by Joanie Butman
Rabbi Cohen enjoying an Elijah moment at Starbucks.
When I wrote about my new friend, Hedda, in April I didn’t explain the circumstances of our meeting during my February hospital stay. Hedda is 98 and probably weighs about the same. She’s a tiny woman full of peace and wisdom. I suppose you don’t live nearly a century without learning a lot about life. Every time I did laps around the ward, she would scoot past me. For a petite, elderly woman she could hustle!
In the pre-dawn hours of discharge day, I lay in bed praying. Each time I’ve been in the hospital, I’ve met someone and shared a God-inspired moment – almost as if I was in the hospital at that specific time to keep a Divine assignation. Disappointed I hadn’t met anyone during the week, my prayer that morning was for God to bring someone into my path before I left. Little did I know Hedda was around the corner in her own bed praying as well.
Unable to sleep, I got up to do some laps. As it was so early, there were no other walkers in sight until I turned the corner and literally bumped into Hedda. I asked if she would like some company. With a huge smile, she agreed. We chatted briefly about where we were from and other such small talk. She then began talking about God, and we lost ourselves in spiritual conversation for well over an hour and who knows how many circles around the ward. We returned to our rooms exhausted. As I drifted off to sleep, I thanked God for answering my prayer.
Later in the day, I went in search of Hedda to say goodbye and exchange contact information. I found her walking the halls again. When I approached, she looked up at me with such love it shocked me. She then burst into tears and literally melted into my arms crying, “I can’t believe you came. You really exist. I prayed and you came.” She kept repeating that sentence over and over as she clung to me. “God gave you to me,” she finally mumbled. “And you to me,” I replied. With all the hullabaloo around use, it was as if we were the only two people there. Our meeting was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Months (and many visits) later, she brought up that moment. She commented that I probably had no idea what she meant. I confessed I did not. Hedda then shared that she, too, had been praying in those pre-dawn hours for God to send her a friend whom she could talk to about Him. I firmly believe our encounter was the Divine appointment God arranged for me – and her. Hedda has no one. She is from Austria and her siblings and relatives live there still. Other than caregivers, I believe I am her only visitor. We have lengthy spiritual conversations, and I thoroughly enjoy our visits and being able to do much-needed chores and tasks for her.
The reason I share the story is three-fold. One, as an example that God can use you wherever and in whatever condition you’re in. Second, I just spent a delightful afternoon with Hedda. And finally, her gratitude for my visit brought to mind the Elijah Moment Campaign launched in 2014 by my friend Rabbi Cohen.* His movement is based on the prophet Elijah who appears throughout history to spread light in the midst of darkness. Rabbi Cohen shared the following story as a call to action to flood the world with acts of kindness.
The story is told of a student of the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760 a Jewish mystic and teacher) who felt after much preparation that he was deserving of a vision of the prophet Elijah. His master instructed him to visit a certain town and ask to be hosted at the home of a specific family. “Make sure to bring them food,” the Baal Shem Tov added. The student eagerly packed a wagon full of food and set off. Upon arriving, he was directed to an old dilapidated house, the home of a poor widow with many young children. The student spent the sabbath with them and was only too happy to share his mountains of food. But Elijah never showed up.
The Baal Shem Tov instructed the student to try again the next week. As he approached the door, he heard a child’s plaintive voice” But what will we eat on the sabbath?” A reassuring voice replied, “Don’t worry. Just like Elijah came last week, he will come this week again!”
What does it mean to be an Elijah? The man in the story sets out to find Elijah in some remote location only to realize that Elijah lies within. It is in that moment of recognition when he realizes that he is the one the family is waiting for and that he is the agent of kindness. He knows that his life embodies a mission beyond himself.
What if we were to discover our Elijah moments each day? Not only would we lead more impactful lives, but the world would be a radically different place. When you walk into your office or home, do you ask yourself what you can do in the next few minutes to make someone’s day? Try it, and you’ll see that it is a vastly different way of looking at the world…and one that will transform you and your surroundings.
The season of Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for Christ’s birth on Christmas morning. In reality, we live in a perpetual state of Advent as we wait and prepare for Christ’s second coming. I can’t think of a better prep than living out our faith in love and kindness to others. Rabbi Cohen’s commitment to random acts of kindness is a lofty goal for sure but one the world desperately needs. We seem to be locked in an atmosphere of fear, negativity and hostility.
Everyone has their own Advent traditions, but choosing to join the Elijah Moment Campaign might be a welcome addition to warm your heart and those whose lives you touch. Rather than being fearful of offending someone, it opens the door for authenticity with no intention other than infusing light into a dark world. Isn’t that the purpose of Christmas?
My prayer is for the glow of Christmas to extend well beyond our decorations and into the hearts of others today and every day. As Rabbi Cohen proclaims, “The world needs you! So, as we enter the holiday season, ask yourself, ‘Did I do something today to make the world a better place?’”
*For more information about Rabbi Cohen and his effort:
https://bottomlineinc.com/blogs/soul-perspective/change-one-life-change-the-world
https://www.rabbidanielcohen.com/elijah-moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQZyP1S3sd4&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/elijahmoment