I began to feel better. I began to feel connected to my sister who was so far away. The two of us conversed about the Lev Moments, and I even surprised her four months later on her birthday by arriving in Israel and accompanying her to her weekly chemotherapy appointment.
I created these weekly videos for an entire year. During that year, I saw my sister go through hardships no one should ever have to experience. I saw her lose her hair and gain weight from the chemotherapy. But I also saw unexpected positive changes. She regained her inner strength and grew into her new self. I saw her husband and her children striving to be strong for her. I saw my mother and sisters pleading to God with questions unanswered. Why her? And all the while, I was recording and taping positive messages and putting them out to the universe. I initially started this project to benefit my sister, but I received much more in return.
These moments of the heart benefited me, and they benefited the people around me—those I worked with and those I lived with, those I liked and those I liked less, those I knew and those I didn’t. Creating the weekly Lev Moments made me a better person. I used Hebrew, the magnificent God-made language, to illustrate different points and new ways to look at commonly used words. I learned a great deal as I created this deep library of material and wisdom—wisdom from our Jewish ancestors, making our life relevant and meaningful today more than ever.
At the end of a year, in the winter of 2015, I had recorded over fifty episodes, and I thought “What now?”
Now it is time for this book to be born. In the last year, I have composed, arranged, rewritten, and polished what has become the treasure you now hold in your hands. I have separated the book into four chambers, each one giving us a glimpse of different aspects of our relationships.
So sit back and take the first page into your hand. Don’t rush through it. Do one entry a week, or however you feel led. Explore “Your Personal Lev Moments” with your children, with your partner, with your parents, with your colleagues, or with your boss. Create a book club for the year; offer the guidance within this book to a class of B’nai Mitzvah students. The possibilities are endless.
Each one of us brings to this life wisdom that is waiting to be discovered within ourselves. Discover yours and share your wisdom with others. Write in the spaces within this book wherever you see fit and let your answers be your guiding principles.
I have learned through the process of writing this book that what we hold inside our hearts—our thoughts, our feelings, our attitude—shapes us. If we become a manifestation of our hearts, let’s take heed. By writing this book, I was given the gift of a fuller and more grateful heart. The process was not easy. At times, I had to dig deep and hold on to a lifeline to keep my head in line with my heart and my mind focused on being the best I can be. May it be for you, too, a reminder of who you want to be always. May this book open your mind to the right thoughts to put in your heart and the right actions to be manifested by your being.
My hope is that this book will help you become the best version of yourself possible.
 | “If you don’t know what you’re living for, you haven’t yet lived.”1–Rabbi Noah Weinberg | |
A NOTE FROM MY SISTER
Part 1
A Facebook post from when she began her two-years-long battle with cancer.
“So… Today I began the journey of my life. Some of you know, and for those who don’t… I have breast cancer. Yes… This disease… it does not know who it chose to mess with (and it’s clear to you, my reader, that it will regret it). Today was my first chemotherapy session out of 16… The war on my life has begun.
Last night I initiated my bolding ritual… For those who don’t know this ritual, it is the shaving of my head… It was very emotional. My brother and all my sisters… yes, all of them (through Skype my sister Dorice from America was able to join) were with me. And my two older nephews and a couple of dear friends were there as well. That was very empowering and demonstrated to me the amount of support I have. So thank you all: to my extended family who is always interested and always willing to help, to my community, and neighbors. Here we go! To victory! To life! The fight for my life is beginning!
Bruria’s message on Facebook to mark the shaving of her head and the beginning of treatment.
Gratitude
This book is the work of many. Without each and every one of these people, this book would not be in your hands today. I would like to mention all of you by your name and contribution.
First, I thank my youngest son, Yaniv, who recorded my original Lev Moments videos diligently for an entire year at the age of eleven in 2014. Not every child would assist his mother every Saturday night, but he did. He recorded the videos using a cell phone and then uploaded them to Facebook. I am so grateful. My heart and endless love go to you, Son.
To my daughter Hadas, who patiently read and provided wisdom and brilliant suggestions for every single word, concept, and theme—you provided guidance and priceless wisdom that I will forever treasure in my heart. I love you.
To my husband, Bob, and my son Matan for reading the manuscript more than once and providing insightful observations and grammatical changes as well as patiently looking up sources—I am forever thankful. I love you both.
My heartfelt and sincere gratitude and thanks are also due to my editor, Jennifer McGrath, for her patience in leading me through the process of how to put together a book worth reading, for her keen eye and attention to every single detail, word choice, and extra space throughout this book. You have taught me much. I am blessed our paths crossed, and I cannot thank you enough.
To my dear friend Lisa Berkley, thank you for believing in me when I was unable to envision what could be. Thank you for helping me design my Facebook page which one day became this book.
To my brother-in-law Michael Horenstein, of EZWriter Documentation Services, whose detailed proofreading of the completed manuscript was nothing shy of genius. Thank you so very much!
To Rabbi Stampfer, I extend to you a special heart-felt thank you for our bi-weekly meetings, for advising me along the way, for providing resources so that this book could see the light of day, and for being my constant inspiration of what a rabbi is. I am humbled to call you my rabbi.
To Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, Mel Berwin, Allison Fowler, Dale Foster, Sharon Erez, Shirona Lurie, Barbara Slader, and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin for taking time out of your precious and busy schedule to read part or all of my work and encouraging me to keep on going—you all provided insightful suggestions that helped make this book as strong as it is. I am deeply grateful.
To Yael Dassa for spending valuable hours combing through all the Hebrew and the transliteration to make sure all were correctly written and doing so with proficiency and willingness—I thank you and I cherish your kindness!
To Keith Berne who sat by me to help find citation and bibliography information for different