I went on a call last Friday night.
I had successfully organized my Friday afternoon to a manageable level. In fact, i was able to put some of my study books back where they belonged, organized my desk, went to Timber Town for exercise, did some errands in Estacada town center, and enjoyed a nice bath. My youngest son and his girlfriend had just arrived home and we were getting ready to sit for Kiddush and Shabbat dinner when the Active 9-1-1 familiar tone went off. My wife told me dinner won't be ready for an hour so I immediately changed and got in my E.R.F.D. #69 outfit. Arrived on the scene of an uncontrollably sobbing woman as she expected her diabetic husband not to make it. He did not. I stayed to comfort her and her family until such a time as the M.E. and the Sheriff had done their job and the Funeral Chapel came to take care of the body, then I went home. It was different Friday night. As of Friday night, at the onset of the Shabbat, as Jews we are not supposed to work. But I have also learned from my religious teachers that caring for the departed is one of the highest form of service to God. The reason is that the dead can't thank you for caring for them and their family, we don't get anything in return for it, not even a smile or the look of a comforted face. This idea comes from the fact that it is said in the Bible that God Himself is the One who came to care for Moses' body (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). The logic is that if God does it, so should we. It is therefore considered a total random act of kindness. A person who dedicated her life to that was Mother Theresa. Our Master Yeshua also taught us along the same lines. He taught us that it is right to bring comfort to people on the Shabbat. Indeed, it was a special Shabbat!
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