norfolk_stories (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} norfolk_stories) wrote,@ 2007-10-26 16:42:00 |
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On the way to camp...
This past summer (2007), the Bnai Israel community had such a large number of kids going away to camp that it paid to charter a bus. They picked a bus service owned by a Jew and all the kids climbed aboard for what should have been a fun ride to camp.
While they were driving up the interstate, the bus was cut in front of by an 18-wheeler. The bus driver reacted quickly and barely collided with the truck, but it was enough to send the bus spinning into a collision that sounded like a scene from the movie "Speed."
When everything was cleaned up, a couple of the kids had to take trips to the hospital. The final analysis? No one was hurt.
That Shabbos, Rabbi Silver told everyone in Shull to understand that we had all just experienced an overt miracle. What could have been the worst tragedy ever to befall our community ended up being a neat story for the kids to tell their friends.
What do we learn from this? That's a tough one. Sometimes HaShem wants to give us a big wake-up call - a reminder that we're all in His hands. Sometimes HaShem is saving us from things we will never know were going to happen. For instance, it's possible that a much worst accident would have happened further up the road. Who knows? This is why we say the blessing of Magen Avraham (shield of Avharam) at the beginning of our Shemona Esrei. It's a recognition that HaShem is constantly saving us from things we don't know about.
Maybe one thing we could all take out of this is to say Magen Avraham with proper Cavana (intent). Halacha is pretty clear that if you don't say it with Cavana, you haven't fulfilled your obligation of Shemona Esrei.
We should all merit to appreciate every little thing HaShem goes for us.
Incidentally, the owner of that bus company now frequents Bnai Israel.
This past summer (2007), the Bnai Israel community had such a large number of kids going away to camp that it paid to charter a bus. They picked a bus service owned by a Jew and all the kids climbed aboard for what should have been a fun ride to camp.
While they were driving up the interstate, the bus was cut in front of by an 18-wheeler. The bus driver reacted quickly and barely collided with the truck, but it was enough to send the bus spinning into a collision that sounded like a scene from the movie "Speed."
When everything was cleaned up, a couple of the kids had to take trips to the hospital. The final analysis? No one was hurt.
That Shabbos, Rabbi Silver told everyone in Shull to understand that we had all just experienced an overt miracle. What could have been the worst tragedy ever to befall our community ended up being a neat story for the kids to tell their friends.
What do we learn from this? That's a tough one. Sometimes HaShem wants to give us a big wake-up call - a reminder that we're all in His hands. Sometimes HaShem is saving us from things we will never know were going to happen. For instance, it's possible that a much worst accident would have happened further up the road. Who knows? This is why we say the blessing of Magen Avraham (shield of Avharam) at the beginning of our Shemona Esrei. It's a recognition that HaShem is constantly saving us from things we don't know about.
Maybe one thing we could all take out of this is to say Magen Avraham with proper Cavana (intent). Halacha is pretty clear that if you don't say it with Cavana, you haven't fulfilled your obligation of Shemona Esrei.
We should all merit to appreciate every little thing HaShem goes for us.
Incidentally, the owner of that bus company now frequents Bnai Israel.
