By Rabbi Chaim Zvi Ehrenreich – shliach in Nyack, NY

This week, Chaya’la and I returned from Israel. The visit left us inspired—witnessing the resilience of the Jewish people, hearing stories of courage, loss, and bravery, and feeling, more than ever, the unbreakable bond of Am Yisrael.

Our last day in Israel touched me personally in a way I did not expect.

Among the people we visited was Rabbi Liraz Za’ira, a Chabad emissary who serves at Chabad on Campus in Jerusalem.

Many know his story: just before this past Yom Kippur, while serving in the IDF reserves in Syria, he lost both of his legs in combat defending Am Yisrael. But knowing the facts and meeting him in person are two entirely different experiences.

Despite everything he has endured, his room radiates strength and light. His eyes carry both pain and unwavering determination. Even now, in the midst of his challenging recovery, he carries himself as a true shliach—uplifting, encouraging, and bringing warmth and faith to everyone around him. His presence says, without words: I will continue to serve. Am Yisrael Chai.

Before leaving for Israel, I slipped something into my bag—something I’ve carried with me for 34 years: a dollar the Rebbe personally handed to me before I traveled to Israel in 1991, with the instruction, “Give it in the Holy Land.” As was customary, I gave a dollar of my own to charity in its stead. And held on to the Rebbe’s dollar. On the edge of the dollar, I wrote down the words that the Rebbe told me.

For years, I held onto that dollar, wondering when the right moment would come. Many times, I thought perhaps I had missed the opportunity. Yet each time, something told me to wait.

And then I met Rabbi Za’ira.

After hearing his story and encountering his faith, courage, and inner light despite all he’s been through, I knew with absolute clarity: this was the person I wanted to share my dollar with.

I took the dollar from my pocket, shared its history, and placed it in his hand. He paused, looked at it, and said he felt goosebumps.

I felt them too.

But even more than goosebumps, I felt humbled—deeply humbled. To give something sacred, entrusted to me by the Rebbe, to a fellow shliach who has literally sacrificed parts of himself for Am Yisrael… it felt like standing on holy ground. As if the mission the Rebbe placed in my hands decades ago had finally reached its true destination.

This week’s Torah portion begins with a paradox: it is called “Chayai Sarah” – “The Life of Sarah,” yet it opens with her passing.

Our sages teach that true life is not measured in years, but in impact, meaning, and legacy.

Sarah’s life was defined by purpose, strength, and faith—qualities that continued into the next generation and still inspire us today.

Standing beside Rabbi Za’ira, I felt this message come alive. His life has been reshaped by immense sacrifice, yet his spirit—his faith, his determination, his commitment to his mission—radiates a living legacy that uplifts every person who meets him.

He embodies a modern expression of Chayei Sarah: a life defined by the light it brings to others. Actually, the name Li-raz translates to – “I HAVE LIGHT”! Liraz has light and he shares it!!!

I am honored that the Rebbe’s dollar found its home in the hands of Liraz—a person who inspires simply through his presence and being.

Chayei Sarah teaches us that true life is measured by the strength we pass on, the faith we inspire, and the light we bring to the world.

This week, I witnessed that truth in the most unforgettable way.

Please keep Rabbi Za’ira in your prayers, and may Hashem send a complete and immediate recovery to:
הרב לירז צבי הלוי בן שרה יהודית
R’ Liraz Tzvi HaLevi ben Sara Yehudis.

May He protect our brothers and sisters in Israel and strengthen those who defend us.

And may we each be inspired to live a life of Chayei Sarah—a life whose impact continues far beyond the moment, a life that strengthens Am Yisrael, now and forever.