“Every siyum is special, but a collective siyum made by boys who have all lost a parent is extraordinary”
This past Shabbos, the Links Family organization hosted its biannual Shlomie’s Club shabbaton for over 200 boys, ranging from just under bar mitzvah to bochurim in their upper teenage years — all of whom have lost a parent Rachmana litzlan. On Motzaei Shabbos, the bochurim made a siyum in memory of the legendary philanthropist, Reb Shlomie Gross z”l, and immediately broke into spirited song and dance led by Yanky and Shulem Lemmer. The energy that pulsated through the room was unforgettable.
When the boys began singing the stirring Kah Ribon, composed by Chesky Weiss and sung by Dovi Meisels, in which the lyrics for the high part of the song repeat over and over, “Far Dir, far Dir, nur far Dir — for You, for You, only for You,” the intensity reached new heights, and the boys joined the two singers on stage, reiterating the phrase with heartfelt emotion. Later in the evening, Rabbi Nosson Muller, the menahel of Chicago’s Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi and a member of the Links Family Rabbinical Board, spoke to the audience and reflected on the song.
Every siyum is special, said Rabbi Muller, but a collective siyum made by boys who have all lost a parent is extraordinary. He recounted a story about a great tzaddik who lost everything in the war — family, community, home — save for one grandson, who survived. Once, the tzaddik sought to compliment his grandson for remaining staunch in his Yiddishkeit despite the horrors he experienced. But the grandson was distraught upon hearing his grandfather commend him for remaining unchanged. How could he have stayed unchanged? he responded. Shouldn’t the destruction he witnessed have made him into a better person?
There is a level of acceptance in the face of tragedy, said Rabbi Muller, like the one the Torah tells us about when describing Aharon HaKohein’s reaction to his sons’ death. “Vayidom Aharon — and Aharon was silent.”
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