By Lieba Rudolph – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Timing is everything.”
That’s what my late mother always said. It was certainly true on Monday when all of the girls were safely rescued from the fire in the Ohr Chaya seminary dorm in Jerusalem.
Like many of you, I shudder to think of an outcome that was minutes, if not seconds, away from becoming a reality, especially because our granddaughter was in that dorm.
Last month, my husband and I spent time with her at Ohr Chaya. She loved being there. She laughed at her “construction zone” of a dorm. We tried not to think about the risks.
As Chabad Chasidim, we know there are no accidents; it was by Hashem’s design that these girls, and all of us, experienced this miracle during these precious few days between Yud Tes Kislev and Chanukah. But now what?
Part of me wants just to say, “Boruch Hashem.” It was a heart-stopping miracle, to be sure, one that catalyzed my go-to response: Moshiach needs to come already. Enough is enough. Maybe I need more bitachon, less lashon hara. You know the drill because that’s probably how you also cope with the pain and uncertainty of golus.
But maybe this time, enough really is enough.
Maybe this is not the time to cast or avoid blame, but to ask Hashem for what we really want. Of course, changes need to be made, and lessons need to be learned, not the least of which is how to heal the scores of girls who survived the terror of this fire.
Boruch Hashem, they are alive but they are not unscathed. I know my granddaughter feared she was going to die; I think the others did too. That is not an easy feeling to forget.
Fires happen all the time, but do they have to?
Maybe this near-tragedy in Jerusalem can be the wake-up call we all need. Maybe we, as Chabad Chasidim, can tap into the miraculous energy of Chanukah and demand Moshiach as we’ve never done before.
Enough pain. Enough evil. Enough darkness.
Moshiach’s arrival may be a miracle, but it’s also a promise from Hashem—and the Rebbe assured us that we have what it takes to make it happen now. Redemption could be as simple as a collective, sincere ask from all of us. It won’t be a moment too soon for any of us.
You write the truth!
We need the ultimate miracle of Moshiach!! Happy Chanukah.
I’m reminded of a very special Chanukah I had the privilege of staying in your house.
May we continue to see open revealed good brochos!
Estee
She is such a tzadeikis.
Moshiach now !!!
Tiskoo lmitzvoth for the amazing and true, motivating response!!! Also the girls do need to have follow up, talk to a professional about what they went through— as much as needed— there are good modalities in EY to prevent PTSD btw— and everyone needs to improve fire safety absolutely up to code — High School dorms too and all buildings. That doesn’t take away from Lieba Rudolph’s so appreciated message! Looking after people’s gashmius and emotions is part of bringing Moshiach now.
How none of the parents had an issue with the condition they where living in is the question what is wrong with parents this isn’t funny their is life long damage that may not be showing yet going through something like that it’s far far from funny would love to know response from parents of children their
We were duped and promised a new luxury dorm!! When the girls arrived they were moved from temporary place to place until after succoss. Then they arrived at their “new” dorm to find out it was still a complete construction sight except they barely managed to finish the lower floors where our girls were staying. Many parents were up in arms and were shut up finally with a letter showing they had all certificates to be there. I didn’t believe it then or now. Other parents also shut the few louder parents up on a chat because they wanted to… Read more »
But I am sure no one is pulling their daughter out even though they may have nothing to do if they leave so that’s the mind boggling part
Like hello are you still going to trust these people with your child’s life that’s where I don’t understand the parents
and get the school admin to pay the fees of the person who saved them all!!!
Imad Kherbawi, an Arab-Israeli from the Mount of Olives got serious injured saving the students and the state of israel and insurance are refusing to pay for his treatments. The least the seminary can do is cover the cost. and chabad people can donate as well. there is no greater shame than turning your backs on someone who saves a life….how much more so 35
i thought it was illegal to not be up to code in smoke detectors and all that stuff
general message to everyone who isnt up to code,
all you buildings who are not up to code you better get up to code immediately
and all you who are unsafe with the way you deal foolishly with candles, flames, and things like that, you better stop doing unsafe things like that immediately.
Which is all of Crown Heights’s dorms, businesses, and homes. They don’t know the first thing about safety and they jeopardize everyone for a quick buck.
uh thats not true! Why bad mouth Crown Heights? There is always inspections in all the Mosdos. And locking girls in a building from the outside would never happen here. Thats crazy! They were living in a crazy construction zone that would Not happen in Crown Heights so please dont bad mouth our community!
At our overnight camps, some of which i know have no security and no safety plans should an emergency arise.? At the Dorms to which we send our high school daughters? At our schools without sounding ‘demanding”? I was told if I have issues such as these, I have to say it is a concern and something I have some ideas about vs. saying this is something that must change, since our children’s lives are at risk???
I thought this was going to be a mussar speech.
Thank you for your beautiful way of channeling your feelings into a positive message.
I agree, we’ve had enough of golus. May we celebrate this Chanukah with moshiach!
How do seminaries dare put girls in danger by locking the doors from the outside at night ??
Figure out a safer way to ensure girls don’t leave at night .
Never ever lock girls in a building !
While it’s very nice to rejoice in the wonderful nes and the yud tes Kislev Chanukah connection in all due respect the author and some others are looking at this with rose colored glasses. How can there possibly be a situation where the girls are locked in a building with padlocks on the outside !!! Al achas Kama vkama during a war where Chas Sholom there could be a missile attack and they have to get out ? Or a fire such as this ? BH no one appears to have been seriously injured This event though needs to be… Read more »
Really???
How awful?
If the girls in seminary need to be locked in at night, then there should be NO Seminaries.
exactly if seminars of the HOly Yerushulayim Seminar cream ala cream chosen girls need to be padlocked inside
CLOSE THEM DOWN thso money making ideas of best seminary experience their growth blah blah
best buisness in town !!!!!
We see from this incident that we clearly experienced a miracle and we are extremely thankful to Hashem. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that what happened was utterly unacceptable. As chassidim we are taught to do our hishtadlus. In this scenario it’s clear the anhala did not do there’s. It also brings a bigger question. Are us parents doing our hishtadlus by sending our kids to these seminaries? Im unfortunately not shocked at this that the children were locked in. There are so many things about these seminaries that are NOT OK!! This is a wake up… Read more »
Exactly, a money making machine
this is not to help our girls this is a beautiful business and our parents are falling for all this baloney
bais Rivka CH has a beautiful seminary.
save that money for your girls wedding instead of reaching out to all the gemilas Chasssodim like ten yad and KSVZK
Thank you for your article ! We need to demand MOSHIACH NOW!!!!
It bothers me to see such hefkeirus and batlunus and all with chassidushe leshonos. You got to do your work to make sure These things don’t happen not just to turn it all against Hashem
Hatzlacha!!!
What is up with the girls now? Are they stay in Eretz YisroelDid they go home?
We all want and demand moshiach, but we also have to live in present reality and face the demands for the future. Before Pesach, we still have to clean our homes from chometz and get ready for the seder. The emotional needs, educational needs and physical situation of these young women and the future of girls attending seminaries must be a priority.
Interesting no one mentioned checking the mezuzot. That should have been the 1st thing mentioned.
I went to school in israel in 1973.
No one was locked in!
Something is severely lacking if the hanhala think the way to keep girls in at night is this way.
There should be a curfew and people who refuse to abide by the rules should be thrown out!
There should be a guard at night.
Something is very wrong here.
Girls should follow rules or leave.
Also $22000 is outrageous to pay especially for these conditions
to wake us up and smell the coffee. To demand for Moshiach, to screaming Ad Mosai, to singing We Want MOSHIACH Now, chanting Sheyiboneh Beis HaMikdosh and Ani Maamin, to our Rebbe pointing out how our true desire for the Geulah is expressed in Shemona Esrai “Es Tzemach Dovid Avdecha MEHAIRA Satzmiach “and “Lishuascha Kiveenu KOL HAYOM.. Avoida is complete, even shining the buttons and our Shllichus – complete ,LEARN INYANAI GEULAH UMOSHIACH done! Hashem, please remember to take Your children out of golus We accept Hashem as our King and for Malchus Beis Dovid to reign and kindly bring… Read more »
Imad Kherbawi, an Arab-Israeli from the Mount of Olives got seriously injured saving the students and the state of israel and insurance are refusing to pay for his treatments. The least the seminary can do is cover the cost. and chabad people can donate as well. there is no greater shame than turning your backs on someone who saves a life….how much more so 35