By Rav Yitzchok Fingerer

I felt minuscule. Tiny.

Seldom is one overwhelmed with a feeling of puniness and ineptness. Rare is one overcome with feelings of utter awe and veneration.

In today’s dumbed down generation when so much is artificial and instant gratification is par for the course, does the concept of sacrifice, heroism and valor still exist?

It certainly does.

When I witnessed last week at BJX a formerly totally secular student who did not know Alef Beis, struggling to learn Daf Yomi, I felt small.

When I observed a formerly totally secular student this past Shabbos, who previously had never even heard of Shabbos, walk all the way from Sheepshead Bay in 90 degree temperature, I felt little.

When I sat with our newest couple this past Shabbos at their Sheva Berachos, graciously hosted by the Waldman family, and realized that we’re helping build Jewish families, I felt humbled.

There is so much more than meets the eye. You may see in BJX someone who looks like a regular Flatbush ben Torah. Little did you know that this same person was raised unaffiliated and struggled with great mesiras nefesh to draw close to Hashem and His Torah.

We take so much for granted. The fact that we can easily read Lashon HaKodesh from a siddur; the fact that Shemiras Shabbos is ingrained in us from infancy, the fact that maintaining Kashrus observance isn’t challenging for us. There are giants in our midst who weren’t born with these luxuries, who weren’t raised with these privileges and yet they’ve slowly and steadily made gargantuan changes in their lives. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (97b) and Sukkah (45b) says that there are a minimum of 36 Tzaddikim in every generation who sustain the world. The Heilige Rebbe, Rav Aryeh Leibeish of Zimograd, taught that these Tzaddikim are those who make difficult decisions to go against the tide, persevere despite the obstacles and impediments and perform Hashem’s Will no matter the hardship and imposition.

We have the zechus of having such saints, Tzaddikim amongst us, right here in Brooklyn.

Mincha and Kabbolos Shabbos is 7pm. Experience an incredible and heartfelt Shabbos morning davening 9:05am and hear the Rav’s Shabbos drasha 10:50am. Hot kiddush following davening. Sunday Shacharis is 9am followed by breakfast and learning seder. The shul is located at 2915 Ave. K (Bet E.29 th St and Nostrand Ave)