"How to Dance in the Rain"
Compliments of Rabbi Moshe Wolf

We were recently at a memorial service for one of our fallen members. From a distance, I noticed one of our members, Jimmy, walking hand in hand with one of our retirees, who was handicapped and could not walk on his own. I went over to Jimmy and said, “Thank you, and G-d bless you for doing such a noble deed of helping the less fortunate.” He answered me, "Rabbi, he spent his whole career helping others, it's the least I can do for him". Then he said, "Rabbi, you always have to remember 'How to Dance in the Rain"…
It was a busy morning, about 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived at the doctor's office to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures, and redressed his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he were a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, and facing the hard fact that not all in life will we be able to understand. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but “how to dance in the rain”.'
___________________________
So, what is YOUR perspective? The Black Dot Story
"The Black Dot." One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual.
Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions – just a black dot in the center of the sheet of paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there.” The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task. At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams and started reading each one of them out loud, in front of all the students. All of them, without exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet. After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain: “I’m not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot – and the same happens in our lives. We have a piece of paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a gift, and we always have reasons to celebrate – nature renewing itself daily, friends around us, the job that provides our livelihood, our family, our loved ones etc. However, we insist on focusing only on the dark spot – the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationships with others, or the disappointment with a friend or boss. The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they’re the ones that pollute our mind. Take your eyes away from the black dots in your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings and each moment that life gives you. Try to train yourself to find one thing every day to make you smile and REMEMBER: EVERY DAY OF LIFE IS A GIFT, ENJOY YOUR PRESENT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before we close a little humor from the "Moshe Files"
The I Q Test....
A visitor at a mental hospital asks the Director of Admissions what the criteria are for defining whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.
“Well,” said the doctor, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.”
“Oh, I understand,” said the visitor. “A normal person would use the bucket as it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
“No,” replied the director. “A normal person would pull the drain plug. Do you want a bed by the wall or near the window?”....LOL
--------------------------------------------------------
Wishing all those in my flock who proudly wear the title of Mom and all those in your life who fill that role a very Happy Mother's Day. And if you are blessed with a mom who is still around,
Remember to let her know how much she is loved and appreciated.
---------------------------------------
To My Flock: G-d willing, hoping to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land sometime in early summer. Some have the custom of writing a prayer note, which is placed among the stones in the Holy Western Wall. As we have done in the past, it would be my honor and privilege to take your prayer notes and requests and bring them to the Holy Wall with me. My snail mail address is on the bottom.
Please make sure to get them to me by June 15th.
On behalf of ALL the Chaplains, May G-d bless you and keep you safe. Should you need a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, or perhaps have some good humor to share, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Compliments of your Chaplain,
Rabbi Moshe Wolf, 773-463-4780 24/7, and please leave a message.
E-mail: moshewolf@hotmail.com
Snail mail: 3008 W. Pratt Blvd, Chicago, 60645
​
 May/June 2025