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January 29, 2003

February 13, 2003

Chani has now completed her 2nd round of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, during the chemo, Chani's hikman line (permanent IV line) came out, and she will need surgery to have it inserted once again. As her blood counts were low, Chani was not able to undergo the surgery to have the hikman put back in. On Thursday, Feb. 20th, Chani is scheduled to have surgery to insert the hikman line, as well as at the same time to take a bone marrow sample.

Chani is in good spirits - smiling and playful. Chani developed a fever this past Monday, however, and therefore is now in the hospital on antibiotics until her blood counts go up (hopefully a number of days), and then she will be able to go home.

The third round of chemo is scheduled to start on Sunday Feb. 23 and will last for 5 days. Prior to the 4th round of chemo, Chani's bone marrow will be harvested (frozen) for later treatment. At that time, as well, a CT scan will be taken to see how the chemo has affected the tumor and cancer cells, and to assess how effective it has been.

February 27, 2003

Chani had her hikman line (permanent IV line) re-inserted during surgery, and thank G-d all went well. Chani is now completing her 3rd round of chemotherapy at Hadassa. Her reactions thus far have been good, and her spirits are high. Chani will hopefully be going home by end of this week. Prior to the 4th round, Chani will have a CT scan done to assess the effectiveness of the chemo.

April 10, 2003

Chani has now completed her 4th round of chemo. Chani and Lilach enjoyed their grandma and grandpa's recent visit, and they had a great time over Purim; Lilach was Queen Esther and Chani was a bunny rabbit.

Chani had a CT scan done 3 weeks ago and the results were encouraging, as the tumor has reduced in size significantly. Chani had her bone marrow successfully extracted for harvesting a couple of weeks ago, and following surgery the bone marrow will be re-inserted. Chani was in some discomfort in the days following the bone marrow extraction, but is now feeling better.

After a short stay in the hospital due to fever, Chani is now back at home. Unfortunately, Chani's hickman line came out once again yesterday, and she will need to undergo surgery to have it re-inserted. The 5th round of chemo is scheduled to begin during Pesach, at which time she will have the hickman line re-inserted. After that round of chemo, Chani will undergo surgery to remove the cancerous tumor.

May 19, 2003

Chani completed her 5th round of chemotherapy at Hadassa Hospital in Yerushalayim. Chani has now relocated temporarily to New York with her family for surgery and further treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering - Cancer Center. They will be staying at Chani's grandma and grandpa's (Krup) house in Queens. Following a series of tests and scans, Chani will be undergoing major surgery this coming Thursday (May 22) to resect the cancerous tumor.

We continue to say Tehillim and tefillot on a daily basis for Chana Liora Bat Hinda Chasha Chava's refuah. Specifically this Wednesday evening - May 21, the evening before Chani's major surgery, communal Tehillim will be recited in the following places around the world:

• Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel - 8:45pm Maariv, followed by Tehillim at Kehillat Ahavat Tzion, Nachal Dolev gan (next to the pharmacy)
• Toronto, Canada - 8:30pm Mincha, followed by Tehillim and Maariv at Bnai Torah Synagogue, 465 Patricia Avenue (off of Bathurst)
• Kew Garden Hills, Queens, New York - 9:00pm Tehillim at the Krup home, 147-21 68th Avenue (opportunity to also see and speak with Halana & Daniel after Tehillim, and show them chizuk)

In addition, please feel free to sign up to say Tehillim on an individual basis (half-hour slots) throughout the day on Thursday (May 22). Ideally people will be reciting Tehillim continuously throughout the whole day. More than 1 person may sign up for a specific time slot. Feel free to also arrange Tehillim in your local school, yeshiva, seminary, shul, etc.

Following a period of recuperation from surgery, Chani's treatment will continue with a 6th round of chemo, bone marrow transplant, followed by radiation and a few months of antibody treatment.

July 1, 2003

We wanted to personally update you on Chani's condition:

Firstly, though, we really want to thank all of you, from all around the world, for your tefillot and tehillim always, and especially around the time Chani had her major surgery. Thank G-d, Chani's surgery was successful and the cancerous tumor was effectively removed. The surgery was a major step in the process, and we are very grateful that all went well. However, as Chani was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma (the most severe and serious stage, as the cancer had also spread in her body to other places beyond the tumor itself), the ongoing treatment is of utmost importance. Even in the most recent scans taken a few days ago (and even after 5 rounds of chemotherapy in Israel and 1 round in New York), the cancer cells were still seen on her thigh bone. Unfortunately, if any cancer cells survive anywhere in her body, they can re-generate and spread again, causing a relapse. Our hope and tefilla is that just as the tumor has been removed, so too all existing cancer cells will be eliminated, and she will have a full recovery.

Chani has now completed another round of chemotherapy (after the surgery). She then had some fever, and Chani spent 8 days in the hospital. Chani's blood counts have gone up and she is, thank G-d, home and well and in good spirits. Chani will be undergoing a series of tests and scans over the next couple of weeks, and will then most probably proceed with the bone marrow transplant. In the transplant, Chani's own stem cells/bone marrow cells that had previously been removed and harvested (frozen) will be re-inserted into Chani, to boost her immune system. During the transplant period (a very intense and difficult treatment), Chani will be in isolation for 4-5 weeks and will not be permitted to leave the room; and anyone who enters her room will wear a gown, gloves, and mask. In addition to the transplant, Chani will also undergo radiation and antibody treatment. Sloan Kettering is the only place in the world that has developed this antibody and that does the antibody treatment. The antibody treatment spans over at least 5 months (depends how Chani responds to it) and is geared at preventing relapse.

During this time that we have temporarily relocated to New York, family and friends have been supportive and extremely helpful. We are very appreciative for everything.

One of the amazing experiences that we feel has made an impression on us here, is the opportunity to meet other families who too are battling their own life stories with their children. Speaking to these special individuals has offered us some perspective on our own situation. One family with a 6-year old (also with Neuroblastoma) have been in and out of hospitals for the past 5 years, and have been through 2 relapses already. Another family is fighting their son's cancer for the past 13 years.

One family really shed some light on us. While we were in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the NY Presbyterian Hospital (across from Sloan) recovering from surgery, we met the Pinchasov's. The Pinchasov family, originally from Israel, and for the last few years living in Queens, New York, had been in the PICU for over a month already with their 8-year old daughter. The girl's father described to me how his daughter was complaining of some head pains on Erev last day of Pesach, was taken to the hospital, had immediate emergency brain surgery as a vein had popped near her brain. Ever since then, this little 8-year-old girl had been in a coma. The doctors said that there was nothing that could be done, and they wanted to remove her from the life support. The family continued davening and had tremendous emunah. It was unbelievable to me that the father, in his state, was giving me chizuk, and telling me how we must have Emunah and bitachon (in addition to their constant offering me food to eat and any possible help).

Personally, it had a deep impact on me, to meet this tremendous family, and put things into perspective. Here I was, with my 2-year old daughter after major surgery. We were nervous, but at least Chani had a protocol to follow and she was recuperating nicely and responding to us. Unfortunately, the little Pinchasov girl's future looked dimmer. Yet, her parents were strong, and showed us tremendous strength that has inspired us. Everything in life is relative, and we must remind ourselves to appreciate what we have. Our daily modeh ani takes on extra significance.

I had intended on writing to all of you about this special family and this special young girl, in hopes that our tefillot could help her. Unfortunately, before I was able to send out the e-mail, I found out that she had passed away.

It is our hope and prayer, that with all of our continued tefillot, tehillim, love and support, all who are sick will soon see a speedy refuah sheleima. The tremendous achdut and unity that we feel from the outpouring of love and e-mails from around the world, should remind us to show the same achdut and care for our fellow people at all times - at both trying times as well as joyous times.

- Halana & Daniel

September 5, 2003

Chani was scheduled to undergo a bone marrow transplant (stem cell). The doctors, however, felt that based on their experience, the transplant would not likely accomplish the desired results of eliminating the cancer. This is due to the fact that the 6 intensive rounds of chemotherapy that she had already undergone had not fully removed the cancer. It seemed that her body was not fully responding to the chemo. Therefore, instead of proceeding with the transplant (which is essentially another massive round of chemo, and carries with it harsh and life-threatening side effects) the decision was to introduce a new treatment, and proceed with the antibody treatment. In a typical case, the antibody treatment is used towards the end of the protocol, when hopefully the cancer is no longer showing up in the scans (unlike Chani's situation), and is primarily to prevent relapse. This antibody (3F8) is a very painful treatment which is usually accompanied by side effects such as hives and nausea. Chani has already completed two 2-week antibody cycles, and will undergo more rounds of antibody over the next number of months. In addition to the antibody, Chani had radiation done to the knee, eye and abdomen areas (the sites in which the cancer had shown up in scans at various points since diagnosis). The radiation was done twice a day over 7 days, and Chani was unable to eat or drink for most of the day, as she underwent anesthesia prior to the treatment. The radiation hones in on specific areas of the body and attacks the site (as opposed to chemo and antibody which fight the entire body).

This week Chani is completing a series of important scans and tests to determine the effect of these treatments thus far. It is our hope and prayer that the cancer will not show up on the scans and that the knee (thigh) will be clear.

Beyond the medical update, we wanted to thank everyone for your continued support and prayers. A message we recently read comes to mind during these times. A close cousin of the family recently took the initiative to send a card to her friends reminding them to daven and recite Tehillim for Chani (titled "You're making a difference"). In the card, she wrote: "We know how hard it is... You've taken on a big commitment... The more days that pass by, the more we get used to the news... The harder it is to continue davening. Please don't stop now. Don't give up. Continue to daven for Chana Liora bat Hinda Chasha Chava. Your prayer can make all the difference..." We, too, understand that as time goes on, it naturally becomes more difficult to maintain our intense kavana in our tefilla and mitzvot, and to constantly remember Chani in your prayers each day.

The month of Elul is upon us and we know that: "U'teshuva u'tefilla u'tzedaka maavirin' et roah hagezeirah" - "repentance, prayer, and charity will remove the negative of the decree" (is also quoted on the home page of Chani's website) . As we each dedicate ourselves in these 3 ways during the upcoming days of judgment leading up to Yom Kippur, please keep in mind Chana Liora bat Hinda Chasha Chava.

(Please feel free to re-dedicate and sign up for tehillim, mitzvot, or donate to the organizations listed on Chani's website).

Chani recently completed radiation on her shoulder, as well as 2 rounds of chemo. The main purpose of the chemo was to control the cancerous disease, preventing it from spreading further in the body. We were obviously hopeful that the radiation and chemo would produce a clear scan, which would have cleared the way possibly for the bone marrow/stem cell transplant. In the scans and tests Chani just completed however, it showed that the shoulder still had some faint signs of disease, but more significantly, 3 new spots unfortunately showed up in both of her legs. Essentially this disappointing development meant that her body had not responded to the chemo, as the chemo had not prevented it from spreading. We have already now started Chani on another type of chemo (using the remaining new agent that she has not yet been exposed to). Following two rounds of chemo, we will do more scans to re-assess the progress and decide on future treatment.

The story of the Chashmonaim in Chanukah reminds us that even when all odds are against us, we continue to fight and stay focused. The Maccabees showed us that with a combination of hishtadlut and emunah, a combination of our own efforts together with our deep faith in G-d, we can overcome all obstacles.

The question is often asked: On Chanukah, what miracle are we actually celebrating? The Gemara in Shabbat 21 mentions only the miracle of the small bit of oil that lasted 8 days in the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple), whereas in the Al Hanisim prayer that we recite on Chanuka, the focus is only on the miraculous military victory of the fierce and large army of Greeks in the hands of the few Maccabbees. Which of these two miracles are we commemorating and celebrating on this holiday of lights?

Many answers are given to this age-old question. To me, one answer hits home on this Chanuka. In order to answer it, a look into the past few parshiot of the Torah sheds some light. There is a deep rift of hatred between Joseph and his brothers. Yosef is sold to Egypt where he finds himself in the house of Potifar. Potifar's wife tries to seduce Yosef, and Yosef almost gives in to man's natural instincts, but at the last second he raises himself above nature and refuses to commit this act. Yosef runs out of the Potifar's house as the pasuk writes: "Vayanos Hachutyza" This phrase is repeated 4 times in this short story. Due to Yosef's hishtadlut and his ability to raise his actions above nature to the super natural, G-d remembered and re-paid this deed later in Jewish History. The midrash relates that as the Bnei Yisrael stood before Yam Suf, the red sea, the waters of the sea did not want to split. The sea then saw the Atzmot Yosef (bones of Joseph) that Bnei Yisrael carried out of Egypt, and Hashem reminded the sea of how Yosef went beyond nature in his actions to fulfill the will of Hashem ("Vayanos Hachutza"). Reminiscent of this language, we say in Hallel — "Hayam Ra'ah - Vayanos", the sea saw Yosef's bones and immediately fled (split). The similarity in language is intended to connect these two events. Just as Yosef reached supernatural heights as he fled Potifar's wife, Hashem in turn made a supernatural miracle as the waters fled causing the sea to split, thus saving Bnei Yisrael.

So too in the story of Chanuka. The Chashmonaim could have easily and naturally come to the conclusion that they were outnumbered and had no logical or natural chance of defeating the Greeks. However, the Maccabees went beyond their natural inclinations and overcame all logical odds to defeat the Greeks. Thus it a miracle of Chanuka is the Macabees supernatural hishtadlut in their military victory. After seeing the Maccabees supernatural efforts, Hashem then, in turn, went beyond nature in miraculously extending the light on the menorah to 8 days. In this way, we can see how we today celebrate both miracles on Chanukah — the miracle of Hishtadlut and the miracle of emunah.

As an aside: what strategy made the Maccabbees efforts effective and victorious? We know that just because a person puts in a lot of effort and hishtadlut, success is not guaranteed. If we contrast the stories of the Maccabees to that of Yosef and his brothers, I think that the secret to the Macabees success will be revealed. Yosef and his brothers were known for their constant jealousy and hatred, and lack of unity. On the other hand, whenever the Chashmonaim are discussed, they are referred to as a unified family ("Chashmonai U' vanav", Sefer Hachashmonaim", etc.). The Chashmonaim realized that only through unity and achdut could they overcome. It was not just that they were unified, but their unity was focused in the proper direction of "Mi Lahashem Ailai". The hatred for Yosef and lack of unity ultimately resulted in the exile of Bnei Yisrael to Egypt for 210 years of slavery. On the other hand, the unity of the Chashmonaim had a positive outcome as the kingdom was returned to Israel for 200 years.

It is not so easy to remain focused on our own hishtadlut in life on a day-to-day basis. This past Shabbat we read Parshat Vayeshev. Rashi points out on the words Vayeshev Yaakov, that after all of Yaakov's difficulties and tzaros throughout his life, Yaakov requested to finally be able to rest a minute ("Bikesh Yaakov lashevet b'shalva") , to sit calmly without the major worries and troubles that had followed him until that point in his life. Immediately Hashem taught Yaakov not to be complacent and to always continue to strive in his actions and deeds to greater hishtadlut. There are times in life that we all feel like we need a break from our worries, or want to just put our feet up. It is not always easy to remember to recite Tehillim, or to say them with full kavana. We must, however, remain steadfast in our hishtadlut and in our emunah, in hopes that Hashem will respond in turn.

We need to also keep in mind that Hashem, in His graciousness, showers us with his miracles on a daily basis. As each of us recites every morning: Modeh ani lefanecha melech chai v'kayam shehechezrta bi nishmati b'chemla raba emunatecha, we think of all of the little and big miracles, the hidden and revealed miracles, that Hashem blesses us with each day.

This idea of hishtadlut and emunah relates closely to us in our struggle for Chani as well. In fact, this deep concept is hidden even in the very essence of her name. Chani's name — Chana Liora — embodies these ideas. Chani was named Chana after my grandfather Elchanan. Zaidy was most well known as a baal tefilah, baal tokeya and baal kriya on yomim noraim and throughout the year. This same aspect of tefilla is most attributed to Chana in the Tanach. Chana symbolized hishtadlut and tefilla before G-d. Many of the halachot of inyanei tefilla that we have today, are developed from Chana's tefillot, and her way of prayer. So, too, we are so grateful and indebted to all those around the world who have and who continue daily in hishtadlut to say Tehillim, do mitzvoth, and pray for Chani' s recovery. It often strikes me when I think of the unbelievable beauty and magnitude of the achdut of people around the world praying for Chani's well-being, reminiscent of the achdut of the chashmonaim. We too should always be looking for ways to improve the unity among people (the Bein Adam Lechaveiro) and initiating new chesed projects in Chani's honor (and for all others in need), in addition to the tefillot and Tehillim (Bein Adam Lamakom).

The name Liora was not named after anyone in particular. We just liked the name Liora and it had meaning to us, as we hoped that Chani' s birth would bring about light into the world — "Ohr Chadash al tzion ta'ir", a new light upon Israel. Through all of our joint actions and tefillot which are symbolized in the name Chana, we hope that Hashem will shower us with his light and miracles, that of Liora. As Chani undergoes chemo during this week of Chanuka, we hope that the holiday of lights will shine its Ohr on our Chana Liora and all others in need.

"Al hanisim --- bayamim ha'hem - bazman ha'zeh".

Chani is now completing a second round of chemotherapy. This is the last type of standard chemotherapy that is offered at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. Chani's body has already rejected all of the other types of chemo that she has been exposed to, and she has now relapsed twice in the past few months in her shoulder and then in 4 spots in both legs. Chani will undergo important scans and tests on Wednesday.

We have been reflecting as to the appropriate action that can be taken at this time. In last week's Parsha, the Torah tells of the daughter of Paroah extending her hand to reach the basket in which Moshe lay (on the river). Rashi, quoting the Gemara in Sota 12a, says that under normal conditions her arm would have been too short to reach the basket. However a miracle occurred, and her arm extended long enough to reach Moshe. The question has been asked: If the daughter of Paroah saw that the basket was beyond her grasp, why did she extend her hand in the first place?

The Chofetz Chaim deduces an important lesson in bitachon from this event. When one is in a difficult situation, and under normal conditions he would be unable to accomplish anything on his own, he should try to do his best ("ad makom sheyado maga'at"), and Hashem will hopefully offer His assistance and salvation.

I once heard a parable, which further emphasizes this point. There was once a small town, and in this town the entire community would gather in the local shul (synagogue) on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur to hear the great Rabbi lead the prayers. People would come from far and wide to hear the beautiful, meaningful and heartfelt tefillot of the Rabbi. One Yom Kippur night at the time of the holy prayer of Neila, the Rabbi stood at the bima facing the Ark, with his tallit over his head. The entire congregation awaited anxiously for the Rabbi to begin the tefilla (prayer). A few moments passed, yet the Rabbi did not begin. A few more minutes passed, and still no sounds from the Rabbi. The congregants were quite confused as the great Rabbi stood silently for what seemed like hours. Finally, the Rabbi turned around, looked to the back of the shul, and motioned for Moishe to approach him. Moishe approached the bima and the Rabbi spoke with him quietly for a few brief moments. Everyone was very curious. Moishe was a very simple man, and did not stick out in the crowd for any particular reason or personal quality (other than being quite tall). Why would the Rav want to speak to simple Moishe? Especially at this crucial moment in the tefilla? The Rabbi concluded his conversation with Moishe, turned back to Ark, and proceeded with the most beautiful and inspiring tefilla the town had ever experienced. When the tefilla concluded, everyone came rushing over to the Rabbi so perplexed and curious as to what he could have been talking to Moshe about, and why it was so important. The Rabbi told the community: "As I stood before the gates of Heaven to pray and converse with the Almighty, I realized that I am merely flesh and blood. Why would I think that I am worthy enough to even try to daven? How could the prayers of such a small person reach the greatness of Hashem? Why would Hashem grant me to listen to my prayers?

I called over Moishe and asked him, "You, Moishe, are so tall, and your wife, Rochel, is so short. When Rochel wants to tell you a secret, how does she do so- how can she reach you? I would think that she wouldn't even try because it is impossible for her to reach you. Moishe answered simply that Rochel reaches up on her tippy-toes as far she can possibly reach - and then Moishe bends down the rest of the way. "After hearing this", told the Rabbi to the congregants, "I then understood that if we each try to reach up as high as we can, and do all that is in our power, then Hashem will hopefully bend down the rest of the way to receive our tefillot."

We, too, with Chani, feel that we must extend our hands and our hearts as far as "Ad makom asher yado maga'at" for the hopeful refuah sheleima of Chani and all of Cholei Yisrael and the world. We must do our part to improve upon the areas that we have control over, in hopes that Hashem will "bend down the rest of the way".

So what, tachlis, bottom line, can be done. We were thinking of a grand worldwide chesed project, but we recently heard a simpler, more down-to-earth, idea from Rabbi Simcha Scholar of Chai Lifeline which hit home as well. In World War I, the Jewish community asked the Chofetz Chaim what they should do about the terrible devastation and suffering in the communtiy. The Chofetz Chaim answered that each person should take on one small thing to improve on personally, or to be "makpid" on a consistent day-to-day basis. The people then asked him, " Rebbe, what are you going to be taking on?". The Chofetz Chaim responded that he would try to bentsch using a bentscher (birkon). The people were very surprised by their Rebbe's choice of a seemingly small undertaking. But this was the Chofetz Chaim's message. The potential impact of each small act (whether it be in Tefilla, Shmirat Halashon, Tzedaka, Halacha, Bikur Cholim, etc.), can be unbelievable.

Based on the idea of the Chofetz Chaim, we too, are now hoping that each of us around the world will now each take on something on behalf of Chani. On Chani's website, we already have a page encouraging people to anonymously list additional mitzvot or stringencies that they have taken on. Please press on the link to access and update the mitzvah are now committing yourself to.

We are very appreciative and indebted to all who have lent us such support and chizuk in so many ways. May our joint tefillot and ma'asim tovim (good deeds) merit Hashem sending a speedy recovery and assistance to all who are in need.

March 7, 2004

Chani has now completed another round of chemotherapy (same type as previous 2 rounds, but with an additional oral chemo agent). As Chani has been exposed to almost all of the treatment that Memorial Sloan Kettering in NY has to offer her, we will probably be now going to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for an experimental high-dose radiation treatment (MIBG therapy). The treatment will span across 3-4 weeks and will include high dose radiation to her entire body, stem cell transplant (of her own cells), and a series of scans. The radiation treatment is difficult, as Chani will need to lie in bed for a few days, heavily sedated, while we will not be allowed to pick her up due to the radiation.

We are all continuing our focus and tefillot on Chani's refuah sheleima. We are all also now focused on the preparations for Purim and for rejoicing the miracle of Purim b'simcha .

The following dvar Torah was forwarded to us by a friend, Abi Ofstein, from a shiur that she heard from Rav Milstone of Midreshet Harovah, based on The Netivot Shalom of the Slonnome Rebbe. It is really a beautiful and powerful message, and clearly relates to our situation.

The Slonnome Rebbe addresses the question of what chazal mean when they say that 'leatid lavo, all the chagim will be abolished except for Purim'. Why out of all the chagim, would it be Purim that is never abolished? What is so unique and special about Purim?

In answering this question, the Rebbe refers to the Halacha that teaches that on Purim it is forbidden to turn anyone away who asks for money/tzedaka. Rather 'Kol haposhet yad...notnim lo' - anyone who asks for money, we give him. He explains that this Halacha not only applies to humans on earth, but it also applies in Shamayim - in that Purim is an 'Eit Ratzon' for Hashem. Here the Rebbe begins to draw parallels from the Megilla - whereby the 'Melech' is representing Melech ha'Olam - Hashem. So when the Melech says to Esther at the feast 'Ma she'alatech viyinaten lach, u'ma bakashatech ve'te'as', it is representative of Hashem declaring an Eit Ratzon for every Jew, that He will fulfill one's wishes on this day.

In this light, we can begin to understand the true power and intensity of Purim. The Slonnome Rebbe goes on to further elucidate the ultimate uniqueness of Purim. On Yom Kippur, we pray and we do teshuva and give tzedaka, all with the aim of preventing a bad decree. The books have not yet been sealed, and we pray with all our might to reverse anything that may be bad, before it is sealed that way. Purim, however, is one stage further. On Purim we seek to revoke a decree that had ALREADY been sealed.

On Purim the gezera was sealed - with the seal of the King. Who is the King? Melech Haolam. It is as if, Hashem had sealed a Gezera that all the Jews be destroyed. What was Esther's response? 'Lech knos et kol haYehudim' - this kind of gezera cannot possibly be tackled on an individual level. The only way to even hope to revoke this kind of gezera is through the achdut and unity of the people. But even with achdut and unity - from where will our salvation come?

Mordechai says to Esther - 'Revach ve'hatzala yaamod le'Yehudim MIMAKOM ACHER' - the salvation will come from 'another place'. What is this 'makom acher'? Even though the gezera was sealed with the seal of the King, through the power and strength of sincere and complete bitachon ba'Hashem - the nation as one can revoke the decree. But only as one - and only through complete Bitachon, complete faith. This is how, on Purim, even though the decree was totally sealed, 'venehafoch hu' was achieved. Even if a decree seems totally sealed, it is not 100% the end of the story; it is this phenomenon - that will always exist. Even when all the other chagim have been abolished, through achdut and through bitachon, we will still have the ability, represented by Purim, to revoke the bad gezera.

And this is what Mordechai really meant by 'revach vehatzala yaamod le'Yehudim MIMAKOM ACHER' - Even though a situation might look like it's totally sealed, and even though it looks like we have no chance to come through it, Purim comes to 'overturn' the decrees of Yom Kippur and to show us that our Hatzala will come from a 'makom acher' - a supernatural place that might not fit in with our logic, our rationale, or our understanding. How can this result hopefully be achieved ? Through 'lech knos et kol hayehudim' - through the achdut of our nation, standing as one, and declaring our total bitachon in Hashem.

The Rebbe teaches that the power of simcha, true joy - one of the most important mitzvot of Purim - is the sweetest, most wonderful medicine for any bad judgments and decrees. The seuda is almost like the neila of Purim. This is the only day where a Jew has the power in him to overturn the decrees, and the Seuda - through our simcha - is the ultimate moment to do so. Even if the sword is proverbially at our jugular ("Afilu cherev chada...")- we must not despair, for Hashem still has mercy. There are no restrictions of nature in place here - Revach veHatzala yaamod ...MIMAKOM ACHER.

Hashem in his ultimate Kindness to do good for Am Yisrael gave us the special gift of Purim - a day when the decree was signed and sealed - but nonetheless through the unity of the people, was supernaturally - MIMAKOM ACHER - revoked.

After reading this powerful message, I thought to myself, "So what are we each to do?" I recently had the honor of speaking to Shmuli Mandelbaum (Bracha Naomi's A"H father), and I believe he helped point us in the right direction. Shmuli told me a short, yet revealing, vort from Rav Hutner. Rav Hutner asked on the words that we say in Hallel: "Hita Ozno li, u'vyamai ekra" "Hashem inclines His ear to listen to us, so in our days we call out to Him". Rav Hutner asks: The line should really, according to logic, be written in the opposite order: First we cry out and then Hashem listens. Rav Hutner answers that Hashem is always listening. The only question is - Are we crying out to him?!

When I relayed this vort to my cousin, a scene out of George Burns' "Oh, God" came to his mind. Towards the end of the movie, "God" came to man and told him, "Now that I have taught you and guided you all along the way, now I will no longer come and speak to you." Man replied, "But I enjoyed our relationship and speaking with you". "God" replied to man, "I'll make you a deal: You talk - and I'll listen."

Bottom line is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is listening. It is time for us to cry out. And what better time for us to join together ("Lech knos et kol hayehudim) to cry out than the Eit Ratzon of Purim. Purim also teaches us that there are different ways of showing our cries to Hashem. The mitzvot of Purim (Seudah, megillah, matanot la'evyonim- charity, and mishloach manot - presents to friends) remind us of the mitzvoth of Yom Kippur ("U'teshuva, u'tefilla u'tzedaka maavirin et roah hagezeira"). This is the time for us all, through Simchat Purim, to together, through achdut and bitachon, re-dedicate ourselves to teshuva u'tefilla, u'tzedaka and hopefully Hakadosh Baruch Hu will fulfill "U'kra Roah Gezar Dineinu", and we will all merit only good decrees and blessings to come.

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