This story is both sad and happy at the same time. Unfortunately we are living in a time of a terrible pandemic that is taking a grievous number of lives from us. “Levi” is one of the soldiers in our program who was ostracized by his family because he accepted being drafted into the army.
Unfortunately, his father caught the Corona virus and passed away. Levi wanted to respect his father following his passing by attending the funeral and by joining with his family during the 7 days of mourning. Levi’s mother and siblings told him that they do not want to see him at all, not during the funeral and not during the 7 days of mourning.
They forbid him to return home and claimed that’s what Levi’s father would have wanted. Levi, who was devastated that he could not properly mourn the passing of his father from within the comfort of his own family, turned to Rabbi Avraham and shared his painful situation.
Rabbi Avraham not only made sure that Levi attended the funeral as well as the 7 days of mourning, but also personally drove Levi home and spoke with his mother and siblings, convincing them to embrace Levi and accept him into the family again. Being able to mend the fence between Levi and his family, allowed him to honor his father’s passing and share his own and his family’s grief.
עברית