Juggling one’s public role with familial needs can be challenging; after all the rabbi does have a home and family. Having children in Eretz Yisrael while being a rav in America can be an especially difficult juggling act.

Therefore the time I set aside on Friday mornings to speak with my family in Eretz Yisrael is precious to me. It is a time to reconnect and find out what is going in the lives of those I love who aren’t presently close by. And especially as a rabbi I relish those too few minutes on Friday mornings when I’m no longer “the rabbi”; rather I’m just “Tatty” and “Zeidy.”

That particular Friday morning began with the usual congregational “emergencies.” Also the shul dinner was just a few days away and added to that were some of my own issues which of course I also have. I was at that time struggling with a painful and especially challenging personal issue.

How often do I tell those who come to see me with their issues “This will pass and you shall see it was for the best?”

How many times do I encourage people to have bitachon that Hashem is not abandoning them?

Somehow however that morning I was still struggling with the pain. Struggling with my issue and struggling with the clock as Shabbos would soon arrive in Eretz Israel.

Finally I called my son Tuvia in Yerushalayim.

As we were catching up he told me that his infant daughter had had a minor oral procedure done this week. As they entered the doctor’s office Tuvia said the doctor informed him that he feels that if the parent assists in the procedure as opposed to a nurse it is more comforting to the child.

My son described for me how for a few seconds he made sure his daughter was secure and couldn’t wiggle free as the doctor performed the quick albeit momentarily painful procedure.

I asked my son how she responded.

He told me she cried.

He told me she was probably wondering why her father was allowing this strange man to do something painful to her. She was probably even more perplexed to see her own father assisting in this procedure. He added that if she ever asked him why he would tell her that not only did he assist in the procedure; he paid the doctor and thanked him for the procedure.

After all it was needed and for her benefit and what will a parent not do for the welfare of their beloved child?

As he was speaking my mind continued to race from my own issue to our conversation and back to shul business.

Finally I asked “Is she all right now?”

“Baruch Hashem; she’s fine.

“I’m happy she’s fine; too bad she had some pain though.”

With about two minutes to spare until Shabbos in Yerushalayim Tuvia remarked calmly “Isn’t that the story of all of our lives? Don’t we know that whatever pain we have is always for the best? That all of our pain is always for our benefit?”

And suddenly and simultaneously as the sun slowly set in Yerushalayim a feeling of calmness and healing slowly penetrated deep into my heart.

Those were the words I needed to hear.

As I wished him a “Good Shabbos” somehow the challenges in my own life seemed much more manageable.

And once again I thanked Hashem for allowing me to learn from my children.