A Soldier, a Costume and a Car
By Geula Newman
It is not for no reason that the Rebbe uses the term "soldiers" for the most delicate section of our population. Although tender in years, the stamina and determination of Jewish children is that of army caliber.
So with this introduction I will describe the process of our eight year old daughter's costume. After considering different ideas, Sara decided it was to be a Pushka. She would be standing inside of it (a painted cardboard box), with room for her head and hands to protrude. It was to say "Tzedaka" on it; her face would say "Matanos La'Evyonim". She was going to hold a small basket with miniature mishloach manos to distribute to children Purim night and day. Since her hands would be busy, she would have a real pushka attached. Now, being the most practical eight year old soldier I ever met, Sara went to work figuring out all of the details. She made hamentashen dough as soon as she got home from school on Thursday and shaped cute and tiny hamentashen with a single chocolate lentil as the filling. She had her sister help her fill little bags with exactly one hamentash and a single candy, fulfilling the mitzvah requirement of giving two different kinds of foods. With a certain hurriedness, they counted and separated bags for Purim night and Purim day. As soon as Shabbos was over (giving us minutes to quickly head over to shul for the Megillah reading), Sara expressed frustration over the fact that we had no Velcro in the house. "That is what I need to stick the pushka to me! Mommy, don't you realize, it's such an IMPORTANT MITZVAH!"
To buy myself some time, and in true sincerity I must add, I pointed out to Sara that the mitzvah of Tzedaka on Purim is really for the daytime. We have plenty of Velcro at the preschool, I reassured her, and before our 10 am Purim Party the next day, we will definitely make it a point to pick it up. So we finished getting ready and rushed off to shul for Megillah, graggers, and a mini Mishliach Manos kit for all of the children who came. Before going to sleep, Sara made sure to remind my husband and I about the Velcro. "I REALLY need it", she made sure to say... "that's how the money and the pushka will stay on..."
Although bedtime was of course later than usual the night before, the Purim air had the Newman children up and ready early enough to join the 8 am minyan, hear Parshas Zachor and catch an early Megillah reading before all the craziness began (but after a crazy Mommy had served a Purim Chocolate and Candy Breakfast to some very shocked and surprised kids). And no, we could not forget the Velcro. Megillah is over at 9, party starts at 10, I reassured the very focused soldier of mine. So, while her siblings had a jolly time testing out the different bouncers being delivered for the party, Sara hopped into my car to join me in the Velcro pick up. She stayed with the baby in the front while I ran into the supply room to get it, coming out with two rolls. "Mommy, these are the same side! Please go back and look again!" The clock is ticking, we still have to pick up 500 pitas on our way back... but I can't let her down! With a prayer on my lips, I ran into one of the classrooms to continue my Velcro search. One cabinet after another... no Velcro. My praying became more intense as I finally spotted a ziplock bag with a few strips of the precious stuff she needed. Thankfully, I was able to convince Sara that we have enough pennies at home and we really don't have time to stop at a bank to pick up those fancy rolls of coins. "Mommy, I need at least 200 pennies," she announced, "people don't know to bring..." SO while my husband schlepped the pitas over to the buffet room, I sorted and counted pennies with Sara until she was satisfied with her full cup, velcroed of course to her costume alongside the pushka.
The day continued in a joyous flurry, with over 400 Jews celebrating at our Chabad House in fun Purim spirit. Out of the 400 people, at least 200 of them came across an interesting Purim Tzedaka dressed girl and did not pass her until they had taken a coin from her cup and put it in the pushka. She went from stranger to friend, young person to old, smiling and pointing out to them what they needed to do to fulfill one of the 4 mitzvas of the day - "gifts to the poor".
And then... we experienced a true open miracle. One that is hard to describe in words because even my thoughts have a hard time formulating it. A miracle that could only be described as one, one that is read in stories or heard in inspiring lectures. We were driving around after the party, delivering Mishloach Manos around the neighborhood. With my husband, delivering Mishloach Manos is not just about delivering. It’s about "farbrenging" - stopping at each visit for a Purim dance, an inspiring word, a "l'chaim" or two (hence my position of designated driver), a push to connect more to the neshama and bring Moshiach by taking on another mitzvah... In fact, this year, our theme was "Farbrengen in a Box" (my husband's brilliant idea - it included his famous schmaltz herring, crackers, a mini liquor and two plastic l'chaim cups). On the cover, it read, "what a chassidishe farbrengen can accomplish, even Malach Michoel cannot accomplish."
Then it happened. She ran after Tatty to join the next farbrengen... and the car came speeding her way. I saw it... the coast was clear for her to cross, and then suddenly it was not... Sitting in the driver's seat, my entire body froze as I watched in horror when it was already too late to scream...my daughter running and the car speeding inches away until it HIT HER. The right front corner banged directly into her torso. Before I tell you what happened next, I feel like telling you what naturally SHOULD HAVE happened next. With that speed, that size car, and her weight, she could have flown yards away onto the concrete or another car... but in front of my eyes, Sara ran to me, shaking, frightened like I've never seen her before, crying, "I want to go home". I held her, asking "where does it hurt", thinking she must have at least broken a few ribs or something... yet she had nowhere to point to...
The young man driving came out of his car, white as a sheet, looking more scared than Sara. "Is she... okay?" He also couldn't believe she was fine and alive! I guess I was too flustered and focused on Sara to answer. Meanwhile he was blocking traffic and my husband had come out to see what was going on. SO... the farbrengen continued. Rafael, the driver, was Jewish and had not put on Tefiliin since his Bar Mitzvah. He was ready to do ANYTHING at this point, so right there on the street he laid Tefillin, received Mishloach Manos and promised to join us for Shabbos Dinner.
In Tanya, the Alter Rebbe describes Tzedaka as a shield of protection, the coins being the scales themselves. That is all I can think of when I picture that most scariest sight - an invisible shield of 200 pennies in between Sara and that SUV. And I must point out that we did OUTDO Malach Micheol that day with the power of More than a few Chassidishe Farbrengens.
Thank you Hashem for performing such great wonders on a day of hidden miracles. Thank you, Rebbe, for inspiring young soldiers like ours to take their job seriously and to never give up. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be your Shluchim and to experience your constant guidance and protection daily. And please, let us experience the ultimate miracles, hidden and revealed, with the coming of MOSHIACH NOW!
Please, think of that extra mitzva you would take on when these stories don't have such happy endings G‑d forbid... And TAKE IT ON! If we can show Hashem that we come close to Him in times of celebration and gratitude, let it be that these will be the only times we experience.
Please consider:
- Signing your child/ren up as soldiers in Tzivos Hashem
- Giving some money to tzedaka every day before prayer (10% of earnings)
- Increasing in JOY and bringing happiness to others
- Encouraging a woman to light Shabbat candles
- Lay Tefillin daily or encourage a friend / neighbor to
- Join a weekly Torah class
Please let us know so we can add it to the "mitzvahs of gratitude" list.
