From The Desk of Rabbi Yehuda - Chabad Lubavitch of Westport

Mission Impossible

Friday, June 27, 2025 - 10:00 AM

It’s been a miraculous week. The terrible nuclear threat overhanging Israel and the entire world, thwarted.

People close to the Israeli Prime Minister quote him as saying, “I feel like we have a great Heavenly presence”. And when asked how he didn’t break down due to the immense stress he answered, “we are on a mission”.

To be sure, leadership requires courage. Yet mere belief in personal capabilities without the Heavenly presence, can only go so far.

In this week’s parsha we read of Moses’s cousin Korach who contests Moses's leadership — feeling that his own credentials should earn him a more prominent position.

Clearly, he missed the point. It’s not about credentials nor is it about position, it’s about “mission”. The mission upon which we were placed on this earth for and for which Gd gives us the capabilities to actualize.

This weekend is the 31st Yarzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. When taking the helm of the Chabad movement he immediately issued a declaration that he would assist everyone in their mission but it wasn’t he alone who was going to carry the burden. It was a collective mission to rebuild Judaism — one paced on each and every one of us— making this world a more Gdly and goodly place.

The results of his leadership speak for themselves and are nothing short of staggering.

Yet what’s most staggering isn’t what he accomplished in his lifetime, rather, what continues to be accomplished beyond his lifespan. His continued guidance and inspiration that motivates multitudes to strive higher in their individual, “unique mission”.

Ultimately, we each have our own unique mission and when we engage in it — we are assisted from above. Moreover, when attuned, we feel the Heavenly presence at our side.

Today also signifies the end of the first week at Gan Izzy. The energy of Jewish pride and continuity is electric. The future is bright and though the work is far from done, we can all take a moment to appreciate the great miracles and the Heavenly presence that are there at our sides to elevate us in our mission!!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor

P.S. Here's a snippet of the Rebbe speaking about Body & Soul..

P.P.S. I, together with tens of thousands, will be praying at his resting place on Sunday -- if you wish to be included for a blessing please email me your Hebrew name and mother's name..

From Good to Great!

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 10:00 AM

“Living through history”!

Sounds dramatic and simple at the same time - if not a little redundant. After all with the passage of time every living moment transforms into history almost instantly. A scary yet equally empowering thought to be sure!

Reading this week’s Parsha — the story of the Jewish nation traveling to Israel — the first time as a nation. Spies are sent to scout out the land. G-d’s land. It doesn’t end well. The majority of the spies come back with a negative report bar two of them who enthusiastically encourage the people stating “The Land is Good, Very Good”.

Not surprisingly, the negative and fear-fostering side make their mark and with that starts the 40 year wandering in the desert chapter.

Skip forward over 3330 years. The same land, the same people yet incredibly, a diametrically opposed attitude.

I read this morning about the clamoring of repatriated Israelis who are finally finding their way “back” into Israel in an operation called, “Operation Safe Return”.

Click here for the video.

How utterly ironic. Ballistic missiles raining down upon the small sliver of land we call our homeland, bordering some less than friendly countries and the operation is called — “Safe Return”.

The words of Joshua and Caleb clearly the guiding light of the nation of Israel —“The Land is Good, Very Good”!

Indeed we are living through history. An utterly miraculous piece of history. Don’t allow selective reading to paint an otherwise picture. Sure the challenges are real and vast yet greater yet are the incredible results, efforts, miracles and blessings!

We yearn and pray for Messianic times of peace and tranquility which starts with the belief and the conviction that “Gd neither sleeps nor slumbers” for “Shomer Yisrael — He guards Israel”. All one needs to do is open their eyes… Operation Safe Return— I’m in!!!

With best wishes for Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor

P.S. We laud all those at the front lines in harms way. We send love to all the families of Israel. We hold the Hostages and their families firmly in our prayers and we pray for all of Am Yisrael!

Do an extra Mitzvah. Any Mitzvah. Shabbat Candles. Tefillin. Tzedakah. Join Shabbat services. The operative word is DO!

Just Do It

Friday, June 13, 2025 - 10:00 AM

In the age of automation and robotics productivity has skyrocketed. Way more can get done in a fraction of the time — truly remarkable — if results are the focus, that is.

Life is about experience. The act of doing is transformative. The effort one expends creates waves far beyond the result — both for the doer and the recipient.

One can well understand that handwriting a personal card to a dear one on a special occasion is an experience that both can’t be replicated and has a plethora of benefits for the doer way beyond words on a paper - and the list goes on.

In this week’s Parsha we see the leaders of the 12 tribes stepping up with gifts to the Holy Temple on initiation day. They had missed out on meaningfully contributing to the construction of the Temple — legitimately thinking they would see what was needed at the end, at which point they would fill the void.

This may have been a well intentioned strategy except — there was no void, leaving them bereft of the opportunity to be a significant part of it. The result was achieved but their experience was incomplete.

It takes a mind shift and discernment. The recognition that it’s not about the end it’s about the personal care and attention that accompanies and ultimately benefits the doer — yet greater than the receiver.

All Mitzvas can be seen in this light. Less of a burden and more of an opportunity. Less about it getting done and more about the experience of dedicating our blessings, talents, time and effort towards creating a deeper bond with the Almighty and towards making the world a more goodly and Gdly place. A benefit for the doer if you will.

Do we want it to get done or do we want to be the ones doing it? Ultimately that’s in each of our hands!!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor

Rise Up Like a Lion

Friday, June 13, 2025 - 10:00 AM

Operation Rising Lion - Am Kelavi — עם כלביא.

Israel is at war. Again.

Existential.

A deep dive into the name of this operation “Am Kelavi” shows the intensity and the endless desire that our enemies have had for millennia — contriving our demise.

You see, these words and the current war name are from the Torah (Bible) , prophetically uttered by Balaam, who had been hired by the Moabite King to curse the Jewish people. It doesn’t quite work out as intended when instead of cursing the Jewish nation, Gd ordains that the finest and most glowing blessings are shared by Balaam. A plot that went and consistently goes terribly awry…

“Behold the people rise like a lion”. Despite intending to curse —he speaks of their essential quality, that of a lion.

It’s no surprise then that a day ago Prime Minister Netanyahu in a visit to the Kotel placed a note in the cracks of the Western Wall with these exact words — quoting the passage but also praying that Israel will be successful in doing what requires lionlike might!

Last night showed nothing short of lion and lioness strength. It displayed nothing short of miracles of Biblical proportions. It underscores the sheer power, ingenuity and utter bravery of the Israeli army, Mossad, society and the entire Am Yisrael. It shows of the strength of a nation that has endured thousands of years of challenge showing no erosion or infirmity at all!

Yet the description “lion” extends beyond the physical might. It’s a reference to their spiritual might. Closer to home it refers to “our” spiritual might. The might that is required to live as a proud Jew in a turbulent world. The might to focus our lives on ensuring Jewish continuity. The might that is required to ensure that our children understand their Heritage and birthright in a world and time that misinformation is assaulting them daily on TikTok and Instagram.

Looking forward, despite an incredible and hopeful beginning to the foreboded war with Iran, the Jewish nation needs continued blessing from above. We need to increase in prayer, charity and Torah — the three pillars that the world rests on and that, is something practically that each of us can do — LINK to more.

Might of a lion and lioness! Balaam — I couldn’t agree with you more! AM YISRAEL CHAI!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor

PS - In Israel they are being instructed not to go to Shul — in diaspora we ought to intensify our going to Shul to help our brethren!! Check what time services are in your Synagogue and show up — now is the time! (@ Chabad tonight — it’s 6:15pm we’d love to see you)