Word Prompt - BUILD - Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen

The most critical thing a person can build is another person.

In 2015, the synagogue I was serving as rabbi ran into severe financial challenges. Rabbi Paysach Krohn, noted author and mohel, visited the broader community. He was speaking in another congregation that was in merger discussions with mine. Although uncomfortable to go hear him speak in that location, I went, in the hopes of being inspired during a time of personal difficulty.

Rabbi Krohn was unaware of the back story. When he got up to speak at the shalosh seudos to a packed audience, he surprisingly acknowledged my presence and spoke of me in the most glowing terms. I felt like a million bucks.

At that moment I committed that if I was ever blessed with another son, he would serve as mohel. In May 2016, he did just that.

Giving honor to another person doesn’t cost anything. Building up another is giving them “life.” Every person needs to feel important. We can literally resurrect people with a few kind words.