rav of the Kew Gardens Synagogue Adath Yeshurun, and a long-time personal friend of the family. He focused on how important emunah p’shutah (simple emunah) is, and to have sincere t’filos to Hashem. He quoted a S’forno, explaining that Sarah Imeinu knew that real sincere t’filos could turn around any g’zeirah, even to the point of her having a child at her age, and therefore we should increase our t’filos to bring about a complete r’fuah.
He was followed by HaRav Moshe Tuvia Leiff, rav of Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin, who also came as a family friend. He electrified the crowd with his words of chizuk, saying how special this outpouring of love and caring is to the Ribbono shel Olam, saying that when the Mal’achei HaShareis tell Hashem, “Look how evil the world is, you should just destroy it,” the Ribbono shel Olam shows them a night like this night, and this community, and then says, “Do you think I should still destroy the world?”
He also pointed out from a Rambam how important it is to answer Amen when someone gives you a brachah, even adding on “kein yaaseh Hashem” – so should Hashem do.
Then the olam, which included Rabbi Willig (rav of the Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe minyan), Rabbi Ephraim Tanenbaum (rav of Congregation Tiferes Shmuel), Rabbi Sholom Spitz (Rosh Yeshiva at Shaar HaTorah), Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, and Rabbi Paysach Krohn said T’hilim led by Rabbi Rockove, rav of Congregation Nachlas Avos, with a special his’or’rus reserved for the days of Elul. A beautiful folder with the simanim was distributed to the crowd, as people were leaving with a newfound appreciation for t’filos and bakashos after this evening of inspiration.
The Ribbono shel Olam should accept these and all of our t’filos for a year of r’fuos, y’shuos, and our specific needs, with a k’sivah v’chasimah tovah. Please keep in mind during your davening for a r’fuah sh’leimah b’karov for Alexander Zisha ben Alizah and all cholei Yisrael.