From The Desk of Rabbi Yehuda - Chabad Lubavitch of Westport

Sing Even Louder!

Friday, June 28, 2024 - 10:00 AM

“Cause I’m a Jew, a proud one too”. What power to hear that from hundreds of this year’s Gan Israel campers who finish their first week of the season, today.

Jewish pride is more important than ever now, especially for our youth!!

Let’s face it. They are all observing or experiencing the challenges of being Jewish in the current climate — the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades. They no doubt hear or are experiencing the rise in anti-semitism more so than most of us when we were growing up. The images they are seeing of the existential struggle taking place in Israel now are difficult for them to contextualize. The youth of today need the tools to navigate this like never before.

Yet it begs the question — what else are they seeing and feeling?

As parents, guides and educators we must make sure they see the pride, the wisdom, the ethics, the ruach, the JOY, the strength and the Gd given mandate that the Jewish nation has as ambassadors of this world.

We need to be certain that their pride of identity, connection to community and inner strength outweighs and catapults them to a place whereby they can navigate this challenging time and enjoy the blessings of being part of Am Yisrael.

“Cause I’m a Jew, a proud one too”. The kids are singing and no doubt you are too. Let’s sing it louder and let’s make sure we do it with strength, joy and love!!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda and Dina

P.S. Gan Israel is committed to ensuring every camper can afford to attend camp. Our SCHOLARSHIP fund still needs funds to cover those who need to be subsidized — click here to help ensure every child can attend.

We also thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County and the Jewish Family Services for assisting.

Blissful Love!

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Moments are fleeting or not…

Existentially, human beings are imbued with a healthy desire to live and exist, BH. Yet the choice as to our very existence isn’t ours. It precedes us.

This past week Dina and I had the great joy of celebrating the wedding of our daughter Rivka. The absolute delight and bliss of marrying off a child is difficult to describe. It’s beyond words. Words simply don’t do it justice because it’s not a mere emotion — it’s an existential experience.

Moments can be fleeting. The marriage of a child however, isn’t a moment. Rather, the encapsulation of the cosmic intention of creation. G-d’s creation that is… predicated on love and the fusion of two souls, the imbued eternal nature with which Gd created the world — is recognized.

It precedes us. It empowers us to do our best and leave our own distinct mark on this world. It ensures that moments aren’t fleeting rather eternal.

No, it’s not an emotion and nor does one’s vocabulary contain the word that can aptly describe the moment. It’s transcendent — beyond the limitations of finite life.

At times like these — when the nation of Israel is under attack — both in Israel and in the diaspora, it’s the wedding that sends the resounding message that we all so need — the message of eternity. Good prevails over evil, period!

We aren’t merely our own selves, we perpetuate those who precede us and create the future of those who succeed us.

Yes, we shall succeed — as in in be victorious —precisely because the Jewish ethos and prescribed way of life as transmitted in the Torah is to recognize our own individual ability to achieve something way greater than ourselves. We touch the Divine and we assure eternity.

I am definitely the proud father of the bride and the joy will only get greater as they embark on their journey to transform this world to a Divine abode!

Proof or Pudding?

Friday, June 14, 2024 - 10:00 AM

“I can’t believe it exclaimed one person to another, believe it their friend responded — seeing is believing.. it happened!”

Yes, it did happen. A long time ago yet it isn’t showing signs of aging and it doesn’t require “belief” to accept it. The proof is in the pudding — it happened!

Life can be confusing. We oftentimes accept the indefensible and reject what we call the unbelievable even though it doesn’t actually require belief. Facts on the ground scream its veracity.

Our minds and hearts find it difficult to accept certain things. I for one find it difficult to believe that October 7th happened. After all, the Israeli army and the intelligence are second to non. Yet it happened, we “know” it happened. Yes, my mind and heart find it difficult to accept but that doesn’t change the reality and it doesn’t require “belief”.

We just celebrated Shavuot. The Festival that we received the Torah on Mount Sinai. This too doesn’t really require belief. Yes, it happened a long time ago — 3336 years ago. The mind finds it difficult to accept things that precede us by a lengthy period of time as if life didn’t exist or our ancestors are debatable. Which is of course laughable. After all, our very existence is predicated on their existence and this doesn’t require belief at all. The proof is in the pudding!!

The Jewish nation has a rich illustrious Heritage. Many ups and many downs. Faith is a big part of it. The First two of the 10 commandments deal with belief and faith which sometimes could be challenging. Yet our existence and the existence of the Torah — the Divine guide of ethics and morals for the entire universe — doesn’t need to be relegated to faith. It’s been meticulously preserved and handed down Dor L’dor for thousands of years and we live it every day.

WE are living proof of this. It’s a colossal task and responsibility to be sure — as much as it is an honor. Yet let’s say it the way it is — Jewish vibrancy attests to the veracity and the timelessness of our Heritage despite the challenges that are thrown our way. We need to stand strong tall and proud regardless of the external pressures as at the end of the day — the proof is in the pudding. Am Yisrael Chai!!

Bold and Brilliant!

Friday, June 7, 2024 - 10:00 AM

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. (Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon)

It’s a bold and brilliant statement that although less poetic can be read as “A giant leap for mankind is achieved by one small step”.

The mission statement for humankind. The Divine design. The capacity to create or to destroy. One small act. One word with outsized results.

From the moment the Torah was given at Mt Sinai — this capacity and this charge was handed over to the world. Direction and connection clearly delineated in the Torah through small acts and equally important — refraining from destructive small acts.

There you have it. Achievement by doing but also by not doing. Each side of the coin resulting in a giant step for mankind.

Earlier this week, the wider Chabad Lubavitch organization lost a giant of a man — Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky OBM. He was a friend to all the Shluchim in the field as a result of small acts. Many of them. To many people. The outpouring of condolences post his passing far surpassed what one could have conceived — all a result of small acts.

This coming Tuesday night — Thursday, we celebrate Shavuot. It’s the day we received the Torah at Mt Sinai 3336 years ago. It’s been a wild, incredible and challenging ride for the Jewish nation ever since. The road map clearly mapped out in the Torah. Obstacles galore, setbacks & challenges for sure — yet outsized and miraculous achievements far greater than the world wants to believe— all through small acts.

Fast forward a few thousand years, the roadmap remains the same. Small acts. Our job mapped out. Some do’s and some don'ts. Some easier, some harder yet at the core of it — it comes down to “one small step by mankind equals one giant leap for the universe”!

Be a part of receiving the Torah for the 3337th time. It doesn’t take long but it lasts for an eternity!!