A photo popped into my computer from ‘this day five years ago’.
It was the wedding of Benyamin, son of our very own Zevulun, the ‘Jewish rice farmer’ from rural Thailand.
Zevulun discovered his Jewish identity in his fifties when he still only known by his given name of Scott. Click here for Zevulun’s story in his own words.
Another picture jumped up from this date two years ago from the 2024 Gala in New York marking three decades of Chabad of Thailand.
At that event we showed a video of Danny Namatinia whom I had the merit to teach for his bar mitzvah, sharing his memories as he stood proud, brave and heroic as a soldier in the IDF.
Yesterday I had the great privilege of meeting up with Bangkok born and bred Paul Keen (a former bar mitzvah student of mine) at the Rebbe’s Ohel for Torah study and prayer.
All these memories point at one phenomenon.
Am Yisrael are one.
The deep, existential, inextinguishable spark in every Jew is merely waiting to be revealed.
Some of the ‘flock’ wanders far away.
The leadership of Moshe was defined as a ‘faithful shepherd’ of Israel.
And it has remained the same throughout Jewish history.
The job of the Moshe in every generation is to shepherd the sheep, every single one of them, and ensure that they have their needed pasture.
In our times it is so crystal clear and obvious how the Rebbe’s leadership is about lovingly and faithfully shepherding the Jewish people.
And a nurturing of their inner faith and connection to G-d.
To every Jew across the globe.
Regardless of one’s prior knowledge.
Irrespective of one’s level of observance.
Transcending the external dissimilarities in dress, language, behavior or anything else.
I am in New York in honor of the 32nd anniversary of passing – Yartzeit Hilula – of the Rebbe.
In Hebrew, words have numerical value, and Lev equals 32.
As we approach the Rebbe’s 32nd Yahrtzeit tomorrow (Thursday Tammuz 3, June 18), the theme is heart and love.
A Rebbe is the heart of his people. As the lifeblood of even the body’s farthest reaches flows from the heart, the vast, diverse Jewish community finds unity in a real Rebbe.
Like the Kohen Gadol, about whom the Torah declares that he bears the names of the Tribes of Israel upon his heart, the Rebbe carries his people on his heart.
A Rebbe agonizes over the suffering of any of his people and is ecstatic over their good fortune, the way the pulse reacts to the trauma or pleasure of any part of the body.
A Rebbe cannot feel aloof or indifferent.
The human heart is vital because it is the body’s great unifier. Without that service, it loses its very vitality.
A Rebbe’s love for his people is like the heart’s devotion to the body.
It’s that natural, and that unconditional.
On this day, it’s a special time to reflect and ‘take to heart’ the ideals and values and legacy of the Rebbe.
To follow the lead of the Rebbe.
To not be satisfied with being a passive bystander. Rather, adopt that feeling of responsibility for everyone that the Rebbe exemplifies.
And do so with love.
The Rebbe is all about love for the Jewish People.
This is evident in the loving mission statement of the Rebbe’s ‘houses’ – the Chabad Houses everywhere.
It is about looking at one’s fellow with a kindly eye and joyous attitude.
It is an acceptance of people where they are, and the desire to help and to teach and to inspire.
The health of the heart is the health of the body, and the health of the body is the health of the heart.
One separates them at his own peril.
Our Sages taught: Moses is Israel and Israel is Moses.
The Rebbe is the people, and the people are their Rebbe.
At the Rebbe’s 32nd Yartzeit, the year of the heart, these words ring in our ears. The Rebbe served - and continues to serve from On High - as the heart of our people.
Through the Rebbe’s nurture and education, as this world becomes smaller and smaller, we recognize more and more that every one of us must be there for everyone of us.
We’re all vital.
We’re all nerve centers and powerful unifiers.
We have it in us, and the Rebbe encouraged it: you be the heart.
Let’s be all heart, one soul, a people undivided - just as we were, and continue to be, in the eyes of our dear, saintly Rebbe.
Do a mitzvah today.
Reach out lovingly to a fellow to help them physically and to help them spiritually by teaching them to do a mitzvah, by studying Torah with them.
Together, we will pray and believe and hope that we succeed in the most urgently singular mission that we need to rally around right now.
It will eradicate antisemitism as well as any form of bigotry and hatred, war, illness and suffering in one fell swoop.
Goodness and positivity will reign supreme.
The Rebbe told us that Mashiach is about to come.
Then we will be reunited with all our saintly leaders and all our loved ones as the curtains are opened on the revelation of G-d’s presence here in this world.
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yosef Kantor
PS. I am writing earlier than usual to give an opportunity to send me your names for prayer at the Rebbe’s Ohel on the most auspicious day of his Yahrtzeit/Hilula.