Although we did not know Daniel Lansky, a”h, we are mourning his loss. He was a 40-year-old man who lived in Baltimore with his wife and three young children. He died just a few days ago. It is possible that some of you might have read about him on various Jewish websites. He was diagnosed several months ago with a life threatening disease. He went through the course of treatments that were prescribed for him but unfortunately was not able to beat the challenge of having a powerful disease scouring his body.
Several weeks prior to his death, Daniel posted on his blog a chilling request of all shul goers. He beseeched them to turn their cell phones off prior to walking into a place of kedusha. In other words, before walking into shul, he requested that cell phones be turned off. He especially mentioned that putting a phone on vibrate or turning the ringer off is not enough. Phones needed to be turned off. When davening to Hashem, concentrate only on your conversation with Him, is what he emphasized. Do not interrupt those thoughts. We all know what can easily happen the minute that little jerk can be felt coming from a pocket. The direct line connecting our hearts to the power of Hashem is immediately disconnected.
Such a significant message that certainly should be extended to other areas of all of our lives. Married couples taking time out to be alone together should both simultaneously turn off their telephones. Families sitting down at the kitchen or dining room table should disallow anyone in the family from bringing a telephone with them to the table.
We all know what the right thing is to do. As well, many of us are faced with challenges today that are far different from what they were years ago. However, everyone knows down deep that nothing should take priority over spending quality time with our spouses and our children. L’havdil, of course, is our relationship with HaKodesh Baruch Hu Whom we rely on in times of happiness and in times of trauma and disaster.
The very last line in the article written by Daniel Lansky, a”h, states as follows: “I am not a Rav—and I don’t claim to be a very learned man so I can’t quote you halachos etc.—but I can resort to the simplest and most obvious logic— you are talking to GOD.” May we all learn from this amazing young man and may his neshama have an aliyah.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
