My Grandfather, an essay

Let me introduce you to my Zaidy. He brought up nine children and has five grandchildren. I am the second oldest of his grandchildren. My Zaidy is kind to
everyone he meets and is my role model for being a “mentch.”

My Zaidy had a stroke six years ago and has gone through a lot. Yet throughout it all, he always tries to do as many mitzvoth as he can in his rehab center. It is very hard for him to travel in his wheel chair, with his left side paralyzed, but he is coming all the way from New York to North Carolina to celebrate Pesach with us. He is a role model to me with his trust in G-d and strength through all his difficulties and handicaps.

A couple of weeks after his stroke, my grandmother wheeled my grandfather out of the rehab center for the first time after his stroke. It was windy and cold, and he was unable to speak, but he was able to say “Baruch Atah Adoshem Elokainu Melech Haolam Shehechianu Vikeamanu Vihigeanu Lazman Hazeh.” “Blessed are you Hashem, King of the universe who hasgranted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.”

This year at the Seder table, I will say the same blessing with my grandfather. It reminds me about the miracles G-d continues to do for my Zaidy.

I am writing this essay to say that I love my Zaidy and I admire his strength. Every time I see him
he is smiling and even with all of the difficulties he lives with every day, he is one of the happiest people I know. G-d willing, he will be completely healthy and we can celebrate our next Seder in Jerusalem.

This essay was submitted to Chabad of Mineola for its Grandparents Award essay contest. The author resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.