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!

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!

‍