When Josh Kositsky walked into my classroom on the first day of Hebrew school several years ago, he was very nervous – not nervous-excited as so many new students are, just plain worried.
I soon realized the reason for his unease was that he was having trouble reading my lips as I spoke. You see, Josh is deaf.
When he was born, his parents were told he would never speak because of his “disability”. His potential was put in a box and given a label “You won’t speak”.
At some point in Josh’s life he chose not to accept that label he decided to break out of that box that was labelled, “You won’t speak” and he decided to speak. I don’t know what made him choose to move forward and learn to speak, but he did and he has never looked back.
13 years ago Josh celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Chabad in a loud and proud voice. This was a day that not only did Josh prove to the world he was becoming a Jewish man, but he shouted to the world “I will not be put in a box, I will not be labelled”. That was a day I also learned the power of choice.
And what fills my heart with joy and nachas is that every year since, Josh has come back to do more of the reading of his Torah portion. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, he chose to read more than ever before. Again Josh chose to push himself and accomplish just a bit more.
Josh doesn’t define himself by the things he was told he could not do or by the things others labelled him with. Josh defines himself with what he wants and on his terms and by his own choices. This is a gift that G-D has given all of us, and I wonder if we maybe do not use this gift enough.
Josh continues to outdo what others ever expect of him, but that is not what is ultimately important to Josh, Josh refuses to stay in a box with a label that is what drives Josh. I believe Josh will do many great things in his life, and I know what ever those great things are they will be Joshes choices.
Do you know someone who has broken out of a box and ripped of the label, exceeded expectations? Have you ever amazed yourself with something you thought you couldn’t do, only to find out you could and much more?
Use the upcoming Shabbat to allow yourself to think outside of the box, it is a gift we all have and no one can take it away.
Shabbat Shalom to one and all
Stu wrote...