We had the great honor of driving to Montreal on the Friday of Chol Hamoed Sukkot with the intention of picking up our daughter Naama and bringing her to Teaneck for Simchat Torah. As we drove farther and farther into the Adirondacks, we jointly felt the presence of something very special happening at that moment. It was the magnificence of the colors cradling either side of the road. Picture perfect was an understatement. How each color of each tree managed to blend into the next reminded us of nothing less than a miracle. In His very own way, Hashem was traveling along with us. We are sure that many cars drove through this wonder without even noticing its magnificence. For us, it was a sure sign that what happens in the world is very well planned out. Oranges, yellows and reds blending into each other as a palette of wonders.
The next miracle we experienced was when we arrived to pick up our daughter Naama on Sunday morning. There she was, excited and ready to go on her “vacation.” For the past few months, every time we saw her she would point on her communication board to “vacation” and then “New Jersey.” This is the same daughter who doctors told us in February was most likely not going to make it. The same child whose bed we sat at crying for five weeks, trying to comprehend how someone so pure and innocent could be going through such a horrendous illness. And once again, here we were taking a healthy Naama with us to spend Yom Tov with her sisters and brother and the entire Beth Abraham community.
As she sat in the “penalty box” of Beth Abraham, which is a small space designated for wheelchairs, separated from the men’s section by a mechitza, Naama swayed with the davening each time a tefillah was sung. At times she banged on her tray to keep with the rhythm, and several times she sang sounds together with everyone’s tefillot. Undoubtedly, her tefillot reached the portals of shamayim and were heard loud and clear by the malachim looking down upon us. For her family members at that moment it was stirring and emotional.
Once again, the miracle of a generation growing up with HASC, Yachad and Friendship Circle brought out the best of everyone in the way that Naama was treated. Many of her former friends from Camp HASC came to visit. Most impressive is how many brought their children over to meet Naama and she excitedly was able to show them her means of communicating by pointing to symbols on her communication board. A lesson being taught to the very young and others perhaps more mature in age but not in familiarity with a person with special needs was being educated by Naama on how very “normal” she is. To everyone in the community: a very major thank you from our family.
The last miracle that we wish to share is that on the coming Shabbat we will be celebrating our fourth anniversary in this community. From our hearts, we must say that it has not been an easy transition. We realize now that our lives will never be the same as they were in Montreal. However, we cannot believe how much time has gone by, and we wish to thank everyone who has made us feel more and more comfortable and have reached out to us. It is a good feeling to leave shul and feel as though we actually know more and more people.
We look forward to getting to know many more in the community.
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By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
