By Sussie Rottenberg

Unlike popular opinion, I never desired to conform to any brand of Judaism or Orthodox sect. I am blessed to have been raised in a diverse family, where a deep connection to Hashem was woven into my very consciousness.

While the rebbe has done a lot to foster unity and tolerance for all of mankind, I’ve earmarked my own connection to Creator as my primary goal in life. Building a relationship with God is not a “one night stand” or a ritual manifesto. It is a willingness to be humble and real and to face all aspects of oneself as we are.

We are all hardwired with a deep knowing and ability to “hear the truth and be guided” every moment of our life. Most are simply so afraid to meet themselves that they have resorted to external rituals as a means to quell their conscience. A sad replacement for the beauty and joy of a relationship with Creator.

As a full-time therapist, Krav Maga instructor, and single mom of 4, people often ask me how I maintain my upbeat personality while juggling it all. I often say, “Easy, I married God- he always comes through for me”.

That said, no amount of blowing shofar can wake up the dead. While our mitzvos are designed to foster a connection with Hashem, we have unwittingly turned it against each other and used it as a measuring litmus for social acceptance and character definition.

Many have chosen to sacrifice our relationship with creator for social acceptance—perpetuating, the exact cause of our current exile. Baseless hate and a deep disconnect from our truth.

This past Rosh Hashana, my daughter and I chose to spend yom tov at home together to catch up on some quality mommy/daughter time. We spent the day in gratitude for a wonderful year gone by, eating our meals and enjoying the beautiful gift of another year on planet earth. We discussed our personal goals and dreams for the upcoming year and then meditated on truth. I asked Hashem, “If there’s anything that’s important to you, please make it obvious”. This is the question I ask every morning when I wake up and the intention I set for the day.

As we were completing our meditation, we heard a knock on the door. My daughter and I were surprised to see 2 men at the door. They asked if we had heard the shofar and offered to blow for us.

The Chabad Shliach introduced his son, Ari, as a nonverbal, Autistic child. While he lacked the ability to communicate verbally, Ari and I exchanged volumes.

The shofar has always been a voice of resonance for me. A sound beyond words. Beyond human interpretation. A soul reverberation of truth. Of one God and a Nation so intimately bound by a measure that transcends all of our preconceived ideas of communication. A language that speaks to all of mankind—if they are willing to listen.

I thanked Ari for showing up and felt honored that he trusted in my ability to understand the unspoken. Much like the Shofar, Ari spoke and he knew we would listen.

When I asked Ari’s father how he knew to come to us, he shared that Ari had recently begun communicating his thoughts via text. Since it was yom tov, his son had an idea to use the letters of a siddur to spell out his requests. Ari had pointed to the word mivtzoim.

As a shliach of the Rebbe, his father understood that he wanted to go on mivtzoim to blow shofar for Yidden who hadn’t yet heard it. After a 15-20 min walk, Ari reportedly guided him to our house.
I thanked the shliach for the willingness to trust his son – and assured him that his son was in fact communicating with him all the time.

The following day, Ari returned with a similar glow on his face. We understood the language of the shofar.

It is not a role book of checks and exes for me. It is a deep internalization of the fact that my Creator is all knowing and has the infinite means to provide and guide. It is a deeply peaceful experience and allows me to partner with Hashem and manifest incredible miracles —such as the one you’ve heard about. It is, in fact, my life’s mission to empower people to access their God-given right to their soul truth.