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Rabbi Dovid S. Polter, Community Chaplain
I Shall Not Fear
In light of global turbulence, I am republishing this vital event that occurred with me. I am encouraged to share this inspiration with you, my dear readers.
Approximately two years ago as I pulled up to a medical facility, I spotted an unusual license plate in front of me that touched me and evoked deep feelings in my soul.
The license plate read, “Lo eera” These words in Hebrew translate as “I shall not fear.” These words are actually recited daily in our prayers. In fact, with these two words we conclude the well-known melody of Adon Olam.
The fact that the license plate on the rear of the car in front of me was facing me meant that I was to glean a lesson from it. Through this unique license plate, I was reassured by my Creator not to fear even while the world around me often seems to be unsettled. The license plates’ declaration was a direct and poignant divine message to me and now I hope to you, the reader that “I shall not fear!”
Moments later I came to realize the relevance and potency of this crucial timely message.
Ten minutes after my entry into the facility, the fire alarm went off. Everyone was asked to quickly evacuate. I was standing outside holding the book of Psalms and thinking, “Maybe the time is now to put this lesson into action. “Lo eera - I shall not fear.”
I was so convinced that “I shall not fear” was my Creator reaching out to me, that I tucked a photocopy of the license plate into my High Holiday prayer book and with it I prayed with a full heart.
While sharing this occurrence with a friend of mine, he questioned my excitement as these are the words that conclude our daily prayer of Adon Olom.
“What don’t you understand?” I replied. “These words may be written in the prayer book and recited daily. These very words, however, were hand delivered to me personally from heaven’s door to my door. How could I not be excited."
In his famous Psalm 23, King David cries out, “Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear (Lo eera) for You (my Creator) are with me.”
Fear and intimidation are at the core of many of our failures. Together, let us resolve to muster our every ounce of courage and to fear nothing but G-d Alone.
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