A meeting with a Giant

It is hard for me to express the gravity of the loss that is felt by passing of Rabbi Avraham Twerski yesterday. He was unparalleled in his bringing mental health and addictions awareness to the Jewish community at large. 

It was his unique perspective allowed a beautiful interweaving of Torah literature and modern psychology (especially within the realm of addictions) that created such a powerful insight into human nature. One could not walk away from one of his speeches or put down one of his plethora of books without stopping for a moment to internalize his message that would only clarify and strengthen ones understanding of himself and his surroundings. 

I had the merit to meet with Rabbi Twerski most recently two years ago after my wife edited his book "Growing Up" Where he begins his book by emphasizing that even as one approaches his 90's he's still growing. He was 88 years old at the time. 

At the time I was still working on my Workshop "Breakthrough" and my wife made the shidduch (match) for me to meet with him to gain approval and insight to enhance the effectivity of the 40-day workshop. My wife urged me to keep my trip to his Katomon home to a short visit reminding me of his age and his deteriorating health condition. His vision was impaired and he was confined to a wheelchair. 

I had prepared the main points to cover and was prepared to keep my meeting with him limited. I was also unsure if I was going to be successful in discussing with him in detail the pros and cons of different practices withing the therapeutic process given his age and energy. 

In the end it was I who needed to ask his forgiveness for cutting the meeting short. He kept me in his home for over an hour. Despite his age, his mind was sharper that most people my half his age. He was engaging and sharing what would be the most effective ways to reach the depths of the Neshama of the people I am working with. It was through his insights that the workshop was truly able to help people have their breakthrough. He was warm, inviting, hospitable and is by all definitions a godol (giant) in our times. 

I am truly grateful for his help towards me personally and for what his work has done for the benefit of the Jewish community. 

As Jews we believe that when anything happens that we are witness to - whether it may seem to affect us personally or not, is placed in front of us for a reason. There is so much to learn from Rabbi Avraham Twersky. For me today it will be that I can't stop growing - Even when I'm 90.