We don’t see each other often, we don’t even speak often, but Avremi Schapiro and I are childhood classmates, and, in my eyes, he’s an unsung rock star. He lost his father, the assistant principal at our school, when he was young kid, yet, despite the hardship, he was always determined to forge ahead carrying his dad’s legacy of love and care for all. When Avremi walks into a room he lights it up and his smile is addictive. So, you could imagine my delight when running into him and his family at a Shul in Budapest and later at the local ice cream place.

It’s fun to be around a happy person.

In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Seitzei, we are commanded on many of the Mitzvos that guide us to be better to our fellow. Ensuring that our employees can eat from the fields and vineyard in which they work, returning lost items or animals to their rightful owner, keeping one’s word, not withholding wages past the set time of payment, leaving some of the harvest for the poor and vulnerable, not cheating our customers and so much more. It’s like the Torah is etching in our mind the foundational idea that being on good terms with G-d is conditioned on being an upstanding member of society and treating others with dignity and decency.

Avremi will not be happy thar I share this, but he’s an incognito hero in caring for others. He helps young orphans deal with their loss, he shows up for people struggling when they are feeling alone, he cares for the Jewish youth of Wisconsin, including showing up to do programs for Jewish teens at local public schools, and with blood, sweat and toil he’s revolutionized the world Jewish overnight camping, creating a boys and girls camp for kids from across rural America, including campers who came from Montana and Idaho. I traveled to Europe and roundtripped through five countries in two weeks, but one of the most memorable parts of the trip was running into my old friend who exudes kindness and love 24/7.

Avremi cares. Be like Avremi.

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!

While our family is enjoying the final days of our trip to Europe, taking in the historical sites of Budapest and Bratislava, the news out of Montana was horrifying. Having lived through the Bridger fire of 2020, I remember the anxiousness as we waited to hear if the fire was contained, and the horror of so many homes lost, including the homes of the beloved Feniger and Mendelson families, who are dear friends and active members of our Jewish community. The current fires across the state, especially in Beaverhead County, including the Maverick Mountain Ski area, are heartbreaking and so scary. My heart aches for those who lost homes, businesses, agriculture land, but I also feel for the heroic firefighters and their families who devote themselves selflessly to extinguish the fires in every way possible, including the firefighting pilots.

In this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, we read about war. A vital component of a winning army is having fearless soldiers. In the words of the Torah “He must say to them: Hear, Israel! Today you are approaching the battle against your enemies. You must not let your heart become faint! You must not be afraid! You must not be alarmed! And you must not be terrified of them…Is there anyone who is fearful and fainthearted? He must go and return to his house...” It doesn’t matter what drives the fear, whether spiritual or physical ailments, we can’t enter the battlefield unless we have unyielding courage. Whenever I meet a soldier, American or Israeli, I am in awe, not because I like war, but because in the ugliness of war it takes fearless warriors to win, and I don’t think I have their bravery.

While driving around Hungary, Chana Laya had her headphones on listening to her 24Six and singing along beautifully. At one point she was screaming lyrics on top of her lungs, lyrics I’ve never heard before, “If G-d put me on this battlefield, He believes that I can win this war. If G-d put me on this battlefield, He will catch me when I fall”. I stand in awe of those who G-d places on the firefighting battlefield across North America, Europe, and around the globe and how they accept their mission to keep up as safe. I hope the Sand Creek Fire is contained soon and, in the meantime, say thank you to a firefighter for showing up to do what most of us won’t or don’t.

Let’s express gratitude to those who step with courage!

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!