Honoring a Final Wish: A Story of Compassion, Prayer, and Community Support

Last Friday, less than an hour before Shabbat, Chabad of Virginia Beach received an urgent call about Shulamit, a Jewish woman in critical condition. Unable to visit before sundown, Rabbi Meir assured the family that the community would pray for her during services and that he would come to visit immediately after Shabbat.

As soon as Shabbat ended, Rabbi Meir rushed to the hospital, accompanied by a close community friend, Dovi Freelander. Shulamit was fighting for her life, her son standing by her side. The next day, Chabad arranged for her other son to join them, as he had no means of transportation. In conversation, Rabbi Meir discovered that this son had never laid tefillin or celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. Moved by the moment, he laid tefillin for the first time, standing beside his ailing mother.

In her final days, Shulamit expressed a deep wish to be buried in Israel—a costly endeavor beyond her family’s means. Determined to fulfill her request, Rabbi Meir, with the help of Rabbi Grossman from Migdal HaEmek, worked tirelessly to ensure her wish would be honored.

On Monday, Shulamit passed away. Her son, unable to travel to Israel, recited a final Kaddish at the Norfolk Kollel. The members gathered near the casket, joining him in this sacred moment before she was taken to Israel for burial.

This story is a testament to Chabad’s unwavering commitment to every Jew, ensuring that no one is alone in their time of need. It also reminds us that when we make the effort, Hashem always provides the means to make the impossible possible