From The Desk of Rabbi Yehuda - Chabad Lubavitch of Westport

Lights...Camera...Action!!!

Friday, February 23, 2024 - 10:00 AM

The are few things in life that lift a person up as decisively and powerfully, as inspiration.

Yet inspiration can be elusive. It’s not exactly the flip of a switch. In fact, it requires conscious pursuit.

This past week I was communicating with a couple of members of our community who are currently in Israel on a solidarity mission. I could feel their inspiration through the wires. The rawness of their experience — to our people and our land — clearly touching their soul in a profound way. They were in the right place at the right time and the results were apparent.

Some people are easily inspired. Like when walking down the street and marveling at something that barely makes it to your radar. Or those that see the hand of G-d in some story that bores you 20 seconds in. Then there are those who can stand in front of the most beautiful sunrise, experience the birth of a child or narrowly escape a harrowing experience and shrug their shoulders, rationalizing their experience with the ever elusive word —nature, or clinging to the irrational concept of randomness.

Yet inspiration is only half the picture!!

The Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke hours and inspired multitudes. He delivered the most motivating and inspirational talks. Every single one of his talks finished with the words “deed is the main goal”. In other words — it’s what you do with your inspiration that counts.

One can talk about the virtue of helping another and be inspired to help but unless there is resultant help it’s missing the main point. One can be inspired with faith and love to Gd but it’s what we do with it that counts…Not as a belief rather in action.

Action — the partner of inspiration. Or better yet, the sole purpose of inspiration. From non tangible thought and emotion, to the very tangible and quantifiable results of deed.

Judaism requires action. There’s infinite inspiration and faith at the core of our Heritage but at the end of the day — the core foundation of Jewish life is deed!! It’s what has ensured the perpetuation and continuity through thick and thin without one ounce of erosion. We lay Tefillin as they did thousands of years ago.. Shabbat, check. Tzedakah, check. Kosher, check. Torah, check….

And we do so in our style. Indeed we are encourage to do so in style!!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

The Gift of Giving!

Friday, February 16, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Giving is getting.

It sounds cliche but it really is far from that. Take the simple act of giving to one’s child, loved one or friend. There’s a deep satisfaction that is felt as a result of the giving.

This past week I wrote a letter of condolences to a bereaved family in Israel. I don’t know them personally, but had been receiving notices from one of the numerous WhatsApp groups I had joined after October 7th with info on sending condolences to bereaved families as a result of the massacre. The only information I had was the short bio they provided so that it could be personalized somewhat.

After I pushed send on the email, I was filled with a feeling that surprised me. What started as an exercise of exploration. As in — let’s try this once — didn’t end there, rather, it opened up a new portal. It felt satisfying and motivating to write to yet another family. In short, it felt really good and tremendously satisfying.

Last week we hosted a soldier who had been on the front lines in Gaza. He responded to a question of what kept him going in Gaza, “letters of encouragement from people in the diaspora”. He said that his whole unit were energized by these letters.

Who would have known the power of simple gestures? Until being reminded of course.. at which point it’s clear of the dual experience that transpires and is inherent being on the giving side. Or is it the receiving side?

The truth is, a quick perusal of this week’s Torah portion spells it out fairly clearly. It’s a fund raise for the traveling Tabernacle / Synagogue — the house of G-d. The wording from G - d to Moses is communicate with the Jewish people and instruct them to “take for me a contribution”. Take? Should it not be give?

Hopefully the thread above flows and the answer is clear. When giving one is taking. The perfect circle and cycle. May we all be blessed with numerous opportunities to be the giver — the reward is felt immediately and at the same time the world becomes a raised experience and a perfect setting for G-d’s presence and blessings!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda and Dina Kantor

P.S. If you’d like the info to be added to the “letter to the nation” WhatsApp lmk. It’s a Divine experience.

P.P.S. At the Dara Horn event — we will be having letter writing to IDF soldiers that will be delivered by hand during the men’s Israel solidarity mission to Israel.

P.P.P.S. We will be inaugurating a beautified bomb shelter for the community in the Gaza envelope — decimated by the greater Westport community. To be a part of it click here.

100+

Friday, February 9, 2024 - 10:00 AM

For some reason I find it remarkable that the oldest Jew in the world —till last week — was right here in the USA.

She passed away at the ripe age of 114 — may her memory be for a blessing — and incredibly, as a member of her synagogue’s sisterhood, she was still writing notes to bereaved families at the age of 105.

All excitement — about the growing number of “supercentenarians” in this world (yeh I had to look the definition up too :) aside — my inspiration is that she lived in the US.

Let’s face it: life is good here in the US. Healthy lifestyle, economic success, decent climate, friendly enough population, freedom and liberties — as good as it gets. So why the surprise? Well, perhaps precisely because it’s so good-- the possibility for distraction, the challenge to retain identity and appreciate our history, culture and religion-- is heightened.

October 7th touched us all deeply. It was the most existential threat that many of us have ever experienced. It has reached us to the core of our souls. Judaism transcends time and place — and the American Jewish community has been amazing. The people of Israel have felt our love palpably. It really is no surprise therefore, that the oldest Jew lived in America but it is each and every one of our responsibility to ensure that the Jewish community both here locally and our brethren in Israel get even stronger!

We've survived the test of time with the guidance of the Torah and the focus on doing Mitzvahs. We shouldn’t ease up on increasing both Torah study (podcast under 10 mins) or mitzvahs — Clothes drive this Sunday for Israel for all gently used clothes that will be sent to Israel. I'm sure you have much to drop off - see below for details.

Candle lighting time this evening - 5:02PM --Link to the blessings & how to

Link to the Kiddush prayer for Friday night and how to!

Together, we will ensure that the USA and every Jewish community is the oldest yet most current, vibrant and joyous Heritage that it can possibly be.

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

One or Won?

Friday, February 2, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Am Yisrael is unified!

It’s the silver lining — post October 7th. It’s not that we are united due to tragedy and shared trauma, rather, October 7th stripped away the superficial differences and highlighted our inherent unity!

One nation. One people. One land. One Torah. One future.

Rewind 3300 odd years ago —standing at the foot of Mount Sinai. The Torah describes this particular leg of the journey — which started in Egypt slowly traveling to the Holy Land — in the singular. The whole nation focused and fused without differences or division all ready to receive the great revelation from On-High.

Fast forward. Here we are. The emergence of something deeper and more essential. A indivisible connection between us all, bursting forth to the fore. The ability to shamelessly proclaim and simultaneously share with our children — the feeling of being a part of a whole — the power that exists way beyond the sum of our parts.

What is it the binds us?

One nation. One Land. One Torah. One G-d = One Future!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda and Dina Kantor

P.S. Thank you to all those made the Gala a tremendously festive and powerful evening. If you’d like to support the Gala fundraising goals — you can do so here. All amounts appreciated!!