When we become teachers, we think in ideals. My ideal purpose for teaching is to inspire self-esteem in every child. Others may be more self motivating; fitness, focus, or just to have a killer body. And, others may be teachers out of pure selflessness. I recently had the honor of meeting such a person. Rabbi Goldberg is a black belt who runs a Detroit-based charity that helps sick children - regardless of religion - cope via karate. Rabbi "G" founded Kids Kicking Cancer in 1998. The positive results were immediate and the program is now offered at a dozen hospitals in Michigan, Massachusetts and New York, with plans for a national expansion. In our meeting, he repeated a story that he recently told ABC News. The question was, "When did you realize karate could help sick kids?" His answer was quite profound. "I was walking by a hospital room where a little boy, only 5 years old, was screaming as nurses tried to hold him down for chemotherapy treatment. I walked in the room and said, 'please, just give me five minutes with him.' I stood next to him and said, 'Did you know that I'm a black belt in karate?' His eyes lit up. I told him that in martial arts you can learn how your mind can be stronger than your body. I told him I could show him how to breathe so he could blow out the pain and breathe in the power. We meditated on that for several minutes, while the nurses inserted the needle. After 20 minutes, his treatment was finished. He then asked the nurse, 'Did you put in the needle yet?' That's when I realized how powerful karate could be for these kids." Most people who know me, understand that I am an affectionate and tactile person; in other words, get ready for a hug. My husband warned me in advance saying "Honey, you can't hug a Rabbi, it's against his religion." I said, "Let me get this straight, we can get on the mat and I can kick him, but I can't hug him?" That's the tradition, he said. After meeting with Rabbi "G" I almost slipped and hugged him anyway. I was facing a man who is all heart. He is a warrior of the noblest kind; someone who reaches out against all odds and manifests a vision that helps humanity. I offered to make Karate Kids the training headquarters for his west coast expansion. What a blessing, I told him, to be able to offer teachers the opportunity to extend their knowledge of martial arts training toward helping children in need. I asked him how his program worked. He said that first the martial arts instructor is given specialized training on how to deal with cancer. Then, the instructor is assigned a hospital whereby a weekly class is created. Students wear gi's and belts and participate as much as they can in some basic training. A great deal of focus is put on learning about meditation and chi power to control pain. The siblings take class as well, as cancer is a family event. Rabbi "G" told another story that was very moving. "An 8 year old boy named Brendan worked very hard to win his battle with cancer. He was in my program and doing fantastic. Unfortunately, he had a relapse. Brendan was devastated, but said he wanted to earn his black belt. We said he could because he showed true warrior spirit. When he took his black-belt test, he invited 300 family members and friends to watch. He hadn't had food for five days, and still, he passed his test. We embroidered the words MASTER TEACHER on his belt, because he had showed us all how to break through darkness. Brendan died a few days later, and was buried with his black belt." If I ever think that I have it rough, I just need to read a story like this. And, even though I may not be able to give Rabbi "G" a hug, I know for sure that the universe will. For information on how you may be involved, go to: www.kidskickingcancer.net And tell Rabbi "G" that Dawn sends a hug … oops, I mean, kick!