Abba, Bring Me Closer

Chazaq and Ohel Sara Youth Minyan of Kew Gardens Hills hosted Rabbi Benzion Klatzko for an inspiring program titled How To Get Into the Book of Life. The event reminded everyone that being written into the Sefer HaChaim is not just about asking Hashem — it’s about taking action and living with intention.

Robbie Aboff, operations manager at Chazaq, opened the evening by noting the event was lezecher nishmat his grandmother Mrs. Chaya Sara bat Reb Moshe HaLevi, Aboff a”h. Holding up a copy of Positive Word Power: Building a Better World With the Words You Speak, The Torah's Wisdom on Human Interaction (Artscroll), Aboff encouraged everyone to read one page each day, calling it a small habit that could change an entire year. He connected this to Parashat Nitzavim, explaining that every Jew — not just leaders — has the ability and responsibility to make a difference in klal Yisrael.

Rabbi Klatzko centered his talk on a heartfelt plea: “Abba, bring me closer.” Beyond learning Torah and performing mitzvot, the goal is to build a deeper connection with Hashem. That connection, Rabbi Klatzko explained, is what truly defines being written in the Book of Life.

Life, he said, is a book we write ourselves through our daily choices. Acts of kindness, gratitude, and mindful mitzvot transform ordinary moments into meaningful “memory markers.” Even something as simple as saying a brachah over an apple with genuine appreciation can become a chapter of purpose.

 

Living With Purpose

Rabbi Klatzko challenged the audience to reflect on the acts of chesed they are involved in. Writing the Book of Life means filling its pages with kindness and mitzvot performed b’geshmak — with enthusiasm and joy. Hashem gave us many commandments not as a burden, but as opportunities to enrich our story with goodness.

Rabbi Klatzko illustrated this idea with a vivid example: even a simple errand like buying milk can become a mitzvah-filled chapter. A person can thank Hashem for having the means to buy it, greet the shopkeeper warmly, offer a t'filah for someone in need, give tzedakah with the change, and smile at a neighbor on the way home. What could have been a one-sentence task becomes a meaningful chapter in the Book of Life.

Rabbi Klatzko also described encounters on flights where he asked fellow passengers what chesed they were involved in — and nearly all were quietly helping others, from raising funds for kallahs to reading to the blind. These stories demonstrate how deeply ingrained kindness is in the Jewish soul.

One especially moving story involved Aviva, a young woman Rabbi Klatzko met on a flight from Poland. She was not religious, but after a short conversation he invited her to join a trip to Eretz Yisrael. That trip changed her life — she became observant, studied in seminary, and eventually built a Torah home of her own. Her story shows how choosing to engage with life rather than “just watch the movie on the plane” can transform someone’s destiny.

Rabbi Klatzko also shared a powerful conversation about “replacement theory” — the false belief that Hashem has replaced the Jewish people with another nation. He explained why this contradicts the Torah, emphasizing that Hashem’s covenant with the Jewish people is eternal. His reasoning deeply affected several Christian leaders, sparking a dialogue that would later lead to profound gestures of reconciliation.

 

Building Bridges

Another story involved Frank Pesci’s 19-year-old son, whose mother is Jewish. The young man asked why Jews reject Christianity. After a thoughtful discussion, he told Rabbi Klatzko, “I just want the truth.” Inspired to explore his Jewish identity, he committed to joining a trip to Israel to learn more.

Frank, who addressed the audience, spoke about the growing global hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people and the urgent need for Jews and Christians to stand “shoulder to shoulder” in unity. He reflected on the state of the world, suggesting that “we may even be living in the days of Jacob’s trouble,” a time that demands unwavering solidarity and shared purpose. “Our work,” Pesci explained, “is to raise up leaders around the world who love the G-d of Israel and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people.” His words underscored the broader significance of their presence — that the fight against antisemitism must be shared, and that love for the G-d of Israel is what binds allies together.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening was Rabbi Klatzko’s description of new relationships with Christian leaders. A bishop moved by a musical havdalah in the Old City, advocacy in Congress for Israel, and a Shabbat in Monsey where ministers experienced Jewish life all led to moments of understanding and healing. In one unforgettable moment, many of the Christian leaders surrounded Rabbi Klatzko, embraced him, and tearfully asked forgiveness for centuries of persecution — from the Crusades and blood libels to pogroms and the Holocaust. At one gathering, ten leaders from different countries held onto Rabbi Klatzko’s tzitzis, bringing to life the prophecy of Zechariah: “Ten men of all languages shall take hold of the corner of a Jewish man’s garment, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.’” Rabbi Klatzko described it as a glimpse of Mashiach times.

Some of those leaders, who described the deeply emotional moment of physically grasping Rabbi Klatzko’s tzitzit — symbolizing their desire to attach themselves to the Jewish mission — and shared reflections on practicing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly before Hashem, emphasizing that such virtues must be practiced consistently — that humility and mercy are not innate but must be cultivated through conscious effort, including a French director who oversees thousands of churches, attended the event. They shared their love for Israel, their commitment to stand with the Jewish people, and their desire to keep learning. Their presence also included Frank Jr., whose personal journey of questioning and rediscovery brought him to the program eager to deepen his learning and connection. Together, their participation reinforced the message: when Jews live according to their values, the world notices and wants to learn from them.

 

Choosing Life

Rabbi Klatzko concluded by bringing the message back to the Days of Awe. Being written in the Book of Life is not just about living another year — it is about living a year filled with purpose, connection, and mitzvos. Every prayer, act of kindness, and moment of gratitude becomes another line in that book.

He reminded the audience of the importance of forgiveness and humility. Quoting the nightly tefilah hareini mochel l’chol mi, Rabbi Klatzko explained that Hashem “does not desire punishment” but wants people to live with compassion. “When we walk with righteousness and honesty,” he said, “the nations will cling to our tzitzit and say: teach us, for Hashem is with you.”

Everyone left with a clear challenge: start now, make gratitude and mitzvot part of daily life, and begin writing a year worth being inscribed for.

By Shabsie Saphirstein