Congregation Ahavat Achim of Fair Lawn wishes to express its Hakores Hatov to Rabbi Avi Tilonsky as he prepares for an extended stay in Israel. Rabbi Tilonsky filled in as our interim spiritual leader substituting for the congregation’s rabbi, Uri Goldstein, who was on sabbatical. His intelligence, creativity, warmth, and concern for all the members made this a very special time. Rabbi Tilonsky created and carried through many new and innovative programs, which were well received by the entire community. His sermons and leadership have been outstanding.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Once we figure out which one it is, we will know exactly what to do. When someone is in our lives for a reason, it is usually to meet a need we have expressed. They have come to assist us through a difficulty, to aid us physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason we need them to be.

Some people come into our life for a season because we need to share, grow, or learn something. They bring us peace, make us laugh, or they may teach us something and give us joy.

Lifetime relationships teach us lifetime lessons, things we must build upon in order to have a solid foundation. Our job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what we learned to use in all of our other relationships and areas of our life.

There is a role for every person we meet. Some are there to test us, some are there to love us, and some are there to teach us. Then there are the amazing ones who bring out the best in us, the ones who remind us that it is all worth it.

Rabbi Tilonsky belongs to the group of amazing ones. In the short nine months Rabbi Tilonsky spent with us, he has become a true member of our community and is well regarded by all. We wish Rabbi Tilonsky hatzlocha in his upcoming endeavors.