I burst into tears at Trader Joe’s
A few days ago I was running errands in a different neighborhood and stopped into a Trader Joe’s grocery I’d never been in before. I was pondering all of the different varieties of tomatoes when a little old lady with a walker came up to me and put her hand on my arm.
“Shalom Aleichem, Yiddische maidelah,” she said.
“Aleichem Shalom,” I replied. Then she proceeded to tell me her life’s story.
After a moment, she pushed up her sleeve and showed me the number tattooed on her arm.
I burst into tears and immediately asked her to give me a blessing. The last thing in the world I expected while inspecting tomatoes was to hear stories of the holocaust.
Mrs. Berger told me that when she was sent to Auschwitz, she offered to cook. She was very lucky. They gave her a room off the kitchen and cooking was how she survived Auschwitz. Then she told me how after the war she immigrated to Canada and cooked for hundreds of people and then to America where she ran a kosher butcher shop and cooked for hundreds more.
“And I’m still cooking,” she said proudly, “I cook for one of the richest families in town. I make gefilte fish and cholent and kishke for them. Do you know how much they pay me? Eighty dollars an hour,” she said proudly. She’s over 90 and still cooking for others.
Clearly cooking is Mrs. Berger’s talent. Her talent helped her survive and thrive, as with G-d’s help, she rebuilt her life from ashes. This is the power of using our talents in whatever form they might be.
As she was saying goodbye, Mrs. Berger gave me her blessing and a piece of cake she had made (of course!). After she headed toward the cashier with her dozen eggs, I decided I wanted to take one last picture of her.
As I turned the corner of the aisle less than a minute later, there she was teaching a couple from another country how to cook popcorn kernels, something they had never seen before. Mrs. Berger is a wonderful example of someone who uses her talent every chance she gets to help others.
We have just entered the period of Jewish time known as “the three weeks,” a semi-mourning period in which we re-experience the beginning of the destruction of our holy temples. The spiritual energy of this time is constriction, when hidden good is concealed and constricted within. As in pregnancy, the Divine Good is waiting to be birthed and revealed into this world.
The mitzvah of “Be fruitful and multiply,” does not just mean to physically have children, but also that we are commanded to be creative, to use our G‑d-given talents to create good within this world, just like Mrs. Berger.
I would like to help you do just that.
I’m excited to announce my new no cost 5 Day Creative Torah Journaling Challenge is ready for you to join and you can sign up HERE>>>.
My Blessing to you below!
Are you…
…FEELING OVERWHELMED?
Does your life feel like a whirlwind sometimes with no “me time”? You’re so busy taking care of everyone else but your own inner spark is getting lost or moved aside?
…FEELING BLOCKED OR FRUSTRATED?
You need to find a way to express yourself and have that connection. You need inspiration to get turned on and stay turned on!
…FEELING STRESSED AND OUT OF BALANCE?
You have to find a balance that works for you. Creative journaling can help you do that. Now is the time to focus on being the happiest, creative, best you!
THAT’S WHERE THIS CHALLENGE COMES IN!
Start your CREATIVE JOURNAL to be more stress-free, creative, and connected to yourself and G-d in just 5 days. The Torah inspiration, the lettering, the art techniques, the meditations and creative writing journal prompts – I’ve got you covered! (and did I mention it’s absolutely 100% FREE?!)
So, my friend, what are your thoughts on Mrs. Berger’s story?
Do you have a talent you like to use to help others?
Hit reply and share your thoughts on this.
I would love to learn from you, and maybe I can help and encourage you, as well!
My Blessing to You:
