“We’re finally going to buy a new couch! A beautiful new one, modern and stylish, and a wonderful color!” Everyone in the family was grinning from ear to ear.
When the day came to take away the old, battered sofa, the neighborhood children gathered to enjoy the sight of two hefty workmen maneuvering our “relic” down to the parking lot. Surprisingly, our family watched with mixed feelings. It was a bit difficult to say goodbye to such a good “friend.”
What wonderful memories they had of jumping, hopping and climbing on its bulging cushions when Abba announced the arrival of a new baby brother! They had jumped for joy until the springs beneath them joined in their squeals of delight.
And what fun they’d had sliding their pudgy hands between the cushions to fish out surprises. “Oh! Here’s my favorite eraser/hairband/sticker!” Perhaps the best memories of all were the times when they huddled together on the brown cushions to listen to unforgettable stories from Abba and Ima. They could still recall the suspense and the amazing endings when listening to the tales their parents had recounted time and again. Would they enjoy the new couch as much? They wondered.
The Hashgachah Pratis phone line has been active for over five and a half years, baruch Hashem. It tells your stories and gives voice to our listeners who seek emunah and closeness to Hashem. Rav David shlita defined the connection between everyone: “The hashgachah pratis family” is one united family, where we are all connected to our Father in Shamayim. The involvement you recently displayed proves even more how connected everyone is to the phone line.
After this past Simchas Torah, with Klal Yisrael in need of so much rachamim, and there is so much anxiety among our people, the call came from all over the world to come up with something that would bring all Am Yisrael together within this family, because those who are part of the “family” of the phone line feel safe and protected.
We – the Hashgachah Pratis team – got together to discuss ways to improve and optimize the phone line. What could we add to it so that more communities would feel comfortable joining the family? It was decided that new content would be added every hour – a story of hashgachah pratis, a shiur or a song. We also made some changes to the way it was all presented.
Our efforts have proven themselves. Many more people joined the Hashgachah Pratis family, and the warm feedback we receive encourages us to keep improving.
But there was also a surprise. Some people started to complain: Why are you making changes? We’re used to the style; we want everything to be the same as it was before.
Such responses warm the heart, because that’s how people in a family talk. If people care so much, it’s because this is our phone line. Our family. “You’ve entered our hearts, and we are so attached to it.”
It’s a great feeling, and it’s the truth. This is the phone line of Klal Israel – of each and every member of Klal Yisrael. It’s an organization that Hashem inspired, in a wonderful revelation, and it belongs to every Jew.
Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone who has an idea for improving anything we offer, to please share it with us.
With hope and tefillah that we, all Klal Yisrael, will be zocheh to unite as one family – all children of Hashem!
Pinchas Shefer
Parshs Vayeishev 5783 ■ Issue 127
