It was a gut punch. Hearing that my 43 year old uncle in Germany passed away over Shabbat caused a searing sensation of pain and sorrow inside that has not subsided for a week now. So young, so fast and during the busiest and happiest time of life.
Rabbi Benny Wolff and his wife Sterni established a permanent Chabad presence in Hannover, Germany fifteen years ago and have served the local Jewish community as well as thousands of visitors non-stop. Their eight young children are part and parcel of their vital work and the Chabad House of Hannover is a source of genuine warmth and inspiration for so many.
Upon Benny’s tragic passing many wondered if this operation of kindness and love would survive, but then my aunt made a decision that shocked everyone but surprised no one. Instead of bringing Benny to Israel, he was buried in Hannover and their family is staying there to continue their mission.
In this week’s parsha we learn about the service in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. There was a room there called the “Kodesh Hakadashim (Holy of Holies)” which was off limits to everyone. In this space the highest level of divine revelation was manifest on earth and any mortal who dared enter died immediately. The only exception was the Kohen Gadol - the High Priest who entered on Yom Kippur.
The holiest person, entered the holiest space on the holiest day of the year and achieved atonement for us all.
The first man to observe this sacred service was Aharon the High Priest and the Torah specifies that the details of the Yom Kippur service were communicated to Moshe after the death of Aharon’s two eldest sons. During the inauguration of the tabernacle, as Aharon and his sons started off their lifelong careers as Kohanim (priests) serving on behalf of the Jewish nation, Nadav and Avihu suddenly died.
It was a crushing blow which threatened to torpedo the most important celebration in Jewish history and Moshe sought to console his brother Aharon by extolling his son’s unique spiritual greatness. But Aharon did not seek consolation, nor did he collapse under the excruciating pain. “Aharon was silent” the Torah records and continued with his duties without interruption.
Aharon is the paragon of unwavering faith while experiencing incomprehensible loss. He was undeniably devastated from his loss, but never faltered in his service to G-d and the Jewish nation.
As I watched Benny’s funeral via Zoom I noticed that after the recital of Kaddish, Sterni gathered her children in front of his fresh grave. On the live feed I heard silence but one of the few participants present (due to social distancing) shared her words with us afterwards.
“Father is buried here and we are staying here. He will continue his mission from heaven and we will continue our mission down here.”
I had just witnessed Aharon’s heroic silence manifest in our time. A young mother of eight dedicating her life to continue her divine mission in the face of devastating loss.
We established a fund to help support them as they continue life with so much strength and inspiration and I am so grateful to everyone who has already contributed. If you have not yet had the chance to do so, please consider donating to this worthy cause so near and dear to my entire family.
Please click here to donate: charidy.com/wolff/70554
May Sterni’s resounding silence be the final expression of fortitude and faith necessary to usher in an era when all sorrow and weeping will be silenced forever with the arrival of Moshiach.