Shalom Path greatly helped clarify what I wanted to do for a career. I was deciding between multiple options, and narrowed down my list of what I wanted to do to six things. Through test taking and phone calls, I was able to determine the best course of action for myself. I highly recommend Shalom Path for those seeking career guidance.

Thanks!
Daniel J.

When The Champlain Towers crashed to the ground on that fateful June night not too long ago, my son’s life as he knew it came crashing down too, all too abruptly. Believing his father was still alive under the rubble and dying a slow, protracted, treacherous death, he prayed and learned Torah night and day, clinging to hope believing that only when he gave up this hope, would his father give up hope too and submit to his death.

Eventually the detectives arrived to inform us that a positive confirmation of death was made and it was time to arrange the funeral. My son didn’t know how he would manage without his father’s one-of-a-kind guidance, unconditional love, never failing understanding, and his steadfast support. His father was the rock of our family and my son was bereft, and felt adrift.

Rabbi Brandon Gaines of Shalom Path connected with my son through his wife, a psychologist who came to The Surfside Center to lend support to the grieving families huddled there awaiting answers. Rabbi Gaines started taking my son rock climbing and gently discussing religious and philosophical questions naturally provoked by such a tragic loss. From the start, he seemed to ‘get’ my son and soon became his closest confidant and mentor. Rabbi Gaines kept him steady, when few could. He rose to a calling he would have never have imagined, providing a sort-of grief counseling and life mentoring to a now-fatherless teenage son.

Rabbi Gaines realized that the best form of therapy would be what he called ‘normalization of life’ with other kids his age. He then took it upon himself to find a program for my son in Israel that could provide for the structure, religious environment, as well as the academic setting, that he and I thought that my son would flourish in. The program happened to be exceedingly expensive, so The Shalom Path generously stepped up and offered my son a partial scholarship to help defray the heavy cost of the tuition.

It’s been several months now since the tragedy and I write this testimonial on what would have been my former husband‘s birthday. I spoke with my son a couple of days ago and he told me that there’s very few people that he’s willing to discuss this tragedy with apart from Rabbi Gaines. I believe they have a lifelong bond and I wouldn’t be surprised if Rabbi Gaines escorts him to his chuppah, IY’H, one day.

What else can I say? Are our lives here not likened to a passing cloud?

And at its end, we must give an accounting of our actions— the good and the bad— to our Creator, before we render our own judgment with the eyes of pure truth. Every one of us. How did we use our time, our focus, our money? Who did we help?

It’s hard to ponder that. I rarely do and I want to start thinking about that more. Because the Champlain Collapse showed me that we never know when our time is up and it’s so important to do good today, and make a positive difference in people’s lives, big and small.

In this case, I can say firsthand that The Gaines Family’s positive difference in our lives was HUGE.

And that merit never dies.

Sincerely,
PC

 (These testimonials are factual but our clients' full names are not used to protect their privacy.)