Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky and Rabbi Yosef Yizchak Schneersohn of blessed memories
Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky met Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Rebbe the Rayatz, in Poland. He told the Rebbe that he was arrested by the Russians and sent to Siberia. He wasn't given any time to pack anything to take along. He woke up in the morning the first day on Siberia and started saying 'Modeh Ani'.
But then he started thinking to himself, why am I thankful for waking up this morning. What do I have to get up for. I have been torn away from my family and am here in Siberia with nothing. No Tallis and Tefillin, no Sefarim. What do I have to thank Hashem for?
And then he caught on to the last two words of 'Modeh Ani', 'Rabba Emunasecha' - I have Emunah and that no one can take away from me. And with that he was able to say 'Modeh Ani' and be grateful for waking up and having the privilege to be a Jew and have faith in Hashem.
The Rebbe himself had been in the Communist prisons and suffered greatly, nearly losing his life. The Rebbe replied with a very sharp and deep comment. "It was worthwhile for you and me to go through such suffering to be able to come to that understanding and recognition."
We have a long way to go to reach such high levels of Emunah but we all have our challenges and on our level they are hard for us. But as we start the day with gratitude for waking up we all have something that no one can ever take away from us, our Emunah, our faith and trust in Hashem. If we start off our day with such gratitude and faith and decide that it will be our outlook gratitude and faith and decide that it will be our outlook the whole day, we will be a different person.
Reprinted from Parshat Ki Seitzei 5784 edition of Inspired by a Story by Rabbi Dovid Caro.
