It’s been an adventurous week.

On Sunday morning, after nine straight weeks of hosting visitors from around the world, Chavie and I headed out for our family trip to Europe with Zeesy, Menny and Chana Laya. Three flights, and twenty-seven hours later, we made it to our mountain chalet in Werfen, Austria; our first stop on our road trip. While Baruch Hashem Zeesy’s cooler with her special medically guided meals arrived, two of our seven bags didn’t, including our “Kosher snack backup” bag and my duffle bag. Phone call after phone call, email after email, form after form, dealing with Delta, KLM and Austrian Air, baggage handlers in Munich, Amsterdam and Vienna, the bags finally made it. Yet, being in a foreign country without my clothing, without my “stuff”, without knowing what I’d wear for Shabbos, was hard and left me feeling hopeless; I felt vulnerable.

In this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, we read about our obligation to help our fellow Jews in need. While it deals with the biblical mandate to tithe our agriculture for the Levites and Kohanim, it also reminds us to give to the poor and to be generous in our giving. In addition, it reminds us AGAIN that we are to pay special attention to those in our midst who are extra vulnerable like converts, orphans, widows, Levites; anyone who may feel “less than” or “other”. Living in poverty is a very tough pill to swallow with bills to pay, mouths to feed, children to clothe and no cash in the bank. If you’ve ever been there, even for a few days or weeks, you know how hopeless it feels. Sure, we are meant to have full Bitachon, Trust in Hashem, but the natural feeling is really tough.

On Tuesday I called the baggage handling hotline thirty-eight times trying to get a human to pick up, and seven hours after my first call, when Claudia picked up, she immediately recognized my voice from the day before, and she said “Mr. Bruk, I was just working on your case”. She apologized for the delay and assured me that the luggage still exists and that it’s coming to me soon. Though it took another thirty hours, her commitment, her reassurance, her concern, meant so much to me in that moment of uncertainty. She gave me hope when I felt slightly hopeless, she brought me joy just as I was wondering where I will find comfy pants for “fluffy” men in a “skinny” country of bicyclists. As we drove to Vienna, via Hallstatt, through the eastern Alps, I pondered my little dilemma, contrasted with the hardship that so many experience when all feels bleak. Sometimes, all you need is one person to show up in your life to give us hope, hold our hand, tell us that “the luggage will come tomorrow”, and, when possible, help us make that bright future a reality.

Minimizing stress and hopelessness, one person’s baggage at a time!

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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Earlier this week, I had the honor of meeting Reb Shloime (Sol) and Esther Werdiger, special souls who do so much for the Jewish people and the furtherance of Torah Judaism. Sol is the CEO of Outerstuff, the leading manufacturer of licensed youth sports apparel for NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, US Olympic Committee, FIFA and much more. Yet, this business tycoon and his wife are soft-spoken, refined, kind, and accessible to the community, loving our people and the preservation of our traditional lifestyle above all. They are beacons of light, bringing unity through sports to our fractured world and they never forget what their parents experienced for the “crime” of being Jewish.

In this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, we read about the commandment to recite Grace After Meals, Birkat Hamazon (Bentching), after eating a meal. The Torah says, “You will eat, be satiated, and bless God, your God, for the good land He has given you.” It’s basic, yet foundational: When we are blessed, even with a delicious meal, we are obliged to express our gratitude to Hashem for what we have been given and this is expressed through prayer, Torah study, Mitzvah observance, kindness to those in need, and respecting those who came before us and taught us to be the people we are. Bentching is more than just mumbling some Hebrew words, it’s about feeling, and expressing, gratitude for the blessings in life and demanding of ourselves that we reciprocate by creating a positive impact in the world.

There are a lot of people who do good, incredible Jews who are selfless in devotion and philanthropy, but, for me, sitting with the Werdiger’s was something else. They were humble, relatable, real and modest; I didn’t feel like I needed to walk on eggshells, I felt like I was sitting with family. They appreciate the Mesiras Nefesh, self-sacrifice, that their family before them needed in order to survive as Jews, and they therefore go above and beyond, whether at the Agudah, for their beloved Gerer Chassidim or to an individual in Flatbush who may need a dose of Chessed. As Sol said on Fox News during FIFA, "We grew up with the premise…that you can stay true to your religion, true to your tradition, and still accomplish whatever you want in this country...Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head...We raised our kids and grandkids to love this country...The benevolence of this country...this country is giving you all the opportunities...”. He is full of gratitude. I get to meet many special people, but meeting Sol and Esther is definitely at the top of that list.

If you don’t believe me, just ask the South Korean Ambassador to the UN!

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!