My Special Little Brother, Shneur

To my dearest family, Klal Yisroel,

I’m sitting here near Schneur and watching his little body attached to machines and vents and can’t help but wonder how he got here?

What did this little precious boy do to be in a state so opposite of his nature?

He is the epitome of life. His zest to wake up and run to minyan every morning, his love for learning and school, his eagerness to go on Mivtzoyim every Friday, and his pride when he says, “My Mashpia said.”

I sat here on Shabbos and as I made kiddish for him I choked up with tears, where was I last week and where am I today? Just a week ago he jumped to offer and make kiddush for a friend who missed, he stood at the Shabbos table surrounded with guests and said his weekly Dvar Torah in English, and of course made sure to translate it into Hebrew, to ensure that everyone would understand. He did it with excitement and Chayus!

And today? Today, I sat and waited. I waited as I watched the hospital staff work on him as they fought tirelessly to stabilize him. I waited and watched the monitors so eagerly, hoping and davening for the numbers to come down. All I wanted was a “sign” that he’s ready to wake up. I watched as my mother davened Shachris, Mincha, and Ma’ariv with him. She did it with such Emuna and Bitchon! But why did she have to do it for him? It’s his teffila, he should be doing it! Wasn’t it just yesterday that I watched you Lein in Shul? Weren’t you just the Chazzan? Didn’t you just sing a niggun during Chazaras Hashatz? You were supposed to make us Havdalla tonight, it’s your job since you became Bar Mitzvah!

Then it dawned on me, I know why Hashem did this! I always knew you were special, it was so clear to anyone who walked into our house. Everyone is always amazed by you. Just last week one of our former guest named her new born Schneur. She called to say she was so taken aback by your personality, the balance in your Chayus and Eidelkeit, and your ability to capture a crowd with your sweet innocent nature and humor, she named her baby Schneur, in hope that he would turn out like you!

How can you possibly be summarized into a letter? How can I explain your balance of ruchniyus and gashmiyus? Your dedication to the Rebbe and Chassidus? Your sensitivity to everything around you, like the chickens at kaparos. You fought with Aba, you said we couldn’t kill it because Hashem made it and it belongs in the world. You argued to take it home and promised to build it a house in the backyard and take care of it! How do I describe your strive to always look your best, “because that’s the way chassidim look, messudar.” You make sure your clothes are ironed every day, your shirt needs to be tucked in, and tzitzis need to be perfectly in place! Oh and the cufflinks, we can’t forget those, you have weekday sets and shabbos sets!

In the summer, when Savta had to go in for a surgery, you told her that refua doesn’t come from the doctor, it comes from Hashem. You said the more Hachlatos she will do the healthier she will be! “She will do something everyday,” you said. Then you sat and wrote a letter to Rebbe with her! It was so simple to you that one hachlata is all she needed to feel better, little did we know, the message was for us. (I guess we’re lucky because someone videoed this conversation. Now your message is here for all to see.)

You always say you’re going to be Shliach, and we always talk behind your back about what a successful one you’re going to be, “He’s Rabbi material” we say!

Hashem knew your ability, he knew what a change you could make in His world! He wanted Am Yisroel to storm the heavens, I guess it’s been a while. So he chose you! He was right, the things Am Yisroel did for you! The messages we received, the amount of Tehillim books that were completed in your honor, Hachlatos, Mivtzoyim- all over the world! We got pictures from NY, Israel, Venice, France, Belgium, California, Florida, you even got to India! Tehillim groups, Hafrashas Challa groups, endless amounts of Hachlatos people took upon themselves, Tznius, Shabbos, Teffilin, Neshek, Mincha, Taharas Hamishpacha it goes on and on! And all of this, for you! In a minute, you turned from being our boy and became Klal Yisroel’s. I now know what “Kol yisroel areivim ze laze” means. Hashem wanted to show us what his people are capable of. And he chose you to help him do that!

My Teire family,

We can’t begin to thank you for everything you have done for us during this difficult time. You have made us your family and have taken care of us from A-Z. The breakfasts and dinners, babysitting, helping commute from the hospital and back, shabbos meals, the encouraging messages and phone calls, it doesn’t begin to cover it. Hachlatos, tehillim, Farbrengens and shiurim that were held in Schneur’s honor, everything gives us so much koach to continue because we know that klal yisroel left Hashem no choice!

And to my amazing parents, you always taught us that everything a man does, he does for himself. You stress how when we do a mitzvah for another, we’re really doing it for us! Now I know what you really mean, because in the Zechus of your incredible Hachnasas Orchim, weekly Achdus Shiurim, and Tzedaka, Schneur will wake up and walk to his Seudas Hodaya as if this never happened!

So thank you am yisroel for all of your love and support. IYH we are waiting to see each of you at the Seudas Hodaya with the coming of Moshiach!

Waiting to thank you in person,
Chanie Boaron

Please continue to have Schneur Zalman Ovadia ben Rina Miriam in mind for a quick and complete Refua!