The following is written by Ron Yitzchok Eisenman, Rabbi, Congregation Ahavas Israel, Passaic, NJ:
Shocked, stunned, numbed, and speechless; these are just a few of the words which describe our feelings this Motzei Shabbos.
As Shabbos came to a close all of us were informed that the massive search for the safe return of Devorah bas Shoshanah Rus and the Tefillos which were being said on her behalf have been halted.
As Shabbos ended the news travelled quickly that Devorah Stubin was not coming home.
Our hopes for her safe return were dashed as news of her demise was quickly disseminated in the Jewish world and beyond.
Plans for a celebration when she would be found were now replaced with arraignments for a funeral.
I did not know Devorah bas Shoshanah Rus; many who did tell me she was indeed a special Neshama.
I did not know her; however, I do know many of those who sacrificed Shabbos with their families to spend Shabbos in Maywood, New Jersey in the cold and in the rain.
Jews from Brooklyn, Lakewood, Monsey, Teaneck, Elizabeth, Passaic, Clifton and other places all joined together through their hearts and hands left the comfort of their homes and their families to search and attempt to find a young woman whom they never had met.
They survived on an hour of sleep here and there and on high energy caffeinated beverages throughout the day.
They did not care about hot Chulent or warm beds; they did not think about what Shul they should go to or not go to; their focus was singularly on the finding of Devorah bas Shoshanah Rus.
No one cared if you were Chassidish or Litvish, Modern or Open Orthodox; if you wear a hat or if you wife wears a Shaitel or a Tichel, all they cared about was Devorah bas Shoshanah Rus.
Dozens and dozens and volunteers left their warm beds this Shabbos to help find a young woman whose name most had never heard of before Thursday evening.
The togetherness and the unity allow me to feel consoled and that is good.
The outcome was not what he davened or hoped for; however, the display of unity is what we daven for.
I was privileged to count among the many volunteers who gave up their Shabbos for Devorah’s sake two of my own sons.
Both of them spent hours and hours searching and looking for Devorah bas Shoshanah Rus.
This morning at 7 o’clock my son and I left the house together.
He was on his to search for Devorah and I was on my way to search for Hashem.
Before I headed to Shul I walked him to his car.
I proudly stood by as he entered the car and gave him a brocha for success.
As I watched him pull away from the curb, I thanked Hashem for giving me children who care enough about His children to know that sometimes serving Him means even driving on Shabbos.
As Shaya turned the corner, I turned to Shul.
As I walked I wondered which one of us was the one to emulate: the rabbi on his way to Shul or the rabbi’s son on his way to find a lost Jew.
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman, Rabbi, Congregation Ahavas Israel, Passaic, NJ.
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8 Responses
A gem given to Klsl Yisroel is Rav Eisenman. Yehi Baruch!!!!
How did this Rav lament the passing of Devorah Stubin?
I was hoping for some sort of eulogy to find out who she was and what we can learn from this and instead only about half a sentence actually mentioned her.
You should change the title of the article to be something more like ‘acheinu beis Yisroel in search for passaic girl’ or ‘rabbi marvels over kiddush hashem in search for Passaic girl’.
“No one cared if you were Chassidish or Litvish, Modern or Open Orthodox.” On that note too, no one cared if you weren’t even Jewish…..
What achdus!!!
“No one cared if you were Chassidish or Litvish, Modern or Open Orthodox.”
Really? At such a tragic time stick your “open mindedness” in?
What a gem of a Rav he is whose insightful view of this tragedy provides us with hashkafa and appreciation of all forms of Orthodoxy.
Over you’re including the achdus with the Open Is you should include the Reform.
….and the Gentiles, chassidei umos haolam too. Maybe that’s who the “Chassidish” people mentioned in the article referred to…..who knows? What a gem!!!
I am really impress, how many commentors are worry because this “rabbi” didn’t remeber the reforms and even the gentiles ! But Neither the author of this article nor any of the commentors noted that Sefardim were not listed as part of Am Israel. Dvorah a’h please forgive these amei aratzim they called themselves raabbis and yehudim, but you pure neshamah now is in the olam haemet and knows how far we are from a real achdut. Please send my regards to Rambam Ramban the Chidah the pele yoetz the Abudarham and all those sefradim RABBIS that brought their light to the world. BD’HE.