The Loss of a Giant

We stand at the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, and so much comes to mind. A year has passed. So much has happened. And we look ahead to the new year and what it holds for each and every one of us. And then we look upward at the heavens... and just daven. Because anything and everything that will happen to us this year, rests in Hashem’s hands.

Yesterday, we lost a giant of a man. A man, who I personally never met, but feel like I know so well. A man who worked his way into the hearts and minds of so many Jews all around the world and touched so many souls. A man who taught us what it means to love something so dearly, to believe in so much, to place all of your physical and emotional strengths into something in order to make the world see the truth. A man who was fierce and brave, empathetic, and kind. A man who wanted to share his love for the land HaShem gave us, to protect it and honor it, with everything he had.

Ari Fuld taught the world to stand up for what you believe in no matter what people think and to always do what is right, even when it is not the easy path to choose. He taught us how to lead and how to fight, even when you know you are about to die. And through his sudden and shocking murder, he also reminded us how life is so precious and so fleeting and that we must live it to the fullest because we never know the exact moment that it will end.

To Ari’s family and friends, please know that we cry with you, we mourn with you and we daven for you. To give you the strength you need to get through this difficult time. And of course to thank you for sharing Ari with all of us, so that we could learn from him and gain strength ourselves. I strongly believe that Ari is not done fighting for us or his beloved Eretz Yisroel. Only now he will do so from Shamayim.

This Yom Kippur, let us all storm the heavens for a happy and healthy year for all of klal Yisroel. A year filled with peace for eretz Yisroel, and please G-d the coming of Mashiach and the ultimate Geula, so that we can finally rejoice fully in Yerushalayim, standing together as one.

גמר חתימה טובה!