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Salute To Our Local
Troopers And Truckers

Contributing Writers:
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MICHIGAN STATE POLICE

F

rom the April 24, 2018, Detroit
species, namely mankind, who would
Free Press, I read a rather sooth-
value the first droplets of rain granted
ing and encouraging news story
by our One and Only Creator, appreci-
that caused chills to trickle down my
ate it and truly realize that our world
back. I read with joy, tears and growing
cannot exist without it (Genesis, 2:5).
fondness a most remarkable story of a
How crucial is it, then, to continually
life-saving squad orchestrated by fam-
be in a state of profound appreciation,
ily and community state troopers who
gratefulness and to verbalize it clearly
flagged down truckers traveling
and loudly? The precious
at midnight on I-696 in Oak Park.
words with which we begin
Those truckers focused their col-
every day of the year are the
lective full attention, energy and
words “Modeh Ani …” I thank
efforts to save the life of one hurt-
you God Almighty for returning
ing individual wishing to jump
to me my soul … refreshed and
off the I-696 overpass in our very
replenished.
community.
So much goes on in our
The 13 truckers, guided by
world that is much to our
Rabbi Dovid S.
state troopers, immediately
dismay and reflects the short-
Polter
formed a “bridge” on both east-
comings of our fellow species,
and westbound lanes.
yet this utter act of kindness
What an amazing feat these
by our troopers and truck-
truckers did! What an incredibly
ers shattered the majority of
creative, life-rescuing and deeply com-
media pieces that continue to blast us,
munity-caring joint act to save one life! I frighten us and create a sense of insta-
am truly in awe of this “near miracle.”
bility, discomfort, tension, dissension
Recognizing, appreciating and mak-
and, even for some, total despondency.
ing known those meritoriously involved
Those troopers and truckers work
in an act of kindness, in spite of the
diligently to serve our country, our
hour of day or night, is clearly a Divine
men, women, children, families and
attribute. God Almighty withheld the
communities. To them, I say, “You have
first drops of rain ever to have descend- saved one life! You have indeed saved an
ed on our earthly soil, days after the
entire world.”
creation of His magnificent world, for
Not only is nothing random, espe-
the fitting, caring and understanding
cially a heaven-on-earth act such as this

one, but everything is meaningful.
For those who appreciate the divine
wisdom of number equations, the fol-
lowing, I hope, will inspire you to yet a
greater degree:
• Indeed, it was approximately 1 a.m.
when this event occurred.
• It was ONE life that was spared and
saved at the ONE o’clock hour!
• Furthermore, 1 a.m. can also be read
as “I AM!”
• Thirteen truckers! Nothing is ran-
dom. “Thirteen” is crucial in its associa-
tion to the age of bar mitzvah, when
a young man joins the ranks of fully
grown adults as does a young girl one
year earlier at the age of 12.
I, as well as many of our great Oak
Park community, feel embraced,
watched over and well protected by
the great Divine Aura and Presence
permeating our lives when we affix a
mezuzah (sacred scroll containing holy
passages and versus of the Torah) to
our individual and family door-posts.
It is designed and meant to watch over
us, our families, our safety, our peace,

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our health and all that we possess and
everything that we are.
I am grateful that as the fortunate
Oak Park community we are doubly
blessed by being surrounded by two
larger Mezuzah-like physical and
human bases, namely the Oak Park
Police station and our local station of
state troopers, both well-equipped and
skilled professionals who are on the
alert round-the-clock. May this care-
ful level of safety penetrate our entire
world and our sacred land and people
of Israel.
To our truckers: May you, your pro-
fessional comrades and your personal
families continue to be blessed with
great bounty. May you and us all keep
on “trucking,” striving and exerting
ourselves in unity to maintain, preserve
peace, safety and tranquility and when
in need — save ONE’s life! •

Rabbi Dovid S. Polter was born, raised and cur-
rently resides with his wife and family in Oak Park.
Reach him at torahtipsforlife@gmail.com.

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May 10 • 2018

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