Who can use a medal more?

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman

Rabbi Baruch Lederman
Rabbi Baruch Lederman

SAN DIEGO –I went to Yeshiva with a wonderful friend named Mark Marshall. He told this true story at his father’s funeral:

Bud Marshall kept a small box in his bedroom where he kept several important & sentimental mementos including the medals he had earned for his service in WWII. These medals were very precious to him, particularly the Purple Heart and the Medal for Bravery at Okinawa. He had been exposed to grave danger there and he valiantly persevered and prevailed.

The medals conferred on him by his country, meant a great deal to him. His eight year old son Mark, used to sneak into his father’s room, pry open the box, and play with the medals, even though he wasn’t supposed to. After all, Mark was proud of the medals and proud of his father for courageously earning them.

One day Mark showed them to his friend Brian and they played together with the medals. A few days later Mark snuck into the room, opened the box and was horrified to discover that the medals were gone. He was baffled and afraid to tell his father.

The next day in school, he saw Brian was going around to all the kids, showing them the medals and telling them that his own father had earned those medals. Mark was furious and confounded. He went right to his father, told him the whole story, and asked him what to do, “I’m bigger than Brian, I can go beat him up and get back your medals. Should I do that?”

Mr. Marshall put his arm around Mark and said, “Brian lost his father when he was two years old. The reason he’s doing this is because he wishes he had a father. You’re lucky, you have a father. Let him keep the medals.”

~~~

“K’rachaim av al banim, kain Tirachem aleinu…”  Like the mercy of a father on children, may You (G-d) have mercy upon us…

[Liturgy]

A little girl and her father were crossing a flimsy bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter: “Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.”

The little girl said, “No, Dad. You hold my hand.”

“What’s the difference?” asked the puzzled father.

“There is a big difference,” replied the little girl. “Dad, if I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But, if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.”

On Yom Kippur we must remember that Hashem (G-d) loves us with an infinite love and is waiting to hear our prayers and give us what we need. Even if our sins are black as night, Hashem is waiting with open arms to lovingly receive us, just as a parent will always yearn for a child to return.

May we pour our hearts out to Hashem on Yom Kippur with purity and deep sincerity. May Hashem grant us a happy, healthy and sweet new year.

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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego.  He may be contacted via baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com