In Final Note, Meron Victim Inspires Hope and Positivity
On the evening of Lag BaOmer, just a few hours before the tragic event that claimed his life, Rabbi Shimon Matlon shared an envelope with a friend, instructing him not to open it until Sunday.
As night fell on Thursday, and Lag BaOmer spread its joyous light throughout Israel, Rabbi Shimon Matlon shared an envelope with a friend, instructing him not to open it until Sunday.
Later that night, Shimon was among the 45 men and boys who lost their lives in the tragic crowding in Meron.
As revealed by Israeli journalist Yossi Elituv, the envelope contained a single sheet of paper with the following lines (roughly translated from Hebrew):
Instead of being filled with disappointment,
Accept everything with love.
Instead of being rigid,
Be flexible.
Instead of complaining,
Let your mind be in control.
Instead of harping,
Be more grateful.
Instead of seeing problems,
Filter out negativity.
Instead of drowning in water,
Know it’s all from G‑d.
Instead of blaming everyone,
Remember Who is the greatest of all.
Instead of getting angry,
Take a deep breath and stretch.
Instead of being upset,
Exercise your faith.
Instead of choosing darkness,
Choose the full half of the glass.
Instead of sinking into despair,
Remember that everything is a test from G‑d, Who saves.
Because G‑d decides what’s going to happen,
But you decide what your attitude will be.
Originally posted on Chabad.org
Here’s the original Hebrew:
במקום להתמלא אכזבה – לקבל את הכל באהבה
במקום להיות נוקשה – להיות גמיש
במקום לרטון – לתת לשכל את השלטון
במקום לקטר – להודות יותר
במקום להתלונן – את הרע לסנן
במקום לטבוע במים – לומר ‘הכל משמיים’
במקום להאשים את כל העולם – לזכור מי הגדול מכולם
במקום להתרתח – לנשום עמוק, להתמתח
במקום להתעצבן – על האמונה להתאמן
במקום לראות שחור – בחצי המלא לבחור
במקום בדיכאון לשקוע – לזכור שמכל ניסיון ה’ מושיע
כי ה’ קובע את המצב – ואתה את מצב הרוח
thank you, chana jenny.
we learn that a person is put on this Earth to do a favor for another Jew. Reb Shimon Matlon certainly has fulfilled his purpose with his message…
may we all be zoche to reunite with our loved ones immediately with Moshiach and the Complete Redemption.
his final message has probably reached tens of thousands of people, I heard so many speakers quoting it