Tzion, ob”m, What a joy to see you each Lag B'Omer after the parade, strolling on Eastern Parkway with your family, all true royalty, You are kindness and strength blended into tiferet. Today, now, this very moment my heart is very sure you are non-stop pursuing the final redemption in shamayim. Gently prodding, pleading, praying, asking in your tiferet ways, unafraid.

Whenever we talk, I behold your smiling, wise, gentle eyes locked on mine. Such wise eyes. One to one. Your gentle eyes would not let me loose to ignore what you must say to me. “Say the truth, you must say only the truth,” you said and I hear you now and can't forget. How well you speak only Emes. I listen and feel safe. Your words protect and safeguard me like doors that lock out fear, and I am protected. I am calm and listen.

You speak of bitachon, emunah and how to only follow Hashem's ways. No other way. The light of Torah. Hashem is here. Nothing ever to fear. Your simple, unrehearsed words go into the heart. May it be Hashem's will to reveal Moshiach now, as a result of your untiring shlichus, tipping the scale in favor of the good!

I was standing right next to Tzion when this kiddush Hashem took place, in the most unlikely time and place. Come and listen to what Tzion did without saying a word. Actions speak louder than words. I walked beside him as he was being prepped for important surgery. He was sitting on his bed, being wheeled to the cold pre-operation room. He was praying without distraction from a Chitas, Shacharis on his lips, with a tallit on his broad, magnificent shoulders, and wearing tefillin and a kippah. I felt so proud to be his friend.

The bed stops, the curtains are drawn and nurses with pens and pads pepper Tzion with questions. He prays and holds a hand to motion them to wait. I walked over to the top surgeon whom I happen to know for years, not a man of many words, not Jewish. Here is what I heard word for word exactly, what he said to the nurses, who were only doing their job, with his face blushing and with an outstretched arm :

"Leave Tzion alone! Wait till he finishes praying, for what he is doing now is more than anything we can ever do."

This is Tzion on his shlichus, bringing G-dliness into our world, warming our hearts. Basi legani; “come to My garden,” says Hashem to us. Tzion, thank you for planting your perfect, blooming rose bush. Tzion, we are all blessed to be in the garden you worked and tended for Hashem, your family and friends and every person you spoke with and raised higher than they thought they could be. Muchas gracias Toda raba, Your friend, with admiration and respect and love and thanks. Thank you for your smile and your love and your laugh. Nachamu, nachamu ami