I couldn’t attend Rabbi Zvi Kogan’s funeral in person, so I watched it online.

I cried throughout.

People often think Chabad rabbis and rebbetzins are some sort of superhumans, always happy, always motivated, and always ready to take on another mitzvah.

We are not. We are human. Sometimes we cry. Sometimes we feel fear. Sometimes we worry. And sometimes we simply do not feel like it. And the pain, oh God, so much pain.

I watched in awe as Rabbi Zvi’s colleagues, the other Chabad rabbis in the UAE, were asked to come forward and recite Tehillim.

I never realized how many shluchim there are in that country alone. One after the other, they came up to say goodbye to their dear friend.

I cried when both Chief Rabbis spoke so eloquently about Rabbi Zvi, how he dedicated his life to the Rebbe’s vision.

Rabbi Kalman Ber quoted the Rebbe, who said, “Once a shliach, always a shliach,” and then he asked Rabbi Zvi’s holy and pure soul to ascend directly to Hashem and plead for an end to the suffering in this world.

We are not superhuman. But we are blessed to have the Rebbe’s teachings.

The Rebbe taught us that we are composed of two parts: the physical and material self, and the holy and divine self. The former tries to pull us down, while the latter lifts us higher.

We can and must choose the latter.

When we fall, we get up.

When we cry, we finish crying, raise our heads even higher, and resolve to reach more Jews and do more good.

If you are reading this, please join me in doing the same. This was the Rebbe’s message for everyone.

Be better than before.

And please, get involved with a Chabad House, whether in your community, while you travel or anywhere you know of.

(And if you do not know of one, talk to me!)

“When the world gets darker, You will be the light.”

Light will prevail. Am Yisroel Chai forever and ever. We will see the light of Moshiach very soon, Amen!

Rabbi Mendy Kaminker is the rabbi at Chabad of Hackensack. He welcomes your comments and questions at [email protected]