* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Today, eight years ago, Rabbi Yaakov Edelstein passed away. He was the rabbi of the city of Ramat HaSharon and counselor and guide for thousands. I went back to “Sulam Yaakov” (Jacob’s Ladder), the book my husband and I wrote about him, and chose six of his recommendations as follows:
1. When people asked if there was some segulah or protective ritual they could adopt to fix their problems or feel safe, he had a simple response: self-improvement. This could be achieved by practical measures and his grandson, Dov Viski, gave two examples: “If you angered someone or caused another person pain, he would recommend that you go personally to appease that individual. He also spoke often about Shabbat. He reminded us that Shabbat is the ultimate source of blessing and called upon everyone to do something more to honor it, even if only in a small way — for example, to wear festive clothes meant for Shabbat alone.”
2. When people inquired about a sustaining, elevating commitment they could make, he advised being more forgiving of family members, friends, and people in general, and not to search for reasons to feel hurt by them. “When you forgive someone else,” he said, “even if it’s only a matter of allowing someone to get in line in front of you when boarding a bus or at a health clinic, such actions are the ideal time to make requests for God’s help in all matters.”
3. During war or following a terrorist attack, when children would tell him that they were afraid, he would give them verses from the Torah, psalms, or Mishnayot to learn by heart.
4. Sometimes he would simply recommend exercise on a regular basis; a healthy mind resides in a healthy body.
5. When individuals sought Divine intervention in their lives, he would frequently tell them to ask for blessings from Holocaust survivors since, “These are holy people for having withstood the most severe trials anyone could face.”
6. He advised avoiding feelings of guilt since they are “one of the evil inclination’s tricks to confuse us so that we think about the past instead of the future.”
This is just a taste of the wisdom of a great man. All are invited to heed his words, if even in a small way, to honor his memory.
