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Small but Enduring

Friday, 13 December, 2019 - 3:13 am

By the Grace of G-d

Dear Friend,

‘Moshe is thirteen years old now… Since then I have been reciting the Shma… Do you remember this card?’

My brother-in-law Rabbi Paltiel shared this with me last week. It was just after I got back from attending Moshe Holtzberg’s Barmitzvah in Israel.

Moshe was raised by his maternal grandparents and the Barmitzva was a bittersweet affair.  How could it not be?

Baby Moshe’s miraculous rescue from the inferno of the Chabad House in Mumbai in the hands of Sandra his Indian nanny, was broadcast live via the news channels. The collective sigh of relief and joy for the saving of the boy were muted due to the overwhelming tragedy of the tragic murder of Moshe’s parents. At his Barmitzva too, the joy was weighed down by the glaring absence of his parents. 

Once again, earlier this week, Jews have been killed. For no other reason than being Jews. In Jersey City this time. A stones-throw away from New York City. 

What needs to be our reaction?

The Rebbe always insisted that just as one consults a medical professional for medical questions, a security expert should be consulted for security related questions. I am not a security expert. I will leave security decisions to be made by experts in that field. 

When it comes to our spiritual response to evil and darkness, regarding this I am not a stranger.

 (If you have time to hear a class on this topic click here)

Our Torah states clearly that darkness is not to be banished with brooms or mops. There is only one way to banish darkness. 

Darkness is dispelled by light.

This month is the month of LIGHT. 

The holiday of Chanukah is just around the corner. 

On Chanukah we kindle the Menorah for eight days and announce to the world that G-d makes miracles in his world. The one cruse of oil that was meant to last for one day, lasted miraculously for eight days.

Our response to tragedy needs to be focused and vigorous. We dare not remain passive. We need to fortify ourselves and our communities with additional acts of goodness and kindness. 

We must take more mitzvahs upon ourselves. The souls of those whose lives have been snuffed out await our response. 

Flowers are meaningless to a departed soul. 

In the world of souls, it is Mitzvahs performed by earthly beings that bring nachas and joy to their souls.

But we must be practical. 

Studies show that ‘new year resolutions’ often don’t get implemented for long. Simply, people try to take on too much. For a good resolution to have longevity it needs to be within reach. 

Like saying the Shema twice daily for those who don’t yet say it.

Eleven years later, a Jewess in New York reports that she is still saying Shema Yisrael twice daily… because of a good resolution she took back then.

It is impossible to even begin to imagine how much nachas the souls of R’ Gabi and Rivka Holtzberg must be having in heaven from the mitzvahs fueled by their memory. 

How much light and holiness has been added to this world by this community undertaking. 

It may have seemed like something small. But it was eminently achievable and it endures till today. 

Let’s add more light in the world during these turbulent times. 

If you say the Shema already, take another mitzvah. Or upgrade your performance of a Mitzvah that you are already doing!

Do something. Achievable. Not grandiose. But not too easy either. 

A list of suggestions can be found here.

And of course, the ‘order-of-the-day’ mitzvah starting from Sunday night December 22.

LIGHT A MENORAH FOR THE EIGHT NIGHTS OF CHANUKAH

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yosef Kantor

BIG NEWS: This year we will be taking Chanukah to the streets. A public Menorah lighting will be held at the plaza just outside MBK Center on the last night of Chanukah. Sunday December 29 @ 6:00 PM. Stay tuned for more details.

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