When CPR Exercises Inspired a Young Man to Learn

A person who isn't believed in struggles to find their own strengths, and therefore finds it difficult to serve Hashem and face challenges.

Even if a person possesses many strengths—and every person, especially a Jew, has enormous potential—if no one appreciates them or expresses that appreciation, they will be less aware of their abilities and find it harder to actualize them.

For a person to be aware of their potential, they need to be appreciated, and this must be expressed.

For someone to know how many strengths they possess and to realize these strengths, they need someone who appreciates them and communicates this appreciation in words.

This is what the Chasam Sofer teaches us regarding the verse: "And you shall speak to all those that are wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, and they shall make Aaron's garments" (Exodus 28:3). Hashem tells Moses to speak to the wise-hearted people who built the Tabernacle, filled with wisdom by Hashem, and instruct them on how to prepare the garments of Aaron the priest and his sons.

The Chasam Sofer interprets the verse like this: "The verse intends, as Chovos Halevavos [Duties of the Heart] writes in its introduction, that within people's hearts there is implanted wisdom. If someone comes to awaken them, this hidden treasure can be revealed to all. If not, it remains concealed, like a seed sown, which if not tended, will decay.

And here too, Hashem, blessed be He, said to Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, that since He has filled them with the wisdom of the heart, they need someone to awaken and notify them of it, to bring their latent wisdom into action. Therefore, He said, 'And you shall speak to all those that are wise-hearted.' What shall you say? 'Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom'—this itself is the notification that stimulates them to action."

According to the Chasam Sofer, Hashem instructed Moses to inform the wise-hearted that they are filled with wisdom by Hashem, so that this recognition would empower them to make the garments of Aaron and the priests. Only when someone is appreciated and this appreciation is conveyed in words can they be aware of their strengths and put them into practice.

A person who is not appreciated or acknowledged will have difficulty facing life's challenges and serving Hashem. However, if even one person believes in them, it will invigorate them with immense strength, bringing out the potential goodness within. Sometimes, in moments of need, this person could be ourselves... If someone feels they lack the strength or motivation to actualize their potential, they should seek the help they need in any way possible. Progress is not possible without the support and encouragement from someone who believes in you.

A Person Who Lacked Appreciation in Childhood – Has Shaky Foundations

A person is likened to a building—a house—'ben' (son) from 'binah' (building), 'bat' (daughter) from 'bayit' (house). The building starts with the foundation; you cannot build a house without solid foundations. You cannot raise a child without the most crucial foundations—appreciation and warmth and love.

A structure cannot stand without foundations. It will eventually collapse. A child who does not receive love and appreciation lacks the foundation to build and stand. Personal, emotional, and familial structures are all liable to collapse; we must provide our children with stability from all angles, preparing them for the future.

Many problems in our generation stem from shaky foundations. Mothers in our generation are less available, and children experience emotional voids that are hard to fill. Quality time given to our children will heal us and help us connect with the quality parts within us.

Appreciation of the child is essential for their growth

When a child is born, they are like an incomplete puzzle; we must provide all they need to complete the picture. Only we, the parents, can initially provide this in the most natural way—all the warmth and love, the nourishment, the instillation of love for Hashem and fear of Hashem, everything they need physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

A Jew's soul must be like a fully inflated balloon, full of self-belief and love. Nothing will grow from a feeling of nothingness. Only through self-appreciation can we reach humility without breaking.

It is imperative to express appreciation and warmth to the child, giving our children the sense through words and actions that they are desired, loved, and wanted. We should listen to them until the end, contain their emotions, and invest our efforts into the most important thing—raising our children, building their personalities, building peace in the home, and inviting the divine presence.

This is how we will raise children who are powerful, secure, joyful, and love Hashem. They will become people who recognize their value and thus truly serve Hashem and spread light in the world. They will have presence because they will have the essentials: mental health and joy that do not depend on external things.

A Child Who is Appreciated – Can Serve Hashem

There are three circles to a person. In the innermost circle, which is like a foundation, the root of our growth, lies the part of the person to themselves. In the next circle—the person towards their fellow; the outermost circle is the person's relationship with their Creator. The Maharal states that a person's completeness is only in the completion of all these three parts.

This is the building where we construct the child. The foundation, the person's part to themselves, is most important. If the innermost circle is intact, the person can progress to the person towards their fellow, form close relationships, and manage proper communication. When a person feels good about themselves, it reflects on those around them.

But if the child does not receive this foundation—if they are not given appreciation—they cannot maintain a good marriage and be in proper contact with others. As a result, they also cannot truly serve Hashem.

The author of "Chovos Halevavos" says that most of the Torah consists of commandments of the limbs, and you cannot compel limbs to fulfill commandments if the heart is absent, if the child lacked love in life; even when they grow up, the limbs won't be able to fulfill the commandments properly, the heart inside is utterly dismantled, and there's no cement holding together all its parts: the soul, emotion, and mind.

A child who doesn't sufficiently feel their parents' love cannot feel how much Hashem loves them, and then cannot truly serve Hashem. As seen in prayer during holidays: "You have chosen us from all the nations, loved us, and wanted us, and elevated us above all languages and sanctified us with Your commandments." The order must be: 1. To know Hashem chose us. 2. To know Hashem loves us. 3. That Hashem wants us. 4. That Hashem elevated us above all nations. Only then can the next part follow: 5. And sanctified us with Your commandments—fulfillment of the commandments. Only after being assured of Hashem's love can one observe the commandments.

A Jew can sacrifice for the sake of Heaven when they have a constructed soul, can genuinely love Hashem and others, only if they feel self-love and self-respect.

A story is told of a young man who struggled in his studies, striving and trying tirelessly without success. He reached a point of despair, and it was known to all that it was only a matter of time before he would leave the yeshiva. One day, he happened to see someone performing CPR on a practice dummy. Out of curiosity, he watched intently, and the details were unconsciously absorbed.

The very next day, one of the students suddenly collapsed at the yeshiva. All the students were anxious and didn’t know how to react. However, the young man, seeing his friend lying on the floor, gathered courage, ran over, and performed CPR precisely as he remembered seeing the day before, and with divine assistance, he succeeded in saving his friend's life in front of his astonished peers.

When the rescue team arrived and heard about his actions, they passionately and admiringly told him, "You saved your friend! You did exactly what needed to be done!" The young man was deeply moved to hear these warm and appreciative words; it was the first time in his life he received such strong and genuine recognition, and unbelievably, from that moment, he was filled with strength, began to learn sincerely, and gradually, even his friends acknowledged his abilities, and he flourished.

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