Foraging, Family, and Faith
On the foraging trail, this family remembers their deceased father's special connection to the Land of Israel.
I recently guided a remarkable family on a deeply meaningful foraging walk.
The route, plants, and history were the same as the hundreds of times I’ve been on that hill to the southwest of Ramat Bet Shemesh.
But these brothers, sisters, mother, and aunt came with a special story, in search for a moment of bonding their father and husband.
Rabbi Yiddy Lebovitz grew up in the Chassidic community of Monsey, New York, the son of the Nikolsburger Rebbe. He always felt a deep love for the holiness and heritage of the Land of Israel, so eleven years ago he picked up his family of eight and moved to Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Post thought this was so exceptional that they published this article.
For the next eight years, he learned and lived the legacy of its hills, valleys, and ancient cities.
Tragically, he passed away 3 years ago from Covid. On the week of his yartzeit, his family came together in Israel’s natural world to taste the life of the Land. He couldn't join us physically, but we strongly felt his presence.
As we stood overlooking Emek Haelah where Dovid fought Golias almost 3,000 years ago, we said a perek of Tehillim in memory of Shalom Baruch Yehuda ben Yosef Yechiel Michel.
On the way down the hill, we listened to a beautiful song that he wrote and sang.
May his soul rest in peace, in the World of the Living.
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