Note: Executive Director Mark Zimmerman offered the following remarks at the recent Benefit Concert, honoring Robyn & Dr. Michael Weiner.
 Mark D. Zimmerman |
I want to thank you all for coming out tonight for this wonderful evening. As I look out at this room filled with so many supporters of M’Yad L’Yad, I am reminded of the story of a Chasid who comes to his rebbe and asks “Rebbe. Can you please tell me why G-d created doubt? It is such a painful and draining quality. Would we not be better off if G-d had not made doubt, which eats away at our faith and drains our ability to serve and pray to him?”
“My son, answered the rebbe; everything that G-d created has a purpose. What is the purpose of doubt? When a poor man comes to you for help you should not say to him: G-d will help. Instead, at that moment, you should feel as if there is no G-d and that you– and only you–are able to help this man. That is the purpose of doubt, to keep us from putting the burden of our responsibilities on G-d, instead of carrying them ourselves.”
What a powerful message. A learned Rebbe says to his one of his followers - Better that you should doubt there is a G-d, so that you will recognize your own responsibility to help those in need.
One may doubt there is a G-d, but there can be no doubt that our honorees Robyn and Michael Weiner, and their children, recognize their responsibility to help others.
One may doubt there is a G-d, but there can be no doubt that our honorary co-chairs, Supervisor Frank Petrone and Ilene and Jerry Herz, will step forward when others are in need.
One may doubt there is a G-d, but there can be no doubt that our Board of Directors, our sponsors, our committee members, and our benefactors, will lead the way in ensuring that our needy neighbors on Long Island will not be ignored.
One may doubt there is a G-d, but there can be no doubt that all of you are here tonight because you do recognize and accept the obligation to help those less fortunate in our local communities.
I don’t know if you believe in G-d, or if you doubt there is a G-d. But what I do know is that the Rebbe understood what all of you understand. That it is the Weiner’s responsibility, it is the Herz’s and Frank Petrone’s responsibility, it is my responsibility, and it is your responsibility to assist the poor man and the poor woman who come to us for help. I thank you for partnering with us to provide this help, and I look forward to working together with you in the future to continue our crucial work here on Long Island.
