From The Desk of Rabbi Yehuda - Chabad Lubavitch of Westport

Tune Up!

Friday, April 26, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Happy Pesach!!

I’m sure I feel this way every year — but this year more-so than ever, I’m finding strength in the celebration of Pesach which celebrate the miracle of our existence.

The world currently, is a mess. Reading the news nowadays isn’t for the faint hearted. It could be downright disheartening. (although I think reading news is better than watching news as it comes with less spin and commentary).

Yet at the same time I’ve been reading about massive Pesach Seders at multiple college campuses. Over 1200 students at University of Florida — and the list really goes on. Even at Columbia University, which has been at the forefront of the news this past week —the Chabad house ran a vibrant Seder with a message from Rabbi Drizin that resonated deeply with me.

Tuning out the noise

"This will be the only time we mention what's happening out there," Drizin said, gesturing toward the door as he began the seder. "Matza is meant to be eaten without talking. It's a kind of meditation -- a way to tune out the noise. I want us at this seder to tune out the noise." We were just far enough away not to hear what was happening outside. Now Drizin wanted us not to think about it either”.

——————

How brilliant. Tuning out the noise.

Creating space to reflect on the miracle of our existence. Space to appreciate with immense gratitude the miracle that took place last Sat night as Iran tried viciously to inflict pain and damage to our brethren in Israel; space to focus on the tremendous gifts and blessings that we have in our lives; space to take a deep breath and break the cycle of fear that tends to build up when the mind unceasingly focuses on the negative.

Incredibly, by tuning out the outside noise we are able to hear a different tune. The proverbial message of Matzah. A message of hope and endurance. The truth about our existence. An eternal nation with a special mission of being a light unto the nations!

Yes, it’s a rough patch that needs activism and thoughtful attention yet it must be based on the immutable foundation of the Passover story.

“For with an outstretch arm G-d took us out of Egypt” — that same arm is outstretched — let’s tune out the noise and march forward with conviction, wisdom, strength and joy.

Happy 3536th Pesach & counting!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom & Happy Pesach,

Hope-Full

Friday, April 19, 2024 - 10:00 AM

“In the darkness that surrounds our lives, there is a light we hold onto — a light of hope… right now in these tough times our faith is being tested but it also shines the brightest…”

It’s been over six months since the Jewish nation has been ripped asunder. Incredibly, these words above are uttered by families of hostages …

Where does the strength come from?

This is a question that will dominate for us all —at the Seder. It’s not one of the specified 4 questions yet the whole Haggadah’s response is designed to address this very challenge. Our whole history is one that requires meticulous unpacking, thoughtfulness, preservation and ultimately celebration.

To be sure, the answer isn’t given in PowerPoint form nor is it one that can be relegated to a few throw-away lines. It’s an answer that is weaved throughout the Haggadah. It’s an answer that is deliberate. One that slows us down and says let’s start at the beginning. Our story starts thousands of years ago and includes all four seasons of life — we never stall at one season or in one era, we keep trucking, questioning and ultimately celebrating.

As all good bedtime stories start—“once upon a time” and end “they lived happily ever after”— we know that by recounting the Haggadah and sharing the miracle of our existence with our families — the end will be “happily ever after”.

One season. One Torah. One people. One G-d. Am Yisrael Chai!!!

With blessings for a Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Yehuda and Dina

P.S. Watch the video and please light Shabbat candles this week with deliberate intention to increase light for the hostages, their families and all those in duress and missing their loved ones.

P.P.S. TZEDAKAH — It’s an added Mitzvah to increase with “giving” at times of celebration. As we celebrate our Heritage — please consider making a donation to Chabad — and furthering our ability to provide Heritage, Judaism & Celebration to our entire community. — Passover Donation link

Bittersweet

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Bittersweet.

What does it mean anyhow? I mean either something is bitter or it’s sweet, no?

Next week we sit down to the Passover Seder. The story of the Jewish journey. We recount our historic highs and lows. We eat bitter herbs and imbibe four cups of wine. We meticulously eat Matzah that both represents bread of affliction and bread of freedom. We hide the Afikomen, a small portion of Matzah all the while that we load large amounts of brisket on our plates. All so confusing to the untrained eye.

Yet the Jewish nation are masters at combining contrasting emotions and events. At every Jewish wedding, at the height of joy we break a glass — not so fast — the destruction of the Temple etched into our consciousness. So happy yet so sad with the list of additional examples too many to fill one small column or even a long column for the matter.

So which is it? Bitter or sweet? Happy or sad? Highs or lows?

The Seder is undoubtedly the story of Freedom and Redemption. It’s the story of the Jewish nation both in the past, with fuel to propel us forward to eternity. It’s the recounting of the very miraculous existence of our nation despite all adversity and it’s the festival that helps us reinforce and nurture our essential identity and mission to make this world more goodly and G-dly.

This year we have another chapter to add to the story. It’s been a tough year for the Jewish nation yet the story remains the same. The story of Passover makes that clear. We will endure. We will prosper. We will be there one for another. We will double down on ensuring the continuity and thrival of the Jewish nation. We will continue to share the values and gift of Judaism with our children and families. We will continue, period!

Yes, parts of our history are bitter. Yet at the core of it, is sweetness. Maybe that is the true definition of bittersweet. We ask only that G-d stretch out his hand once again and reveal the deepest hidden secrets of transcendence so that the bitterness falls to the wayside and all the we are left with is reveal and experiential sweetness. Amen!

Location, Location, Location!

Friday, April 5, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Location, location, location!

Southebies recently listed for sale, the closest apartment to the Kotel / Western Wall. It certainly is the most amazing location. Listed at 26.5 million dollars for a 2500 sq foot abode is a steal of a deal. There exists no inventory for a location that boasts such a magnificent view and access to, the holiest place on earth — 24/7. I can’t even imagine waking up every morning to a view as glorious as this and breathing in the air of Holiness that is inherent with this location.

The truth is, I don’t much need to imagine this as physical location comes with limitations. Indeed, the very essence of physical is that it’s limited, finite, defined by spatial parameters. Yet the sight being offered here is of a place that represents something above these very limitations. A “timeless” space. A “divine” transcendent space that connects the physical and the metaphysical.

This space, you and I already possess. Our souls are exactly that. Connecting our physical selves with something so much greater — an actual part of G-d. Each of us timeless, raw potential with the ability to fuse together heaven with earth.

It may seem a little too intangible and ethereal but it simply is the story of Jewish survival, thrival, innovation and of course timelessness. Statistically impossible. A total anomaly. But it’s not — because our identity never was a mere physical one. Our reverence for location never was for the actual location, rather for what it represents and that, we have with full intensity today to eternity.

I’m excited for the new purchaser of this apartment and I’m sure it’ll bring on major opportunities for whomever it is. As for me, I’ll deeply inhale, close my eyes and focus on soul matters — accessing the greatest location in the world — right there inside me!