Mexico’s Yad La Joleh Organization Reaches Out to the Community 

Ellen Geller Kamaras 

“He who saves a single life, saves the entire world.” (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:1) 

This ancient rabbinic teaching, expressing Judaism’s belief in the inestimable value of each and every human life, forms the foundation of  Yad La Joleh, a non-for-profit organization in Mexico City that helps Jewish patients find the right doctors, and also pays for their surgeries, prolonged cancer treatments, organ transplants, and expensive prescription medications. In many cases, the assistance given by this organization actually saves lives. 

“Yad La Joleh” means “hand to the sick,” and this is precisely what this organization has been doing since its founding in 2016 – extending a hand to the ill. The organization’s full name is “Yad La Joleh – Shaare Briut,” with the additional phrase “Shaare Briut,” which means “gates to health.” Yad La Joleh provides patients a “gateway” to health by lending them the assistance they need. 

Yad La Joleh’s stated mission is to save lives by helping its Jewish brothers and sisters with skyrocketing medical expenses. “Today, the needs are great. We receive tens of medical cases every month, and more when Covid hit. After the pandemic, the need grew. Many people lost their jobs and businesses. Medical and hospital costs keep increasing.”  

From the Jewelry Business to Fulltime Hesed 

Jews began immigrating to Mexico at the very end of the 19th century, beginning with a small group of Russian Jews, followed in the early 20th century by larger waves of  Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jews from what is now Syria and the rest of the Ottoman Empire, which was in sharp decline. More Ashkenazic Jews arrived in Mexico after the Holocaust.  Thus, whereas Mexico’s 1900 census counted just 134 Jews, the country’s Jewish population now numbers approximately 50,000, with 98 percent of them living in Mexico City. Around half of Mexico City’s Jews are Syrian, with roots in Aleppo or Damascus, while 25 percent of them are Polish, 25 percent Turkish, and the rest originating from other regions. Ninety-seven percent of Mexican Jewish children attend Jewish day schools, and, fortunately, the intermarriage rate is very low (around just three percent).  A high percentage of Jewish Mexican students travel to Israel after graduating high school for a three-month experience known as Hagshama.  

One of the products of Mexico City’s Syrian-Jewish population is David Esquenazi, who went into the jewelry business. In 2016, a fellow Jew from Mexico City called him for a medical referral, knowing that David had dealt with a health issue in his family, over the course which he became well-acquainted with medical professionals. Over the next six months, other local Jews consulted with him, asking for referrals. One case that came to him involved a patient who could not afford the care he required. David stepped up to help by launching a fundraising campaign.  The publicity of the campaign caught the attention of not only donors, but also of people who needed assistance. More and more patients reached out for help.  

Recognizing the growing need, David trained his son, Leon, to assume his responsibilities in the jewelry business, so he could devote himself fully to his new project, which he named Yad La Joleh. 

The Struggle to Afford Quality Healthcare 

David explains that this organization is vitally important because most Jews in Mexico City don’t earn enough money to purchase private health insurance, and most who can buy health insurance policies cannot afford to pay the deductibles, which can be as high as $5,000 USD.  Moreover, not all services are not covered by health insurance plans. The average Mexican earns $2,000 a month, or $24,000 annually, and a basic health insurance policy – with limited coverage – for a family of four costs around $10,000. While it is true that the cost of living in Mexico is lower than in the U.S., no family can afford to spend over 50 percent of its gross income on insurance premiums and deductibles. 

Mexico does have a universal, public healthcare system, but David explains that it is sorely inadequate. “Mexico’s health expenditure per capita lags behind that of other emerging economies in the region, averaging to around 1,154 U.S. dollars per person, per year.”  The effective access rate of public insurance in Mexico is approximately 50 percent.    

Additionally, David shared, Mexican Jews are reluctant to go to public hospitals. Patients in public hospitals sometimes sit for over 20 hours in an emergency room before a doctor or nurse sees them. Seeing a specialist can also be exceedingly difficult. 

Yad La Joleh has risen to the occasion, providing financial support to hundreds of patients with very serious illnesses. It is committed to continuing its vital work, helping to ensure the health and wellbeing of the Jewish community. 

On one occasion, Yad La Joleh helped an American citizen who suffered a stroke while visiting Mexico City. The patient had no insurance or money to pay for the hospital stay and surgeries. Yad La Joleh stepped in and took care of all the medical expenses, so that the man could return to the U.S. after over six months of treatments.  

The foundation currently has approximately 50 rollover cases that are open with an annual budget of $3 million a year. Some 850 people are enrolled in a private group health insurance plan through Yad La Joleh’s foundation. The organization strives to limit overhead costs as much as possible, with a paid staff consisting only of a secretary and someone responsible for collecting donations, in addition to the director, David Esquenazi. 

“B”H, we make miracles happen,” David proudly says. “Somehow, we finish all the cases we take on.”   

In light of the Torah obligation to save human life, David does not refuse anyone who approaches Yad La Joleh for help. But for the organization to continue this policy, it needs more resources. 

“Unfortunately, we have reached our fundraising limit in Mexico,” David laments. “We now need to reach out to the U.S. and other countries to meet our annual budget.”  He has therefore decided to expand the organization’s fundraising on an international level, in order to meet Yad La Joleh’s annual budget of $3 million.  

His secondary goal, he says, is to raise funds for a cutting-edge, private Jewish hospital.  “The community would benefit greatly from a hospital with first-rate equipment, state-of-the-art facilities, and effective treatments at fair prices,” David explains.   

The hospital that David envisions will provide the highest-quality, most reliable medical care available 365 days a year. It will be equipped with the most up-to-date, cutting-edge equipment, state-of-the-art facilities, 32 patient rooms, and ample parking.  It will also have an emergency room, operating rooms, maternity wards, intensive care units, mid-therapy clinics, a research laboratory, a radiology department, a synagogue, and a kosher kitchen. 

The Rabbis’ Plea for Support 

Hagaon Rav David Shwekey, a highly-respected spiritual leader in both Mexico City and New York, is a dedicated advocate for Yad La Joleh.  He speaks of the outstanding work performed by the foundation in helping community members with serious and long-term illnesses.   

“Where there is a necessity, Yad La Joleh is there to help,” Rabbi Shwekey says.  “Whoever gives to help those in need, gains all the mitzvot.” 

Our very own esteemed Rabbi Eli Mansour, rabbi of the Edmond J Safra Synagogue in Brooklyn, was invited by David Esquenazi to speak on Hanukah in Mexico City in 2019. Rabbi Mansour described how he never travels on Hanukah, and always stays home to light the Menorah with his family, but he made an exception for the sake of helping the Yad La Joleh organization.  

To explain why he made this exception, the rabbi cited the famous rabbinic teaching that we bear an obligation to follow’s Gd’s example of loving kindness. Hashem provided Adam and Havah with clothing, visited Avraham Avinu when he was ill, and comforted Yitzhak when he was mourning – setting an example of kindness that we must emulate. As Rabbi Mansour discussed, this mitzvah is elaborated upon at great length by the famous kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Safed, 1522-1570). The prophet Michah (7:18) describes Gd as “hafetz hesed – desiring of kindness,” and thus Gd loves people who act kindly as He does. Rabbi Mansour remarked that if Hashem loves hesed and people who do hesed, then Hashem must love David Esquenazi and his wife. Therefore, the rabbi said, he left New York on Hanukah to be close to people whom Hashem loves. 

Rabbi Mansour further noted that Hashem presented David with the opportunity to help people, assigning him this role. The rabbi also applauded Rabbi Shwekey for supporting David in his hesed work, and declared, “I came to ask people to help David help people in this community.” 

Based on the teachings of Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (1892-1953), Rabbi Mansour noted the four exiles endured by the Jewish People – at the hands of the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans.  The first three, Rabbi Dessler explained, befell our nation on account of the three sins of murder, idol-worship and immorality, which were violated during the time of the first Bet Hamikdash.  But the fourth exile, which we still suffer to this day, is a result of the sins of sin’at hinam (baseless hatred) and lashon hara (negative speech about other people), which were rampant during the time of the Second Temple, and which plague us to this very day. The roots of this exile are found in the story of Yosef and his brothers, the paradigm of fraternal strife, of hatred and in-fighting among Am Yisrael. Our responsibility during this exile is to rectify this sin through loving kindness, by showing genuine concern and affection for all our fellow Jews. 

This process of rectification, Rabbi Mansour asserted, is being achieved by Yad La Joleh, which, beyond the vital charity work that it does, brings unity to the Jewish Nation by reaching out to all Jews of all backgrounds. These efforts, the rabbi said, will help bring our final redemption closer. 

“Helping Hashem Save a Life” 

David’s message to our community is to remember the timeless Jewish teaching, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh” – all Jews are responsible for one another.   

“The mission of the Jewish People,” he says, “is to model the example of unity and mutual responsibility. I have experienced good feelings in my lifetime, but none can compare to helping Hashem save a life, and being part of it.” David now invites the entire community to be part of this endeavor, by giving Yad La Joleh the resources it needs to continue its lifesaving work.
 

Yad La Joleh is a formal and legal not-for-profit organization recognized by the Mexican Federal authorities. It can provide an international tax- deductible receipt to donors.  For more information about Yad La Joleh, or to become a partner in its programs, please visit www.YadLajoleh.org, or contact David Esquenazi at david@yadlajoleh.com, or at +525549406943 (phone and WhatsApp). 

 “He is from another world” – Testimonials from Yad La Joleh Recipients 

The stories told by Mexico City Jews who have received assistance from Yad La Joleh speak for themselves.  

“A sick person cannot wait for medical attention; a medical emergency can occur at any time, and no one is exempt. We called Senor David, and he said: Let’s see how we can help you.” 

“One night, my dad had back pain, and he was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm. He had a terrible infection around his neck, was intubated and in a coma. David helped him. He is from another world.” 

“I had an aortic aneurysm and then got cataracts in my eyes. Yad La Joleh paid for my surgeries, and David became an ambassador of my health.” 

“I was doing laundry on the third floor. I fell and was hospitalized for three months.  All my surgeries were supported by Yad La Joleh.” 

“I had a heart attack in the middle of the night, and I didn’t have health insurance. I called David, and in two minutes, he had everything solved. When the ambulance’s doors opened, five doctors were waiting to help me. There are many people who are alive thanks to David.” 

“I had breast and thyroid cancer in 2020. My cousin suggested I call David, and since day one, he has been helping me. I’m so grateful to Hashem for putting David in my path. May Gd bless you, Mr. David, for your labor and all the things you do. Thanks to you, we are alive and healthy. You are an exceptional human being. We have eternal gratitude.” 

“Our newborn son wasn’t breathing. David helped us. We named our baby after David, and made Mr. David my son’s sandak.” 

“By the end of July, I got notice that I have breast cancer. David helped me and saved my life.” 

“My cousin had a pair of clots. The doctor said it was an emergency, and David helped us. His instant response is worth gold.” 

“For me, Mr. David is not human. He is an angel. I wish there were more people like him.” 

“Please keep helping Mr. David. He is helping people whose lives are in danger.”

Jack E. Rahmey 

Ten community members, including Rabbi David Ozeri and Rabbi David Sutton, headed to Israel last month to demonstrate support for our brothers and sisters in Israel during this critical time. 

First, we visited several leading rabbis in Yerushalayim to provide hizuk (encouragement) and to deliver financial assistance for their yeshivot. These yeshivot play a crucial role in safeguarding the country and the entire Jewish nation through Torah study. While the IDF employs military force against our enemies, we believe that learning Torah and praying to Hashem are potent weapons, as well. Unity as a nation ensures the presence of Hashem and guarantees our survival. 

Chessed V’Rachamim 

The following morning, we joined the vatikin minyan at the Kotel as the sun was rising. Afterwards we were joined by Shai Graucher, founder of Chessed V’Rachamim, a hesed organization that initiated a special campaign, Standing Together, to provide essentials for our heroes in the IDF and families stricken by terror. Chessed V’Rachamim helps with a vast array of critical needs, such as clothing and food, and sends volunteers to visit and offer financial support to families of victims as well as providing hospital visits to wounded soldiers and citizens. This initiative reflects the commitment of the Jewish people to support those in distress during this challenging time.  

Shai Graucher went with us to the soldiers’ memorial, where we paid tribute to those who died defending our land. We lit a flame, placed a wreath at the memorial, and sang and prayed for the neshamot of the fallen soldiers. We then visited a pop-up warehouse, set up by Shai (as part of Chessed V’Rachamim’s Standing Together project) to provide merchandise for displaced victims of the war. After sharing lunch with a group of soldiers, we headed to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan to visit injured soldiers and victims of the devastating attack. Lipa Schmeltzer’s beautiful and inspiring performance uplifted the patients’ spirits, creating a deeply emotional experience for all. 

During our visit, I shared drawings and notes from my grandchildren, which clearly moved the soldiers. Despite their gratitude, I found myself thinking that I should be thanking them for their dedication to defending the Land of Israel. 

Up to the North 

Our group then headed up north to a barbecue where we danced with the brave soldiers stationed there. While up north, we were privileged to visit the kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron. We paid a visit to the Ozeri family, whose son had fallen recently in battle. The day ended with an inspirational Koby Peretz concert with Israeli soldiers. 

South to Kfar Azza Kibbutz and an Air Force Base 

On Tuesday, we prayed at the Kotel, then traveled south to the Kfar Azza Kibbutz near the Gaza border. There we witnessed the devastating aftermath of the terrorist attack. We met with soldiers who experienced the events firsthand and learned about their efforts to combat terrorism.  

Witnessing the charred residences of the kibbutz members, who believed they were simply beginning a Shabbat/Simchat Torah morning, was heart-wrenching. The devastation was overwhelming. Despite remnants of food on tables and laundry in washing machines, most homes had been ravaged, primarily by fire. 

We met with a ZAKA volunteer, who shared his experiences entering the kibbutz a few days after the attack and told us of the profound impact it had on his entire team. We saw the pain in his eyes, which he saw reflected in ours, as elaborated on the meticulous tasks required to clean up and purify the aftermath of this tragedy. He emphasized how he willingly put his life on hold to volunteer for this challenging and emotionally draining task.  

We later visited an Air Force base to learn about the operations and precision of the Israeli Air Force. We heard about the precise techniques that enable them to target a specific floor in a building identified by intelligence as occupied by terrorists.  

We observed the takeoff of jets as we joined some of the pilots for a barbecue lunch.  

Meeting with Families of the Hostages 

Back at the Kotel, we attended a ceremony that included the lighting of 1,500 memorial candles for the victims of the October 7th massacre. The day concluded with a dinner at Entracote restaurant with the families of hostages. Rabbi David Ozeri spoke emotionally, urging the families not to give up hope. We provided much-needed tzedakah for them. A band uplifted our spirits, fostering hope for the war’s end and for the safe return of all of the hostages. It was a beautiful and heartwarming experience. 

Contrasts: Visiting Sderot and Bnai Brak 

Wednesday began with praying vatikin at the Kotel, followed by a visit to a yeshivah overlooking the Kotel where we gave financial assistance to the avreichim. We then traveled south to Sderot to witness the destruction there.  

We saw the demolished remnants of the police station, which had been overtaken by Hamas terrorists and subsequently was destroyed by the IDF. We visited the Chabad house, repurposed into a facility for packaging meals and distributing essential items to the town’s residents. 

On our journey back, we encountered the stark reality of the aftermath, passing by numerous burned out cars that had carried victims of the massacre. Due to the potential presence of human remains in those vehicles, they had to be buried according to halacha. Additionally, we made a brief stop to observe the Iron Dome from a distance. 

Our last day in Bnei Brak involved meeting gedolim, providing hizuk, and offering financial support for their yeshivot.  

Conclusion 

Our emotionally and physically exhausting trip has profoundly impacted us. Our responsibility now is to share our experiences with our families, friends, and community to encourage standing in solidarity with Israel after the devastating attack on October 7th. We must recognize that Israel is the true homeland of the Jewish people, and as Jews living in the Diaspora, we must recognize that we are only visitors in our adopted countries. We must appreciate and support those living on the front lines for the sake of our precious Jewish homeland in the Middle East. 

May we soon witness the arrival of Mashiah!

The Gemara (Shabbat 88b) teaches us, “Those who suffer insult and do not insult back, hear their shame, and do not respond, act out of love and rejoice with affliction, about them the pasuk (Shoftim 5:31) says, ‘And let those who love Him be like the powerfully shining sun.’” 

Interestingly, Rav Wolbe mentions, one who is disgraced and remains silent is compared to the shining sun, which is fully kinetic, with all its potential and intensity brought to the fore.  We may expect such an individual to be fully active, like the Energizer bunny that keeps on going. Yet the one who refrains from action or speech, who keeps his mouth sealed, who does not respond to disgrace and tolerates suffering - he is the strongest of all, like the glowing sun. 

How Can We Be Like the Sun? 

How can we accomplish this? How can we become as strong and bright as the sun? 

We know how difficult it is in real time to not respond and to contain the insult without reacting. Yet the highest achievable level of equanimity not only incorporates silence, but also aims to be empathetic to the aggressor. Though at the outset, it appears to be a nearly impossible feat, it is, in fact, quite doable. 

Can we perhaps contemplate and explore the pain of the person who shamed us? Can we examine why he may feel the need to stoop so low as to intentionally hurt another person with his words? Is it possible that this very individual is suffering so intensely that he cannot bear the emotional pain, and needs to expel pain onto another? Can we be sensitive to that pain? 

If we can, indeed, reach that level, this is how we do it: By moving the perspective of the hurt experienced within ourselves to the hurt within the other person. At this moment, our focus has veered from focusing on our own pain and is instead directed toward the pain of another person. We may even have the capacity to relate to his struggles and truly empathize with his suffering. 

The Gemara (Chullin 89a) imparts, “The world endures only in the merit of the one who muzzles his mouth during an argument.” He, too, is being sovel the hurt and holding the retort inside him. At the very highest of levels, he is not only holding his own pain, but also the pain of the one who attacked him. 

There are other ways to become as great as the shining sun. 

Becoming the Greatest of the Great 

Rav Wolbe discusses how we view somebody who is suffering, whether he is in physical or emotional pain, as a nebach case: Oy, poor So-and-So. I feel so bad for him/her. He/she is so broken. But in Rav Wolbe’s words: “It is possible that a man who is sovel is greater than the greatest activist… We must know that one who is holding the pain, and doing so with happiness, is not broken. He is the greatest of the great.” The man lying ill in bed may not be doing anything, yet he can still be on a higher level than those who are perpetually doing. 

This is bolstered by the words: “It is good for me that I was afflicted” (Tehillim 119:71). Rashi explains that David HaMelech stated, “It was good in my eyes.” He himself understood the advantages of the suffering he underwent. 

The greatest of the great are sovel yissurim, holding the load of suffering. The Tiferet Yehonatan (Bamidbar 3: 5-6) explains Pharaoh’s objective in not forcing Shevet Levi into slave labor like the rest of the tribes: this was to prevent the mashiah, the savior, from emerging from their tribe. The mashiah would not come from Shevet Levi if they were not suffering. And as the Tiferet Yehonatan puts it, if he is not sovel the yissurim of the Jewish people, he’s not fit to be the redeemer. 

Notwithstanding Pharaoh’s best efforts, the pasuk tells us (Shemot 2:11), “It happened in those days that Moshe grew up and went out to his brothers and saw their burdens.” Though he was brought up in the royal palace, Moshe went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. Rashi explains that he directed his eyes and his heart to be distressed over them and their predicament. He was sovel their yissurim. This is the mark of a true redeemer. 

Furthermore, the Gemara (Sanhedrin 98a – see Rashi) reveals that the Mashiah, whose arrival we anticipate every day, is sitting at the gates of Rome, being sovel our sins. 

The one who is sovel, who tolerates pain and insult, is the greatest of the great, the one suitable to redeem us.

Victor Cohen 

Ralph Mahana, is, in one word, inspirational. In a few more words, he is someone who has identified his purpose in life as the effort to make people feel good, a role for which he is uniquely suited.  

As a child, Ralph was diagnosed with muscular disease which left him unable to walk, and impacted his coordination skills. This kind of disability would have crushed the spirits of the vast majority of people, myself included. But not Ralph. He refused to fall into self-pity. And he decided to share his remarkable story with the world by publishing a book under the title, Very Good, a dream whose realization was made possible by Artscroll publications, thanks the efforts of the company’s president, Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz. 

I was given the great privilege to meet Ralph for the purpose of interviewing him for this article. But I had the even greater privilege of seeing this “interview” evolve into a lengthy, fascinating discussion touching on a variety of topics, including the book, Ralph’s day-to-day life, his Torah learning, and his thoughts on the war in Israel. The interview was scheduled in advance for Oct. 12th, less than a week after Hamas’ barbaric assault on our brothers and sisters in Israel. I figured – correctly – that as someone who has dealt with adversity for most of his life, Ralph would have unique insight and perspective on the current crisis faced by the Jewish People. 

A Lifelong Battle 

After speaking together for a few minutes,  we finally got to the first question that I had prepared – a question about Ralph’s book: why he titled it Very Good. I wondered how he could possibly describe his difficult ordeals as “very good.” 

He explained that people generally view their struggles as an unwanted burden, and so they just complain about them. By choosing the title Very Good, Ralph sought to teach us how to look at the bright side of every situation, to take note of the benefits that we receive from even life’s more challenging moments. This perspective will help people accept their struggles without bitterness and resentment, and live happy, fulfilling lives despite the hardships that come their way. 

Ralph revealed to me the challenge he faced writing this book. Just 83 pages long, it took him five years to compose – because, unable to type, Ralph needed to dictate the entire text, word for word.  

I thought to myself: writing a book is hard enough – imagine having to speak a book! But with the help of Michael Franco, he got it done. The fact that Very Good came into being is a testament to Ralph’s determination, and the importance he accorded this project. 

​I asked Ralph to explain a little more about why this undertaking was so important to him. He replied that he is good at making others feel good about themselves, and he wanted to share this inspirational power with others. He sees lots of suffering throughout the world, people facing hardships, and he wants to do what he can to help them cope and push onwards. 

This push, as Ralph describes, is a lifelong battle, one which he himself occasionally had trouble fighting. He openly admits that despite his fierce determination, he sometimes finds it difficult to cope.  

“Gemara Therapy” 

Once, Ralph relates, he went to a Barnes & Noble bookstore looking for some self-help books to try and help himself, as he was not feeling particularly strong at the time. After spending some time browsing, he realized that he would not find there the strength he was looking for. This strength, he understood, would be found in the Torah.  

He left the store, went to a shul, and picked up a Gemara, Masechet Kiddushin. He spent hours learning. Ralph says that learning Torah helps him feel good and alleviate his pain. From his own experience, he has determined that the Torah is the answer. Learning can help us get through the dark moments in our lives, when everything seems hopeless. When we feel gloomy, the fire of Torah can lift our spirits and give us the strength we need to keep going, to keep achieving, to keep striving to make this world a better place, each of us in his or her own unique way. 

​ 

It quickly became clear that Gemara was Ralph’s favorite subject. The intricate, complex discussions of the Talmudic sages allow him – as it does for so many others – to truly connect with Gd. I found his passion for Gemara very inspiring. Although I had always liked learning Gemara, I can’t say that I had loved it. But after listening to Ralph speak of what Gemara learning does for him, I went home and opened my Masechet Shabbat which I had tried going through long ago. Thanks to Ralph, who reignited my love for Gemara, I am still learning it regularly. 

Not Letting Life Pass By 

I then asked Ralph about his day-to-day life, what his schedule was like, and how he spends his spare time.  

He replied that in addition to learning, he loves nature and the outdoors. He frequently goes on walks, and enjoys closing his eyes outside, relaxing and enjoying the tranquility of nature. Ralph describes this as a meditative practice, calling it “sensory focus,” turning his attention away from what he does not have, from his problems and struggles, and onto everything he does have, on all that he should be grateful for. Although he has difficulty moving and speaking, nevertheless, by closing his eyes and directing his focus onto his blessings, he is able to experience happiness and contentment.  

Ralph says about this technique: “When a person lets life pass him by, he is not able to absorb it.”

Too many of us “let life pass by.” We fail to enjoy our blessings, because we are so busy and focused on trying to attain what we do not have, that we cannot enjoy all that we do have. Life happens, but we aren’t absorbing our experiences, because our minds are directed toward the things that we lack. Taking time to focus on our blessings helps us feel genuine contentment, and fully experience our lives. Hashem has given all of us so much, no matter what struggles we face. By focusing on and enjoying what we have, we can always feel happy, regardless of the challenges we are dealing with.

The Key Ingredient 

Ralph and I spoke of our feelings in response the horrific terror attacks in Israel, which shook us both – and, of course, everyone else – to our core. Ralph was initially reluctant to offer insight on this subject, feeling it was not his place to console or offer advice to those enduring unimaginable pain and sorrow, and who have lost so much. Eventually, however, he relented.  

He humbly suggested that the most important thing people could do, especially after such a horrific tragedy, is to place their trust in Hashem. Bitahon (trust in Gd) is the key ingredient for getting through periods of hardship. In times of joy and success, bitahon helps a person maintain his humility, as he recognizes that the blessings he enjoys are the result not of his work or ingenuity, but rather of Gd’s grace and providence. In times of adversity, bitahon helps a person cope by reminding him that everything Hashem does is to his benefit, even when he cannot possibly understand how, and that even the pain he experiences as part of Hashem’s plan. This concept finds expression in the recitation of “Baruch Dayan ha’emet” upon hearing of somebody’s passing. This declaration means “Blessed is the true Judge,” proclaiming our unwavering faith in Gd’s justice and kindness even when life seems harsh and unfair. 

​ 

It would be hard to find a more inspirational figure than Ralph Mahana, or a more inspirational story then the struggle he has waged for much of his life. Confined to a wheelchair, Ralph battles each and every day against his physical handicaps, refusing to surrender to despair. He has done us all a great service by sharing with us his story and his strategies for overcoming life’s challenges, for persevering, for how to emerge from adversity stronger that we ever were before. He shows us that no matter what is happening, life can be Very Good, if we are willing to open our minds to see just how good it is, and to put in the work to make it even better. 

Very Good speaks to people of all ages, and is a great read for all. It presents a treasure-trove of wisdom for those who, like Ralph, find themselves struggling with hardship, and, no less importantly, for those who, fortunately, are not, bringing them greater awareness of, and appreciation for, the countless blessings that they enjoy.