Footprints in the Sand, Upon a Trail of Stars - In Tribute to Rabbi Berel Wein zt'l

 About two weeks ago, Klal Yisroel lost a truly special individual with the passing of the great Rabbi Berel Wein zt'l. A noted lecturer, author, historian and beloved Rosh Yeshiva, his books, writings, lectures, videos, and knowledge and guidance was cherished and treasured by many people. I myself had a small encounter, with his writings, as when I was in secondary school, I had Jewish history lessons for a while and along with my Rebbe,  studied the classic "Sand and Stars" book, which he co-authored with Yaffa Ganz.

At that point in my life, I had heard of Rabbi Wein, although I knew of him from the famous story that occurred between himself and Rabbi Isaac HaLevi Herzog, the former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. That story was deeply inspiring at that time and still to this day, it lives in my mind, stepping out of the shadows to re-inspire me from time to time.

As I read the tribute article to Rabbi Wein in the Mishpacha last week, I began to gain, while still a small glimpse, it was a better glimpse into the life he led. Inspired by the teachings and values of many great Torah teachers, his rebbeim and dear father being some of them, his understanding of Jewish history wasn't that of it being some kind of storybook or fairy-tale. He understood that in order to build a present moment and help design a future, one must be connected to the morals, values and flickers of greatness from the past.

To him, history was the story of Am Yisroel. Not just one of the many documented tales of the modern time, but a rich, vibrant wellspring of lessons, teachings and guidance from G-d, everlasting from the beginning of time, until now, until soon, until eternity.

So, in humble tribute to a great man, a great Tzaddik, besides for this simple and hopefully respectful introduction, I humbly present to you "Footprints in the Sand, Upon a Trail of Stars", a simple, elegant poem.

My humble tribute to the great Rabbi Berel Wein zt'l

Footprints in the Sand, Upon a Trail of Stars - In Tribute to Rabbi Berel Wein zt'l

The stars, by the hundreds, thousands,
Sparkling into the time of infinity,
The sand, every last grain and granule,
Creating a path of unique travelled and beautiful destiny.

As the decades and centuries waved on,
History, ours, was being written and penned,
By the Torah, the sages, the writers of times before,
So, Rabbi Berel Wein, in their stride, he went.

He understood as did they,
History was and is no fairy tale,
He saw the lessons, parables, and wisdom,
Contained within each deed, success, and even every fail.

He learned upon the path of forever,
Eternity, written in the stars as on Abraham's night,
He taught us about the triumph of destiny,
As we navigate darkness to emerge before the light.

Rabbi Wein has now left us,
A legacy left behind, as rich as those he sought to emulate,
Learning from the greats of the past to build a present and construct a future,
He may not be here, but his writings, words, and wisdom will guide us towards eternity's way.

His memory will not fade,
It won't be lost to the history channels and tales,
But, it will be a light, a path, like the sand and stars,
A guiding presence, of humility, charm and grace.