When Loss Becomes a Star: An After-Class Reflection on Grief, Faith, and Holding On

 Afterthis Sunday morning’s Breakfast& a Class,the conversation continued in a deeply personal and unscripted way. Whatfollowed was not a formal shiur, not a prepared lecture, and not an attempt toanswer the unanswerable. It was an honest reflection on loss, grief, memory,and the struggle to hold on to emunah when the heart still aches.     In this after-class reflection, wespeak personally about the loss of our five-month-old grandson, and about theimages and teachings that have helped the rabbi live with a pain that does notdisappear. Drawing from Midrash, the Zohar, the days of the Omer, and thelanguage of hashgachah peratit, we explore how a neshamah can come into thisworld for only a brief time and yet leave behind light that continues to shine.This is a raw, personal, and heartfelt reflection for anyone who has faced lossand is trying to find a way to keep walking with HaShem.