To Israel and back for one day
Sydney Rabbi Levi Wolff flew to Israel last week in time to officiate at a Barmitzvah and left the next day to return…but the ceremony had a special meaning for him.
Ryan Pillemer and Rabbi Levi Wolff
The spiritual leader of the Central Synagogue said: “A little under 14 years ago, a young mother came to see me about a matter that was heavily weighing on her and her husband’s mind…”
Carole Pillemer told him: “Rabbi we have been blessed with three beautiful children, each a unique blessing that we don’t take for granted. Yet we are at odds if we should have a fourth child….and your thoughts on this will very much help us resolve this dilemma!”
He continued: “Imagine being faced with this question …I knew I had to think quickly! I said to her “I have almost never heard someone say….we are sorry to have had this child”…what I do often hear people say is, “We are sorry we didn’t have one more”. She didn’t let me off the hook with just that, she asked “But how are we to know that G-d is telling us, we should have still one more child”….
I said, “If you and your husband are still young, healthy and well enough … then that’s G-d’s way of telling you – “Go for another child”!
Indeed it seems they took my advice, as 10 months later, I found myself standing at the Briss of a little boy born to this couple…
Standing there, I watched tears fall from his mother’s face as she witnessed the miracle of yet another child born in to the family….I felt deeply proud to have had a small part in this beautiful soul descending to earth!
Fast forward 13 years… I travelled last week (for a day!) to Israel to officiate at this young man’s Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem.
Words can not describe the emotional and uplifting moment it was for all of us.
Mazel tov Ryan! Mazel tov Carole Pillemer and Russel! Mazel tov to the Pillimer family!
I hope I gave you guys the right advice 14 years ago!”
