 The synagogue is silent, but for the soft murmuring of prayer.
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006
A Kindled Soul
The synagogue is silent, but for the soft murmuring of prayer.
Standing in front of the Aron Kodesh, a 12-year-old boy is swaying back and forth. His arms flaying uncontrollably, his head lifted up as he stares at the Torah Scrolls. Loud moans emerge as from the depths of his soul. Yet nobody blinks an eye or tries to quiet him nor purses his lips and shakes his head.
The boys name is Orr (which means light) and he is our neighbor. Orr’s mother carried him for nine uneventful months. The pregnancy went smoothly; however the delivery did not. Through a doctor’s negligence, Orr was denied much needed oxygen while being born. This left Orr wheelchair bound, his head bent towards one shoulder and unable to communicate. Orr’s family loves and cares for him with all their hearts, yet it is still difficult. Our neighborhood decided to add Orr to their households, as well. Every other Shabbat, a different family hosts Orr for a meal. This gives Orr’s parents a little respite. It also teaches us, and our children, how to reach out and care for the disabled. Our youth have been working daily, for years, with Orr on a volunteer basis. They would exercise with him and take him around the neighborhood. What miracles were performed through these messengers of chesed! Orr is now walking on his own, with his head held high. Today, you can find him standing next to the teenagers, who bring him every Shabbat to our B’nei Akiva youth group. The kids still hope that they will be able to teach Orr to speak one day. With the help of  HaShem, I hope that they do. Orr has kindled the spark of chesed in us all. May we pass that flicker of light to others.
Jewish Press
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