We were driving from Ghent and hit bumper-to-bumper traffic en-route to the National Botanical Garden of Belgium “Plantentuin Meise” in Brussels. We parked at 4:57 PM, arrived at the ticket counter at 5:06 PM, and figured we’d be fine because the Gardens close at 6:00 PM. Except we didn’t know that they stop selling tickets at 5:00 PM and the two women at the guest services booth apologized and said that the processing is done for the day and they can’t help us. I pleaded. I explained to them that we are from Montana, that we were stuck in traffic, and that we knew it would be a short visit, but that I didn’t want to disappoint the kids. She softened. She came around with the credit card machine, reconnected the systems, and allowed us in.

It was a marvelous moment of humanity.

In this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, we read about non-Kosher birds, including the Chasida, translated as the stork. Rashi in Leviticus explains that this bird is called Chasida, which means “pious one”, because “this bird deals kindly with her peers, and helps them sustain themselves with food.” If it’s so pious, why isn’t it Kosher? Shouldn’t these kind characteristics make it Kosher? My Zayde, the Chidushei Harim of Gur explains that while the Chasida performs kindness with her friends, sadly, it’s to the exclusion of all others. Kindness is genuine when we are willing to do it for those who aren’t part of our “click”, part of our “community”; doing it for a fellow human being that is a stranger, allowing them to benefit from our kindness.

The woman at the Botanical Gardens saw an American Jew standing before her. She didn’t need to go out of her way to help, it most certainly inconvenienced her structured European daily schedule. Yet, she “broke the rules” for us, made an exception, and at the end, when we arrived back to the exit gift shop at 5:58 PM we expressed our gratitude to her and her team and had a wonderful fifteen minute conversation with all of them, as they were eager to hear about life in Montana, about our visit to Europe, discussing some clear differences between European and American mentalities (A detailed write up on our trip and my observations in Europe, will come soon). Kindness is contagious and when it’s done for someone we don’t know, who we may never meet again, with no reciprocation in mind, it tends to have bonus value.

Don’t be a stork!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

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Years ago, during our busy summer months, we hosted Rabbi Yisroel & Miriam Haber who were visiting Yellowstone from the Golan Heights and were seeking a place for Shabbos meals. They turned out to be super memorable guest speakers and their stories, including building the Mikvah at the Air Force Base in Alaska, were mind-blowing. Their talk was not planned, not formal, just spontaneous and from the heart. Similarly, this past Shabbos brought us Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, who was visiting with his wonderful son Amikam. We had the honor of hosting them at our home and then, at Shul, hearing one of the most inspiring speeches of my lifetime as Yechiel shared perspective about the loss of his oldest son Moshe Yedidia who died defending Klal Yisroel after October 7th in Gaza.

In this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, we are commanded to “Bentch”, to say Grace After Meals, or in Hebrew Birkat Hamazon. The verse states “You will eat and be satisfied, and then you shall bless the Eternal, your God, for the good land that He gave you”. The idea that every time we have a bite, take a drink, grab a snack and of course sit down for a meal, we take the time afterwards to express our gratitude for the nourishment, is so special and can’t be undervalued. It’s not just for the big miracles, but also for the daily moments of blessing for which we express our thanks to Hashem, like we do with Asher Yotzar after using the restroom, each and every time.

Ambassador Leiter said something that really resonated with me: During the repetition of the Amidah, the Chazzan (cantor) is the one saying the prayers out loud, but there is one part of the prayers that he can’t do for us which is “Modim”, the gratitude prayer, because when it comes to gratefulness we each need to take the time to express it ourselves and not rely on collective gratitude. Dr. Leiter was such a Mentch and such an eloquent speaker. I know that the eighty guests at Shabbos lunch enjoyed his every word, and I am certain that this Shabbos, like the one with the Haber’s, will be remembered for decades to come for its unique and inspiring flavor.

Modim Anachnu Lach!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!