"A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness." These are the words of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi as written in Tanya. I would like to introduce you to a "little bit of light." His name is Tuvia and he is the youngest refugee from the Mishpacha Orphanage of Odesa.
When Tuvia’s mother found out she was pregnant she was sure she would be unable to care for her child so she planned on having an abortion. A Rabbi offered her another option, have the child and let the Mishpacha Orphanage in Odesa care for him. She agreed. At only 4 days old the child was dropped off at the orphanage where they named him Tuvia. Only a few weeks later the war began and the entire orphanage, including Tuvia, had a harrowing evacuation to Berlin.
Now, nearly 9 month’s later, Tuvia is living with roughly 90 new brothers and sisters, and another 90 or so aunts and uncles. I do not think his feet have ever touched the ground. Anyone that holds him feels pure joy. He is the light that pushes away their darkness. In the photo I am with Tuvia and Rabbi Mende Wolff in Berlin. Tuvia is the one in the middle (in case there was any confusion).