By the Grace of G-d
Dear Friend,
What do Long Island, New York and Luan Prabang, Laos, have in common?
Both start with the letter L.
I am not sure if I can think of other similarities.
What are the differences between them?
Many. But here is one that may interest you.
A global survey released two years ago by the Anti-Defamation League revealed that the least anti-Semitic country in the world is … Laos.
The reports regarding the state of anti-Semitism in New York are quite different. In a 2017 report we are told that ‘Anti-Semitic incidents in New York soared 90 percent last year compared to 2016’.
Presumably the reason for this discrepancy is quite simple. While there are millions of Jews in New York ‘ken yirbu’, Laos doesn’t have more than a few handfuls of Jews who call it home.
It was in Luan Prabang, Laos not Long Island New York that I landed last Sunday morning.
To participate in the completion of the writing of a Sefer Torah and the ensuing celebration. Literally, a mini Simchat Torah. The final letters of the Torah were written by dear friend Josh Goldhirsh - who with his wife Robyn had commissioned the new Torah. The ink was allowed to dry and then the dancing and singing began.
We certainly made history. I think it is safe to say that it was the first Sefer Torah completed in Laos.
I got goosebumps.
But not only from the excitement and emotion of completing a Torah in such an incongruous setting.
In addition to the simple story there was a historical tapestry, woven throughout decades that was coming alive in front of my eyes.
The threads of this tapestry started on Simchat Torah of 1969 in the Rebbe’s synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. They further developed in 1980 in the Rebbe’s private study. The opening of Chabad in Asia, and eventual opening of the Laos branch just one year ago, all feature in this story. As does a tragic car accident on the Long Island Expressway that took the lives of a very special philanthropic and community active couple at age 81. The story took a very inspirational turn in a unique Bar Mitzvah celebration on October 8, 2018 of Jews originally from Long Island but now living in Luan Prabang.
Let me start from the end and work my way to the beginning.
As we were finishing the last letter of the Torah I was told the following story by Lauren R. originally from Roslyn, Long Island.
‘The plans for the Bar Mitzvah of our only child Ari Nathan were simple. From when he was a little boy, we knew that my father – a passionate community activist and observant Jew - would conduct his grandsons Bar Mitzvah at a ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Two years ago, my parents, Itchy and Helen Adelson were killed in a horrific car crash as they were on their way to a friend’s wedding. With the tragedy, the Bar Mitzvah plans also came crashing down. When my work took us to Luang Prabang, Laos a year ago, I knew that organizing a Bar Mitzvah would be a real challenge. But Chabad had opened a branch in Luan Prabang, and I went to see the Rabbi to discuss Bar Mitzvah lessons. Initially I had thought to plan a Bar Mitzvah sometime in the beginning of next year. The Rabbi insisted on checking the ‘real’ date. It turned out that according to the Jewish calendar, Ari Natan was turning thirteen on Shabbat October 6. Getting a minyan during low tourist season in Laos didn’t seem possible. BUT, said the rabbi, ‘we are having an event on Sunday, with other Jews flying in to celebrate and we can read the Torah on Monday and do a Bar Mitzvah. Actually, your son who is a kohen will have the first Aliyah in the new Torah’
‘Imagine that’ said Laurent. From not having a minyan for the Bar mitzvah to inscribing a letter in a new Sefer Torah on Sunday, getting called up to that new Torah and having all the rabbis of Thailand present is like some kind of a dream’
Laurent went on to tell me a little bit about her parents who were true shining lights in the Long Island Jewish community. First in Roslyn and then in Westhampton.
‘I even visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe in his private office with my parents’ said Laurent. ‘I was inspired by his deeply penetrating and caring eyes’. The experience that took place in close to forty years ago, still remains indelibly engraved in my memory’.
Things started to make sense to me now.
The Rebbe had stated his mission many times. To spread Torah and help Jews anywhere and everywhere. Even in Luan Prabang. Had he really mentioned Luan Prabang? Well, perhaps not explicitly but certainly alluded to it. Read on and judge for yourself.
Just a week earlier I had been sitting in the Sukkah in Bangkok studying an address given by the Rebbe on Simchat Torah fifty years ago.
‘Think about it. Hashem has to worry about three billion people, and nonetheless thinks about a Jews who lives in South Africa, South America or in a remote location in Asia. He sends a special messenger to bring that Jew the most precious things that He has – the Torah’
The Rebbe went on to explain that G-d has plenty of angels who would gladly carry out His bidding. Yet He chose to send this message via individuals who move out to these locations to bring the word of G-d even there. The privilege is indescribably great. Thus the Rebbe encouraged those in attendance to embrace and implement his vision of spreading Torah to all four corners of the earth.
On the Sunday after Simchat Torah, participating in the bringing of a Torah to Laos it dawned on me that the Rebbe’s words were being recognized. Luan Prabang would certainly fit the bill of ‘remote’ at least in terms of Judaism.
Here we were. Shluchim – emissaries of the Rebbe, bringing a Torah for a Bar Mitzvah. To a boy whose mother had merited the Rebbe’s holy gaze on her face when she was a young girl. To the grandson of two unforgettable Jewish community activists. They had died tragically; the Bar Mitzvah seemed to be left hanging. Hashem detailed Providence had been set into motion.
Torah was now being brought to an even more remote location in Asia than ever before.
Ari Natan’s Bar Mitzvah – probably the first in Laos – was celebrated with much joy and tearful emotion.
Ari Natan donned his late grandfathers Tefilin and proclaimed proudly ‘Shma Yisrael, Ad-onai Elo-henu, Ad-onai ECHAD’
Long Island Jews and Luan Prabang had been brought together by a common theme. In each location, the unity of G-d was being proclaimed. By donning the Tefilin and reciting the Shma Yisrael, Ari Natan highlighted the singular mission statement of the Jew to proclaim the unity of G-d wherever he or she may be.
The message is clear.
True, G-d does not NEED to resort to us frail humans to do His bidding. He could get it done without us.
Yet, G-d CHOOSES to us to represent Him. He gives us the privilege and opportunity. To serve Him. To share our knowledge and devotion to Him with others. To inspire fellow Jews to get closer to G-d via learning Torah and doing Mitzvot. To inspire all fellow humans to commit to the G-dly moral code also known as the ‘Seven Noahide Laws’.
It’s not limited to rabbi’s or ‘official’ outreach persons. Each and every one of us is able to inspire and encourage and teach by example. Each in their own circle of influence.
Together, by studying Torah and doing more Mitzvah’s we can change the world.
To be a brighter place. A holier place. A true abode where Almighty G-d feels comfortable.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yosef Kantor
PS If you are in Bangkok on Monday night, please join us for our son Efraim’s Bar Mitzvah.