Jooish

A reader submitted the following account after finding a large green parking-warning sticker attached to a car window:

“My husband parked our car in a public parking lot, and someone did not like where he parked. They put an 8-by-10-inch green sticker on our window.

“I now have to spend money to get it removed. They literally caused damage to our car.

“It also totally blocked our view, which is completely dangerous.

“I want people to know that even if people park in spots you don’t like, you cannot ruin their car.”

In a deeply moving simcha that will touch hearts across the Jewish world, Rivka Shotkin, whose extraordinary emunah, courage, and determination inspired thousands following a devastating skiing accident that left her paralyzed as a teenager, married Yosef Sharifian on Monday night.

The wedding marked a joyous new chapter in a remarkable journey that began nearly six years ago, when a tragic accident forever changed the life of a young girl whose response to unimaginable adversity would eventually inspire countless others.

Rivka was just 16 years old in January 2021 when she was involved in a horrific skiing accident at a resort in upstate New York. Traveling at high speed, she crashed into a tree, suffering catastrophic injuries that left her paralyzed from the chest down.

Emergency responders airlifted her to a trauma center, where doctors worked to stabilize her life-threatening injuries, including severe damage to her spinal cord. In an instant, the active teenager faced a future dramatically different from anything she had envisioned.

What followed was an arduous period of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and adjustment to a life in a wheelchair. Yet through it all, Rivka emerged as a powerful voice of emunah, resilience, and gratitude, refusing to allow her physical limitations to define her identity or diminish her aspirations.

Her story eventually reached a broader audience, as she spoke openly about the accident, the challenges of recovery, and the perspective that enabled her to move forward.

Her message resonated deeply throughout the frum community, with listeners moved by her ability to discuss profound hardship while maintaining an extraordinary sense of optimism and trust in Hashem.

Rather than presenting her circumstances as the end of the life she had hoped to live, Rivka spoke about finding purpose, recognizing blessings, and continuing to pursue meaningful goals despite the obstacles before her.

In January 2023, she provided another remarkable demonstration of that determination by completing the Miami Marathon in her wheelchair as a participant in Chai Lifeline’s Team Lifeline.

The achievement was particularly meaningful because Chai Lifeline had provided support during her recovery, and Rivka wanted to express her gratitude by raising funds to assist other families confronting serious medical challenges.

She ultimately raised more than $15,000 for the organization, surpassing her original fundraising target and inspiring supporters who followed her marathon effort.

Over the ensuing years, Rivka continued sharing her experiences through interviews, public appearances, and social media, becoming a source of chizuk for individuals dealing with illness, disability, personal setbacks, and other difficult circumstances.

Her willingness to speak candidly about her struggles, while consistently emphasizing the importance of emunah and maintaining a positive outlook, helped her connect with people far beyond those facing similar physical challenges.

When news emerged of her engagement to Yosef Sharifian, it was greeted with tremendous excitement by friends, family members, and the many people who had followed her journey since the accident.

For those who remembered the frightening reports of her injuries in 2021, the announcement that Rivka was preparing to establish a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel carried particular emotional significance.

On Monday night, that eagerly anticipated moment became a reality as Rivka and Yosef celebrated their marriage, beginning their life together surrounded by the joy and good wishes of those closest to them.

Rivka, the daughter of Rabbi Micah Shotkin of Passaic, New Jersey, had attended Camp Simcha Special, where she developed friendships and found a supportive community of peers who understood the challenges she faced.

Reflecting on that experience, she once explained, “For the first time in almost two years, I was no longer the odd one out. I was just me, and that was a feeling I hadn’t felt in a while.”

During her marathon experience, Rivka shared another message that would become closely associated with her outlook on life.

“There’s no limits to what you’re capable of,” she said. “Don’t limit yourself. Don’t decide you can’t do something before you actually do it.”

That determination, together with her unwavering emunah, made her story one of the most widely shared accounts of personal courage in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Her engagement to Yosef Sharifian was announced in June, drawing warm congratulations from people who had followed her journey over the years.

With Monday night’s wedding, Rivka and Yosef began a new chapter together, a moment of tremendous joy for their families and for the many people who have drawn inspiration from Rivka’s remarkable story.

Mazal tov to Rivka and Yosef. May they be zocheh to build a beautiful bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel, filled with happiness, health, and brachah.

{Matzav.com}