There’s nothing that casts as much light as a Jewish soul aflame
As I relax while watching his ceaseless toil, I’m reminded of a quote from Three Men in a Boat, a Victorian comedy: “I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
The committee responsible for one of Israel’s highest awards obviously likes Rabbi Raanan’s work, too. This week his organization was honored when a representative (Mrs. Rikki Sitton, who has done sterling service with the hostage families) was asked to light one of the torches at the Independence Day ceremony.
For those reaching the hard secular core of the Jewish people as Rabbi Raanan does, his approach is worth watching. While the agenda is clear — shuls, Torah learning, a mezuzah, chavrusas — his tools are endless conversations and simply caring.
He has hundreds of friends in kibbutzim all over the country. These are people he cares for, and who care for him in return. Some are becoming religious, and many never will.
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