Yoni, an American young adult studying in Israel, made frequent trips to the USA to visit his parents. Nothing peculiar about this. However, during one of his trips he had a meeting with destiny.

The plane took off and the hostesses served the passengers their meals. Yoni was served a Glatt kosher meal as he had ordered. His neighbor got a non-kosher meal. Yoni was surprised. The name on the platter was “Goldstein”, which made it clear to Yoni that his companion was Jewish. Yoni, who was a compassionate and entrepreneur, wishing to bring others close to Hashem, tried an approach:

“Your name is Goldstein?” asked Yoni.

“Yes”, replied his travel companion, as if he guessed the next question.

“Do you know you could have ordered a kosher meal?”

“Of course”, replied the now unsmiling man. “I am Jewish and totally responsible for my actions”.

“If I understand correctly”, Yoni continued “you eat non-kosher food in full knowledge”.

“You understand perfectly”.

“And why, if I may ask?”

“Let me explain, my boy. I believe in Hashem and I will continue to believe in His existence until the day I die. But my relationship with Hashem deteriorated after the catastrophe that befell my People during the Second World War”.

“You might have spoken to the Torah Giants who endured similar trials and who kept their faith and observance”.

“You are young, my boy, I don’t want to bother you with my life memories”.

“But I’d like to talk and listen to you”, Yoni insisted.

“I fought in the camps because I defended the most worthy of causes, my son. However, Hashem took him from me in that indescribable hell. So, I turned my eyes toward heaven and told Hashem that from the moment He took away my son, He lost me. This is the reason I behave in this fashion”. Yoni was speechless and moved beyond proportion. He left it at that: “..the Guardian of Israel does not sleep nor slumber”.

Two years later, Yoni spent the Tishrei Festivals with his parents. On Yom Kippur, after Musaf, Ashkenazi Jews take a break. Yoni went out for a breath of fresh air. In front of the synagogue, a man sat on a bench smoking. This man reminded him of someone but he couldn’t exactly remember who. Suddenly, he remembered. It was Mr Goldstein. Yoni crossed the street to greet him.

“Shalom Mr Goldstein. Do you remember me?”

The man looked at him and smiled.

“The young student from the plane two years ago?”

“You have an excellent memory. So you are consciously smoking because it’s Yom Kippur, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“We are resuming the service and we are calling the names of the people who have passed. Why don’t you join us to call the name of your son?”

An uncomfortable silence followed. Mr Goldstein closed his eyes and reflected. It was the second time Hashem offered him a hand. What if the time to make peace had come?

“I am following you,” said Mr Goldstein. But you must stay with me because I haven’t set foot in a synagogue for more than 60 years”.

Yoni was overjoyed. When Mr Goldstein entered the synagogue, the tears contained for so long inundated his face. Mr Goldstein and Yoni ascended the bimah to recall his son’s memory. In a trembling voice, he gave the name of his son and the name of his wife. When he heard the names, the synagogue administrator rose unexpectedly. His face was livid. He looked intently upon the old man who had just spoken. He approached him and said the following words:

“Can you repeat those names please?”

Clueless Mr Goldstein obeyed. The administrator was flabbergasted. He approached Mr Goldstein and hugged him tightly.

“Daddy, Daddy”, declared the weeping administrator. I was told you died in the camps and now, on Yom Kippur I find you again...Thank you, Hashem…”

Hearing those words, Mr Goldstein passed out. Congregants tried to reanimate him. After ten minutes, the old man opened his eyes and saw the face of his son.

“Son, help me get up to thank the Master of the Universe and thank this young man for his tenacity”, he said, pointing a finger towards our student who was moved to tears…

“Despair does not exist.”

Mr Goldstein did not infringe the law to rebel against Hashem. He infringed the law to cry to Hashem that he was still his son but that Hashem had lost him. Hashem, who hears the complaints hidden in the innermost recesses of the heart, heard Mr Goldstein’s cry for help and returned his son so He could recover His own.