How a Mother’s Faith Turned Childhood Dreams Into Reality

Ever since I can remember, I have been a child of dreams. From a very young age I held tightly to them, drawing strength from them to keep going, to keep trying, and to overcome the many challenges that stood in my way — and there were plenty.

My late mother always encouraged me to weave dreams in which I could overcome my physical limitations, fulfill my potential, and achieve remarkable accomplishments that I knew, deep down, were possible for me only in those dreams.

Loneliness, Pain, and the Power of Words

As a child, I suffered deeply from hurtful speech. Of all the painful memories that remain etched in my heart, the years I spent hospitalized stand out the most. I was a small, paralyzed child, unable to speak, far from home and family — lonely, sad, and longing. I envied my roommates, who had grandparents and relatives visiting them, bringing sweets and gifts; siblings who came to show them drawings and share their latest discoveries. They seemed to have everything. And I… I had only one very short visit each week.

Even as a young child, I knew my mother came to every visit with unimaginable devotion, enduring a nine-hour journey filled with hardship just to see me. But even the strongest knowledge cannot fill the long, empty week of a five-year-old child.

If my own pain were not enough, during those long days and nights of loneliness I was wounded again and again by people’s words. Some visitors at the residence noticed that I was often alone and loudly assumed that I must be an orphan or a child whose parents did not want him. It is hard to describe how deeply those words hurt me. I can say honestly that they were more painful than any physical or emotional suffering I endured during those years.

A Dream Is Born

I remember that when I was about ten years old, my mother asked me, “Ahrale, what do you want to do when you grow up?” I answered, “I want to teach people how careful they must be with their speech — to explain how words can wound and injure, how they can bury children under blankets for endless periods, and what kind of scars they can create in a child’s soul. And on the other hand, I want them to know how powerful speech can be when it is used correctly — how it can build worlds, strengthen people, and give them courage, just like your words do, Mom.”

She looked at me and smiled. “I’m sure you can do that. There’s nothing standing in your way.” Imagine the scene: a small boy, still half-paralyzed, lying in bed, while his mother tells him that nothing will prevent him from one day lecturing and teaching others about the power of speech.

My mother encouraged me to dream without letting go, and to believe that my dreams could come true.

Turning Dreams Into Reality

And they did come true. I was privileged to establish the “Global Chafetz Chaim Initiative,” which does tremendous work in spreading awareness about guarding one’s speech and strengthening relationships between people.

Years later, after I failed to complete the Torah blessings during my own aliyah and, in front of the entire congregation, fled the synagogue in embarrassment and hid in a small bathroom outside until everyone had gone home, my dream grew even stronger. I longed to teach others about the destructive, and constructive, power of speech.

Reaching Children in a New Way

At that point, another dimension was added to my dream. I imagined traveling from city to city, gathering children and explaining to them how deeply it hurts when someone mocks a child’s weakness, illness, or struggles — and how damaging cruel words can be to a child’s personality and soul.

I dreamed, and I fulfilled that dream too. I do not travel from city to city, but I found another way to reach children: comic books. The “Ahrale” series that I write for young readers conveys these exact messages, bringing my childhood dream to life in a remarkable way.

A Message to Parents

I wish so deeply that my mother — who always believed in my ability to realize my dreams, could see the fruits of her faith. She is no longer with us, but her belief continues to guide me, because a parent’s faith in their child stays with them for a lifetime.

Dear parents: for the sake of your children, encourage their dreams. Help them imagine a brighter future, and give them the strength to keep going.