posted February 26, 2006 08:04 PM         

This is a letter to my old boss in NY.

Hi,

I hope you are all in good spirits as you read this note.

I thought I would share with you an interesting story of 'destiny' that happened the other day.

It started back in December.

My grandfather was diagnosed with colon cancer. My family was devasted. He is our 'everything' and we didn't think he was going to make it. My family flew out from the East Coast to see him in the hospital to give him love and support.

After weeks of staying in the hospital with him and hoping and praying he would make it....we were so pleasantly surprised to find out he survived the surgery.

During recovery at 110 lbs. and so fraile, he woke up one morning and turned to me and said: "I had a dream Nance".

He told me that his father (my great-grandfather who is no longer alive) came to him in his dream to give him a message.

I asked him what he said.

He said, my father told me: "You need to be more religious."

So my Mom got out all my great-grandfathers collection of religious things to wear and to hold.

My Mom also called my cousin in NY and told her about my grandfathers dream. My cousin immediately said, "We need to get a Rabbi to the hospital to see him."

My Grandfather hadn't seen in Rabbi in over 50 years.

She asked some people at the synagogue in NY. Someone had recommended a specific Rabbi here in Sonoma County.

Well, my Grandfather was in too much pain and suffering to see the Rabbi while in the hospital so was unable to have a visit from him.

The Rabbi was very gracious and made attempts to come see him though.

Flashfoward 1 month later.

My Grandfather is alive and doing great. He is spiritually transformed. He said cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. He has become a compassionate, loving person....very different than the man he used to be.
He actually smiles and seems happy and isn't his usually grumpy, negative self. He is truly happy to be alive.

So, since the Rabbi never got to meet my Grandfather while he was ill in the hospital he called my Mom and said "We would still like to meet your father. We'd like to invited you over for Shabbat this Friday at our home."

He kindly invited my whole family over!

We have never met him only heard about him from my cousins network of pepole in her temple 3,000 miles aways across the country.

My family all go to his house for Shabbat last week.

As I entered the door, there stood the Rabbi. After introduction, the next thing out of his mouth was: "So, what do you do?" I said I was working in Web Development for a Jeweler company in the Diamond District of NY but recenlty moved back home.

He said "Oh, really. What company?"

I said , "_____".

He said, "Oh, yes. Of course, _________ (the name of my boss)! the _________ family. I know them well."

I'm from Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

I grew up with _____ (my bosses grandson). My cousin married his daughter.

I moved out to California because the Rebbe promoted the idea that it is good to get out into communities to keep the Jewish faith alive in areas that have limited Jewish education. That is why me, my wife and now three kids have lived here in Sonoma County for years now.

His wife prepared a scrumptuous meal and we all enjoyed their wonderful hospitality as well as the Rabbi's inspirational, educational and light hearted spirit.

I'm now going to take his Kaballah class on Monday nights.

The Rabbi and his wife they run the www.jewishsonoma.com here in Sonoma County where I grew up and live.

At the end of the evening I turned to the Rabbi and his wife and said:

"Gosh, it's a small world!"

He said:
"There's a saying in Jewish religion: