I had a few business partners I worked closely with for years who, out of the blue, ended up hurting me both emotionally and financially. I was completely blindsided and crushed.
But in reality, this is all a test from Hashem—not from them.
I was telling a friend recently how difficult I was finding it to forgive them. The hurt and anger were burning inside me.
A few hours after that conversation, I heard about this initiative, and it felt like being splashed with ice-cold water. It gave me a surge of emotional strength to dig deeper and move forward.
Shalom for Charlotte.
I am mochel b’lev shalem as a zechus for the aliyah neshama of Shaindel a”H bas Chaim Yehuda Leib.
This initiative doesn’t just help heal the past—though it certainly does, because you feel so much lighter and better when you take the pledge—it also helps on a day-to-day basis. It teaches you not to take things so personally, to let things slide, to prioritize shalom, and to be dan l’kaf zechus instead of reacting as if everything is a personal attack that creates division.
I recall that Rabbi Trenk zt”l and the Rebbetzin would say something along the lines that the secret to their shalom bayis was not taking things personally, and always trying to see situations in a positive light.
Keep a mindset of shalom, and all the brachos will flow.
I already see it.
Making shalom takes a jolt of inner strength to dig deeper, and this chizuk provides it powerfully.
Thank you for spreading this initiative to help Klal Yisrael.