Weekly Dvar Torah: Changing the World In 12 Seconds

There was not a dry eye at the banquet of more than 6000 guests, when Avreimi declared his loyalty to the Jewish nation, and he invited us all to join him in this fight of good against evil. He sees no evil, he sees only an opportunity to do good.

“I was trained that I have 12 seconds to run to the nearest shelter to save my life.” These are the 12 lifesaving seconds that 9-year-old Avreimi Pizem lives with every day of his entire life since he was born in Sderot.

His 7-year-old brother Yisroel gave him a big huge hug, after Avreimi electrified the crowd of thousands with his declaration: “I am a Shliach, and being the Rebbe’s Shliach I know what to do in 12 seconds, and that is not to be scared and despair, but to bring a smile to another Jew, to give hope to a fellow Jew in Sderot, to change the world in 12 seconds.”

Proud, brave Avreimi knows what it means to be a Shliach. He is not crying and begging to move to greener pastures. Avreimi knows that he is on a mission, and that is to be there for the terror-stricken Jews. For the last 17 years, they have all too often found themselves under fire from terror attacks and a hailstorm of missiles, gifts from Hamas and Gaza.

“My message to the children; continue your Shlichus wherever you are, do not fear anything that gets in the way, look at the Rebbe’s picture and this will invigorate you with confidence and trust in Hashem.”

It was little Yisrolik, who later became the holy Baal Shem Tov, who was instructed by his father on his deathbed, not to fear anyone but Hashem, and with this message he took on the world, to make it a better place. Now it’s being repeated in the powerful words of brave Avreimi from Sderot.

Avreimi’s message to every Shliach; “You all have unique challenges. My advice to you is, just like I’m not abandoning my place of Shlichus neither should you, stay where you are, spread the light and you will dispel all darkness.”

And the tears of the crowd (in spite of being in pain because of the horrors that the Jews are suffering at this time), were not tears of sadness and grief; these were tears of uncontainable emotional highs, which can only be expressed through tears.

Amongst the crowd was Rabbi Avraham Greenberg. Who after experiencing three harrowing years of the pandemic, lockdowns and quarantines at his Shlichus post in Pudong, Shanghai, China, realized that the Jewish community in Pudong no longer exists. It became clear to the Rabbi and his wife Nechomi, that they had to leave their Shlichus post for the last 17 years.

The Greenbergs and their eleven children knew exactly what to do, they found another post in Phuket, Thailand. It didn’t even occur to them that perhaps finding comfort back in Bnei Braq where Avraham grew up, or in Detroit Michigan, where Nechomi grew up, to a more comfortable life, is an option. We are the Rebbe’s Shluchim, and wherever we are needed, we will be there to serve.

The Greenberg experience resonates within every Shliach regardless where they are. Because being a Shliach is something unparalleled and unprecedented.

The Rebbe instilled within us a feeling of mission, responsibility and purpose. When you wake up in the morning, you have no problem wondering why to get out of bed. There is work to do, there is light to shine, and you are a lamplighter.

A Shliach of the Rebbe, stands in place of the Rebbe. Not as a separate entity, but as a full-fledged representative with all the powers of the sender. If courage is needed, you are empowered from the Besht on. If miracles are needed, they will happen. If bravery is in order, purpose and mission give you adrenaline.

Little Avreimi and the Greenbergs, are the perfect combination of heroes who defy all doomsday naysayers. They are not deterred by bombs and terrorists, nor by natural disasters, from doing the job entrusted to them by Hashem and the Rebbe. We have to spread light wherever there may still be a bit of darkness. We are here to light up the world.

Avreimi sees his 12 seconds of running to safety, as a 12 second opportunity to think about the Rebbe who infuses us with faith in Hashem, and to bring hope and a smile to another Jew. The Greenbergs see an inevitable move, as an opportunity to light up another corner in the world, that can use some light.

Wow, what energy, what power; such are the Rebbe’s Shluchim. No wonder they are the soldiers of Hashem’s army, they are obliterating every bit of darkness, and they will change the world once and forever, by bringing the G-dly light of Moshiach to all corners of the world. May he come speedily. Amen.

Have a shining bright Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman