BH

Dearest Family of Rabbi Yudi,

I wish I had the standing with Hashem to plead to him to save lives. Or one life that has touched me so much in a very short time.

I want to write to you and tell you what a wonderful man Rabbi Yudi is. And how he touched my life. I am a Goy with some Jewish background, and some of my children are Jews. My brother is a frum convert, and for 25 years I've struggled through life to finish my Ger.

Rabbi Yudi is such a precious gem. There are few men like him.

Several years ago, I was studying for my Ger with a Chabad Rabbi. I wanted to have additional resources of learning and he put me in touch with Rabbi Yudi to learn with JNET. To this day, given my status, I was amazed that Rabbi Yudi found a wonderful Chavrusa for me who became a very close friend, Ezriel Raitport. Over the years I've interacted with Rabbi Yudi from time to time.

A few months ago, I received a message from Rabbi Yudi on my voicemail. He wanted to talk to me. I knew that he was sick and had struggles, so I was really touched he called me. I also know he prayed for my Jewish daughter, Penny, when we thought she had Covid. The phone call would be one I'll treasure forever. I'll never forget the conversation that followed.

Rabbi Yudi was in the hospital and I began to describe the Covid situation in New Mexico. He told me to stop talking about Covid. He told me that like the 1960s song, he wakes up every day and "Just Wants to Celebrate". He was so upbeat it was extremely inspiring. He brought up the Asher Yatzcher blessing and we discussed what "heals" in the blessing meant. I brought up the concept from the RAMBAM that the world is created anew every instant by Hashem. Rabbi Yudi told me he hadn't thought about this idea, but thought the idea was a good one, that perhaps as Hashem creates he heals. He was so kind and so upbeat, and I said to myself, this man has a great purpose and is a very special man. I could feel the divine light of Hashem while talking. I've been extra vigilant since about saying Asher Yatzcher.

Talking to Rabbi Yudi was special, like the divine countenance surrounded him. I looked forward to his recovery and asked him if we could learn from time to time. When I encounter the few Gedolim I have encountered, they emanate this light. Rabbi Yudi has this light that is just an incredible draw.

The call came at a time where I was experiencing my own darkness. Because of my Gerus ambitions, my marriage is failing. As a would-be Gerum, I am very fortunate to have so many resources and friends, but I often feel like an outsider. Rabbi Yudi made me feel like I wasn't an outsider. He took me into JNET and treated me so kindly. Rabbi Yudi is easy to love.

I texted him a few times after, praying every day he would recover, hoping that we could learn again soon. He answered a few times, and then didn't. I began following the daily posts, trying to see how he was, and asking others to doven for him. I even spoke up during one of Rabbi Lazer Brody's popular Shuirs asking people to pray and keep Yudi and his family in their thoughts. I saw the posts about the miracles and marveled to Hashem. And marveled at the tremendous emunah and pure dedication of his wife.

I dreamt of our next time learning too. I have learned so much from the Dukes family.

I learned a lot about faith from the facebook posts. For this, I am forever in debt to the Dukes family.

There is so much to learn from you all. I have a lot of work to do, but I would like to have the faith you all do someday and pure belief and trust in Hashem.

Rabbi Yudi has a light that I've only experienced from a few people. Someone very close to me had this light and when he went to the next world, I felt a sense that I would see him again. Such men are never lost, just very special and treasured by the G-d most high. These men teach us how we can strive to be better men, and follow Hashem in ways and by example often we think are impossible.

One of my Rabbis called me afterward to check on me because I seemed so upset. He explained that some people complete so many mitzvahs and give light in a short time.

I will forever be in Rabbi Yudi's debt. And everytime I recite Asher Yatzcher, for the rest of my life, I will think of the man who taught me the true meaning of the blessing. The entire world lost a great treasure.

I wish I had the power to take all the pain for you. I surely would. But you will always have friends.

Thank you for sharing your life, and for the wonderful gift that Rabbi Yudi is. Thank you for the opportunity to write to you. I've learned so much from Rabbi Yudi and his family. You've taught me so much about light and emunah.

Baruch Dayan Emet.

You will see him again.

Jim Reynolds, PhD Tijeras, NM