Rabbi Fishel's Blog

Dear Friends,

They once asked a 104-year-old woman what was the advantage of living to this ripe age. She replied without hesitation: "No peer pressure!"

It sounds like the punchline to a joke, but it brings to light a very real and underutilized piece of wisdom. Don't let the voices of others be louder than your own inner voice.

Bronnie Ware worked for many years in palliative care. Her patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared during this unique period. She was with them for the last 3 to 12 weeks of their lives.

She wrote of her experience: “People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality... When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again."

What was the first and most common regret of people at the end of their lives?

“I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how much they never found the confidence to be fully present, fully alive, fully themselves, fully authentic. They were busy “fitting in,” searching maybe unconsciously for approval, putting up defenses, and displaying only their shell out of fear of how their true selves would be received.

We don’t even realize how so many of the decisions we make and the opinions we express are being formed and influenced by views and attitudes that are not inherently our own.

But how do we tune out the noise of modern life and turn up the volume of our inner voice? How do we repel outside influences in a world full of so-called influencers?

The answer is both simple and ancient. For a few minutes at the beginning of the day, bask in the solitude of your own presence. Yours and no one else's. Enjoy some silence. Let the only sound be the soundtrack of your thoughts.

No apps, no music, no headlines, no podcasts. Clear your mind, pray, meditate, and calibrate your consciousness to the frequency of your inner voice.

There is a fascinating verse in this week's Parsha. It describes the highlight of the Yom Kippur service, when the Kohen Gadol entered the “Kodesh Ha-Kadoshim,” the Holy of Holies, to offer up prayers and seek God's forgiveness on behalf of the entire Jewish nation.

“V’chol odom lo yihyeh — Let no man be in the Tent of Meeting [with the Kohen]… from the time he enters until he leaves." Nobody other than the High Priest was allowed entry into that chamber. He was praying there in complete solitude.

Thus the instruction: “Let no man enter with you!” It’s just you and God. What people out there think or feel about you is completely irrelevant. Just be yourself.

How often are we truly alone? Not only physically, but mentally. Not seeking from the endless supply of distractions at our fingertips, but dialing into our true selves. Communing with the Divine in what our mystics call “hisbodedus."

Nobody to impress. Just you, listening to your own inner voice, not getting lost in what the world thinks of you.

Friends, we need not wait until the end of our lives to be our authentic selves.

Who will join me in this challenge? Put your phone down for five minutes in the morning. Tune into who you are away from the influences of the world, so you can gather the strength and conviction to go out and conquer it.

This is what Shabbat is all about as well. Turn away from the distractions of everyday life and turn toward your family, your friends, your community. Connect with your soul. In a world where it is so easy to be influenced, influence others with your blessings and light.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

Dear Friends,

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now that may be the case in terms of description. When describing an adorable smiling baby or an early morning sunrise over the beach, words pale in comparison to the visual representation.

But a beautiful relationship can easily be tarnished or even destroyed with a few ugly or poorly chosen words. This week’s Parsha, Tazria-Metsorah, illustrates for us that words hold within them a great power. So much so that even the entire universe was created with only a few Divine utterances.

There is a famous story that Ben Zander, the well-known conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, passed on after hearing it directly from an Auschwitz survivor that expresses this point

A girl was sent to Auschwitz when she was 15 years old, and her brother was eight. Their parents were lost. Years later, having survived the camp, she told Zander:

“We were in the train going to Auschwitz, and I looked down and saw my brother’s shoes were missing. I got angry and said, ‘Why are you so stupid, can’t you keep your things together for goodness’ sake?’” — the way an elder sister might sometimes speak thoughtlessly to a younger brother.

Unfortunately, it was the last thing she ever said to him, because she never saw him again. He did not survive. And so when she came out of Auschwitz, she made a vow:

“I will never say anything that couldn’t stand as the last thing I ever say.”

Now this may be an extreme example, but it hammers home the importance of being intentional with our speech—of lifting up those around us with our words, rather than tearing them down.

This week, as we do every week in our hearts, we honored the more than six million souls who were murdered during the Holocaust, and we will do so this Shabbat at Chabad of Naples by taking out a Sefer Torah that survived. Indeed, the Torah itself is but a collection of words, yet it is these words that guide our way of life and preserve our traditions.

We must consider the words that come out of our mouths. How often do we speak without thinking? Most of us receive many compliments and pleasantries from the ones we love regularly, and yet if a stranger is rude to you in line for coffee, it can ruin your whole day.

This is not a coincidence. The Gottlieb Institute discovered that for every negative interaction, it takes five positive ones to return to emotional equilibrium.

Your words are perhaps the most underutilized power you have for making the world a better place. And you can start right now! Tell your spouse how happy you are to have them in your life, tell your children how proud of them you are, tell your neighbor how much you admire their hydrangeas, tell the postman thank you for delivering your mail. None of these are small acts. They are strategic victories in the battle against negativity and darkness.

Join us this Shabbat for our famous services and Kiddush luncheon, where people often share that they leave feeling uplifted and strengthened, not only from the prayers and the words from the bimah, but from the warmth of being together and the way words are shared between us.

Let’s use the power of words to uplift one another and fill our community with peace, blessing, and light—more than any picture could capture.

Wishing you a peaceful and uplifting Shabbat,

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends,

We remember and pay tribute to the six million “kedoshim.”

We remember what happens when hate takes hold of the human heart and turns it to stone, what happens when victims cry for help and no one is listening, and what happens when humanity fails to recognize that every person is created in God’s image.

We remember and give thanks for the righteous of the nations who saved lives at risk of their own, teaching us how, in the darkest night, we can light a candle of hope.

And we remember that the past is not only history. Even in our own time, most painfully on October 7, we are reminded why memory matters and why “never again” must be lived, not just said.

We pray for worldwide peace and understanding, that no one should ever face this horror again. I know the 6 million will be praying along with us from On High; I also know Hashem will answer our prayers.

Honor their memory with a special mitzvah, today and every day.

May the memory of the six million be blessed.

****

This Shabbat, we will read from the Holocaust Torah that was dedicated to Chabad of Naples in January 2012.

Who can forget when we dedicated our beautiful Chabad of Naples campus, with people of all ages—young and old—singing and rejoicing? And then, the highlight of the dedication: receiving the Holocaust Torah. 

Mixed feelings? To say the least.
Joy and sorrow—joy for all that survived, and sorrow for our losses—and there were many.

That this Torah survived and came into our hands, reborn through the generosity of Ellen Ann Goldman, Sam Savage, and the Federman Family, is nothing short of a miracle.

We have become the stewards of a valuable piece of history, and with that, we are responsible to the donors who entrusted it to us, saying, “It is in good hands at Chabad of Naples.”

Now, in this climate, it’s more important than ever to teach our children—in age-appropriate ways—about the sacrifice and heroism of the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were slaughtered in the Holocaust. We must help them understand what was lost, and even more, what must endure.

Let’s pass on this message of resilience, showing our children how to honor their memory by taking an active part in building the Jewish nation and being a strong, unbreakable link in our eternal chain.

Let’s take the time to pause and reflect, and inspire each other to more involvement, to ensure that “never again” does not become a mere slogan (Heaven forbid).

We pray for worldwide peace and understanding, that no one should ever face this horror again. I know the 6 million will be praying along with us from On High—I also know Hashem will answer our prayers.

May the memory of the six million be blessed.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos 

Dear Friends,

We hope your Pesach was beautiful, inspiring, and filling in both body and spirit.

Thank God at Chabad of Naples we were blessed with so many beautiful people joining us together for our BIG Family Seder, well attended services, and many Yom Tov meals together sharing words of Torah, song and celebration.

****

As we approach the final days of the festival, here’s a powerful reminder rooted in our earliest history.

When G-d promised Abraham and Sarah a child, it seemed completely impossible. They were old, long past the age of parenthood. But then G-d took Abraham outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. So shall your descendants be.”

Now pause and imagine that moment. Faced with a sky full of stars, Abraham could’ve laughed. He could’ve walked back inside. He could’ve said, “This is ridiculous.”

But he didn’t.

He looked up and he began counting.

One. Two. Three…

In response, G-d said:

“כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֶךָ — So shall your children be.”

Not just as numerous as the stars, but like Abraham himself: the kind of people who begin counting, even when the task seems impossible.

That has always been the spirit of the Jewish people. In every generation we end the Seder with the words: “לשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם — Next year in Jerusalem.”

This wasn’t just a hope; it was a declaration, a commitment to making the impossible possible. And then, miraculously, the dream that seemed so far away was realized. The stars were counted.

As we head towards the final days of Pesach, and ask for our final redemption remember: impossible is just an idea. Inside it lives a promise: I’M POSSIBLE.

Keep counting. Keep believing. We are the children of Abraham and Sarah.

And we must keep believing—not just in the promises of the past, but in the hope of today. In the face of darkness, in the face of what feels impossible, we must hold onto faith and action. Just as Abraham looked up and began to count the stars, we must continue to count every soul, every prayer, every act of courage, and never give up hope.

Chag Sameach!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

I miss you my beloved brother Yossi. 

Tonight, which ushers in the seventh day of Pesach, is 29 years since my brother Yossi's passing. Even as I write this I have a hard time believing it’s been so long. Your presence still plays a very real, vivid, and tangible role in my life – not as a figure from my childhood, but as an old soul; an ever-inspiring presence; a big brother to me and so many others in the truest sense. Your passion and principles inspire me every single day to be the best that I can be.

Tonight commemorates the splitting of the red sea- Yossi, too, seemed to split obstacles, going through them to get to the other side, accomplishing his goals. He dived right into whatever he attempted and gave it his all, fully and with no restrictions. He grabbed life with both hands and LIVED it. And he ALWAYS maintained a positive, upbeat attitude, even in the years during his aggressive treatments in Sloan Kettering. I was his caretaker for two years and I never saw his infectious positivity waver for a second.

Yossi lived for others, caring especially for those who are often ignored. He was selfless and always sensitive to those around him. He did things because it was right and wanting to be of service to G-d and to fulfill his dear Mentor the Rebbe’s calling. I know it sounds like a cliché, but I can tell you this wasn’t an occasional occurrence. Yossi had a courageous and fearless nature, and at the same time, he was the sweetest soul.

One of his many aspirations that he so deeply desired was establishing a Chabad House. He would often talk dreamily about how one day he wanted to reach out to a community to create a warm and loving place, and as he visited various Chabad centers for Shabbat or events I would hear his ideas develop.

While he was unable to follow that dream personally, I know that it is with his blessings that I am privileged to be his hands and feet in the work that Ettie and I are doing at Chabad of Naples, together with our children—how I wish you could have met them! Yossi, I know if you were here you would be leading an army of light to fight against the darkness so many of us feel today. May we take up the charge in your absence and join forces with the battle you are undoubtedly fighting on our behalf on high.

I miss you my beloved Yossi! You made me a better person, a more real person. Your life was too short, and I miss you terribly, but we will continue to try to incorporate what you taught me from the precious, abbreviated days we spent together. A legacy of pure goodness.

You are forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. To anyone else who has experienced the deep and life-altering loss of a loved one, know that I see you. But also know that the good we do here on earth in their memory helps us connect to them, find a tiny gleaming flicker of solace, and gladdens their soul up above.

If you can, please do some mitzvah — a good deed in Yossi’s honor. I have no doubt that he is advocating for us in the heavens for an end to pain and suffering for all. Let’s do our part to spread kindness and light!

Forever your younger brother,

Fishey 

Dear Friends,

As the holiday of Passover descends upon us, Ettie, Mendel, Yitzi, Chaya and Hinda join me in wishing you and yours a truly joyful Passover holiday.

We are thinking of family and friends far and near and wishing you a very special holiday full of quality time and traditional experiences, creating lifelong memories with family and friends.

*** 

Our homes will soon be filled with the sounds, aromas and traditions of the Seder table. Families will gather, children will ask the Four Questions, and we will once again retell the story that has shaped our people for more than three thousand years.

We are pleased to present this year’s Pesach journal, with inspiring articles exploring the magic of matzah, the powerful women of Jewish history, the benefits of Shabbos, and even a Duolingo lesson. We hope these insights provide you with “gold nuggets” of Jewish wisdom for a more spiritual and renewed Pesach.

Here at Chabad Naples, we are witnessing a renewed thirst for connection, learning, and spiritual meaning. Shabbat services continue to grow, events are filled to capacity, and classes are thriving.

We hope you will continue to grow, learn, strengthen our faith in Hashem, and pass on our story to the next generation. This is the Jewish way.

The Haggadah teaches us: “In every generation, a person must see themselves as if they personally left Egypt.”

Every generation faces its own “Egypts” — its own challenges, fears and moments of uncertainty. And every generation must rediscover its own courage, faith, and determination.

Pesach reminds us that empires rise and fall. Tyrants come and go. The Pharaohs and Ayatollahs eventually pass into history. But the Jewish people prevail. Because through it all, we never lose faith in the promise that guides us — Hashem’s promise that He will always stand with us.

That promise comes alive during one of the most powerful moments of the Seder, when we sing the words V’hi She’amda:

“In every generation there are those who rise against us to destroy us, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, saves us from their hand.”

The Jewish story continues. A story of faith. A story of light that no darkness can ever extinguish. This is the power of Pesach.

As we gather around our Seder tables this year, may we feel the strength of our past, the blessing of our present, and the promise of our future. And may we merit to celebrate next year together in a world filled with Shalom.

L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim. Next Year in Jerusalem!

From our family to yours — Chag Pesach Sameach.

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends, 

Every year ahead of Passover, a group of us gather together to pack matzah and other holiday essentials for delivery across our community. This year we had a dedicated team of volunteers answer the call to assemble 800 of these care packages (with nearly 1,000 being distributed in total)!

As we were getting into the rhythm that comes with repetitive activity, my thoughts drifted toward the Seder and the Haggadah. Although I've read it many times in my life, one of the beginning passages suddenly struck me as odd.

We begin by saying, “Our ancestors started out as idol worshippers, but now God has brought us near to serve Him.”

That's how we are going to start our Passover Seder? By insulting our parents? Why do we say this?

The answer is that it teaches us an important lesson about our worth. It doesn't matter where you came from, how lowly your origin story. What matters is where you're going. It matters who you choose to be today, in this moment.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose 124th birthday will be on Sunday, spoke about this. Passover, by all accounts, is the most observed Jewish holiday in our times. Many Jews who are sitting around the Seder are inspired by the sanctity and majesty of the evening. But what troubles some of our brothers and sisters is the fear that they have discovered Judaism too late and now it is too difficult to reshape their lives to the noble purposes of our faith and to live Jewishly.

The Haggadah’s response is: “Don’t despair. Know that your predicament is no different from that of our people as a whole.”

“In the beginning our ancestors were idol worshippers.” However, “now God has brought us close to His service.”

The whole story of the Jewish people is one of rising from the very bottom, of emerging from the lowest depths. The Rebbe taught us over and over again that we are all valuable simply because of who we are. It's an idea that was instilled deeply within myself and Ettie, and it informs the way we serve our community each and every day.

Any Jew who is inspired by doing a mitzvah or learning about their heritage today, regardless of level of background, encapsulates our entire Jewish history, and is merely reclaiming their birthright and identity.

You can never be truly separated from your own essence, or a stranger within your own family.

And Chabad Naples is such a family! This is what struck me as we packed those boxes of matzah. Why do we do it? Why invest the time, the energy, the resources? Because each and every one of us is mishpacha. Family.  

We encourage you to join us for Passover services and lunches. If you or anyone you know needs matzah, please reach out. (If you’re waiting on yours, it may take a few days to reach you!)

The stories of Jewish victory start in darkness and end in light. In the Haggadah, in the Torah, throughout Jewish history. When we look around the world today, it can be easy to see darkness, but we must remember that the story is not over.

The story ends with light — and we are the creators of that light.

So think about who you want to be in this moment, during this holiday. How can you answer the call to help your fellow have a more joyous Passover?

Shabbat Shalom and wishing all a Happy and Kosher Pesach,

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends,

There is a moment at every Passover Seder when you can feel it tick over into a story of redemption, not oppression. When the detailed accountings of the suffering of our people give way to the exuberant declarations of miracle after miracle, culminating in our escape from slavery. After all the cleaning and cooking, the matzah and maror, the several glasses of wine, the shift feels appropriately earned.

But I have been wondering lately about the people sitting at that table who cannot quite feel it. The people whose personal oppressions are too heavy or intense to let them tap into their sense of redemption. Someone’s marriage is quietly unraveling. Someone got a phone call from the doctor last week that sucked the color out of their world. Someone is still nursing a deep wound from years ago that never fully healed. They are saying the same words, eating the same matzah, but the joy feels like it belongs to a different table entirely.

The people who walked out of Egypt 3,300 years ago were in that same condition. The Exodus was the most dramatic national moment in our history: the sea splitting, the slavery ending, the impossible becoming real. And they were exhausted. Someone’s back hurt from decades of physical labor. Someone had just buried a parent in a land they were leaving forever. Someone was terrified rather than relieved, because freedom is frightening when you have never known it. The miracle was real — and the exhaustion was equally real. Both of those things were true at the same time, in the same body, on the same afternoon.

The Haggadah tells us that in every generation we are obligated to see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt. For most of my life I understood that as an instruction about gratitude only. I understand it a bit deeper now. It is asking us to locate ourselves inside a story that is still unfolding, to feel its weight and its momentum, even when we are tired, even when we are grieving, even when the personal circumstances of our lives make celebration feel like a performance we have not rehearsed.

We need to hold the bigger picture of the incredible things happening around us even while honoring our struggles and pain.

We are living through an extraordinary moment in Jewish history. Since October 7th, 2023, we have watched our people attacked with a savagery that reached back across centuries. And then we watched something that few predicted: Israel dismantling Hezbollah’s command, decimating Hamas, striking inside Iran itself. A tiny country, surrounded, grieving, and somehow still standing with a strength that has left the world struggling to explain it. Israel is teaching the world what it means to live and fight with conviction.

We have also watched Jews who had set their identity down somewhere along the way pick it back up with both hands. Pull up a chair at the Seder table for the first time in years. The bigger story is very much alive, tumbling forward with a force that is bringing us closer to our better selves.

And so we sit at the Seder. We say the ancient words. We hold the matzah, which is simultaneously the bread of affliction and the bread of freedom. It is the food we were forced to eat as slaves and it is the food we hastily packed up and brought with us on our miraculous journey of liberation. The same object carrying both meanings at once. Maybe that is the point. We can feel the pain in our lives and still celebrate the great moments we are living through.

We bring whatever we are carrying this year and we say: We are still here. After everything. Still here.

And next year will be even better: Because next year in Jerusalem.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach to you and everyone you love.

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends,

People need people. 

These words feel especially true to me today, following the shooting at a synagogue yesterday in my hometown of Detroit. Thank God no one was injured, but it still shakes us. Makes life feel precarious and throws us off balance.

We want to say a huge thank you to the Naples Police Department and our incredible security team led by Dennis Harris, who immediately came down to meet following the news. Our security guards are here on a constant basis, while Dennis and the Naples Police Department are constantly reviewing and improving our security, always checking in to make sure we are safe and protected. They truly go above and beyond.

While they are taking care of the physical protection and giving us the peace of mind to gather, let’s come together and strengthen the spiritual protection as well. Let's pray for Michigan, let's pray for Toronto, let's pray for Naples, and our brothers and sisters in Israel. A group of us hoped to be in Israel this Shabbat. Yet Jewish history reminds us that when circumstances prevent us from going to Israel, we can bring the spirit of Israel to where we are. Even if we are not there physically, spiritually our hearts are there and we will pray for them with the same enthusiasm, knowing we are right where we are meant to be.

In fact, have you heard that attending weekly Shabbat services at Chabad of Naples will give you a longer life and better health?

(Okay, my attorney tells me to insert the following disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Chabad's services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.")

Seriously though, numerous studies find that regularly attending religious services may benefit mental and physical health. Researchers at Emory University found that there is a “substantial amount of protection against mortality from all causes” for people who attend religious services once a week or more.

So why is attending services regularly good for you? On the most basic level, being around others is good for us. More and more research suggests how loneliness can negatively impact our health and increase our risk factors for all kinds of diseases.

Having a social life is not just a luxury. We need people who know our name, care about us, and check in on us — and vice versa. But there is much more to it than that.

When we are alone, we are only focused on our personal journey and accomplishments. Being in the presence of a group helps us realize that there is a bigger plan and a greater mission than just our own. It's about all of us achieving something incredible together.

This week's portion, Vayakhel, begins with the verse:
“Moses called the whole community of the children of Israel to assemble.”

What was the purpose of this grand assembly? If Moses wanted to share the words of God, he could have done so in other ways. As many disgruntled workers have muttered under their breath, “this could have been an email!”

Moses chose to gather the entire Jewish nation because this gathering symbolizes the bird’s-eye view — the look from above. It was as if Moses was telling them: there will come a moment when each one of you will embark on your journey, focused on your part in making the world a better place. But before we do, let's recognize the awesomeness of the moment. We are all receiving an extraordinary mission from God.

Vayakhel has the same root as kehilla, or community. Something I hear over and over again when people come to Chabad Naples is that they truly feel like family. We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that is brimming with love and tangible warmth.

Last week someone who had recently moved told me they never thought they would find a place that felt like home, but that here they found mishpacha — family. That sentiment comes up again and again. The stories are endless. You feel the warmth, the love, the sense of belonging. No matter where you are in life, you feel like you’ve finally found a home.

We were never meant to do it alone.

We need each other, more than ever.

So come to Shabbat services at Chabad. We can always make room for more family.

May the unity of our community propel us all higher and bring the world one step closer to an everlasting peace.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos 

Dear Friends,

First off, I want to say that Purim was absolutely amazing! We at Chabad Naples celebrated in style as usual. We truly celebrated AM YISRAEL CHAI — THE MIRACULOUS ETERNAL JEWISH NATION! Between the night and the day, I read Megillah nine times! We visited friends in the hospital, some in rehab facilities, and were able to spread the Purim simcha and cheer them up, and then it all culminated in 250 people coming together in celebration. The entire holiday was permeated with such joyous and palpable energy.

A huge thank you to Ettie, who orchestrated the entire Purim celebration, from the theme to the planning and every detail, and to everyone who contributed, volunteered, supported, and joined in. 

Shortly after Purim, on Thursday morning, Morris and Roz Herstein stopped by our campus. They want to help us enhance the Big Build by donating many beautiful pieces of artwork, similar to the way they did in the social hall and the sanctuary. While on the rooftop, the ever-inspiring Morris — who was taking measurements at 90 years old — turned to us and said:
“Rabbi, patience, patience, hard work — look what it did! Following God's plan, and here we are on this beautiful campus that continues to expand.”

I don't know how many of you remember in 2008/2009, when we were bursting at the seams of our old Seagate location. We searched and searched for a building, with a seemingly endless string of dead ends. One of the places we almost purchased was the old Teddy Bear Museum. At the time we thought, “This is it.” But it wasn’t meant to be. At the time it was very disheartening. But it laid the foundation for a very important lesson.

In Parsha Ki Tisa, we confront one of the Torah’s lowest moments. Our people have just stood at Sinai. We heard the voice of God. All we need to do is wait for Moshe to return from the mountain. But when he doesn’t come back on our schedule, anxiety overtakes faith. Panic sets in. Impatience gives birth to the golden calf.

Patience, patience. Redemption does not unfold according to our clocks. Victory does not come on demand. Faith requires patience. What appears chaotic may conceal a deeper plan. Behind the scenes, history is moving with purpose. And so must we. We too should move with purpose in our own everyday lives.

So we have to put in the work, but it's God's plan and God's timing. Even when things don't work out on the timeline we desire, our efforts are never in vain. We are sowing the seeds for future growth that will be even greater than we can imagine right now.

The blessing of purchasing our current campus in 2011 certainly taught me that. Thank God, despite all the headaches and setbacks and false starts, our space has grown and continues to grow!

So aim high and put in all the effort you've got. But then remember Morris's wise words: “patience, patience.” We sow the seeds, but it is God that makes them grow. And as any farmer will tell you, it's slow but rewarding work.

And speaking of patience… we were meant to take 22 dear friends of our community, some for the very first time, on a very special trip to Israel this Sunday, but given the war in the Middle East the trip was postponed. We were praying for our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land over Purim, and we continue to pray for the safety of all civilians, and that this war should end swiftly and bring only blessings and enduring peace to the world.

In the right time — which we pray is very soon — we hope to take even more of you. For now, we wait to see how the future trip will be even better than the one we had planned.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

 Dear Friends,

As we rejoice on Purim - a holiday that celebrates rising from an attempt to erase the Jewish people to become stronger and prouder - we are experiencing our own Purim moment.

Our brothers and sisters in Israel are facing rocket barrages from the evil Iranian regime, just like the threats of Haman of ancient Persia. We are seeing incredible miracles, but the danger is real as we've sadly seen casualties, and we need to do all we can to bring security and success.  

We can take inspiration from the heroes of the Purim story, Esther & Mordecahi, on how to respond to these threats. When Esther was preparing to approach King Achashverosh to appeal to save the Jews, she told Mordechai: “Go and gather all of the Jews of Shushan. Fast and pray for me.”

Let’s follow in their footsteps and help bring salvation to the Jewish people and the world in this historic moment:

1. Pray:
In our times of need, we turn to G-d with faith and prayer. Please take a few minutes today - and over the next few days - to pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel, the brave soldiers of the IDF and the US military, for the people of Iran, and for world peace. You can find a selection of Psalms here. 

Our Sages say that the miracle of Purim canceled the Heavenly decree against the Jews, transforming death into life, physically and spiritually. This came about because Mordechai gathered 22,000 Jewish children specifically under the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah to pray for G-d’s mercy and the salvation of the Jewish people during that time. 

This is no doubt a lesson for our times about the power of prayer, which each and every one of us can do right now and every day, to invoke G-d’s mercy for miracles and wonders, and for the safety and security of Israel. 

2. Gather:
Let’s all gather together to celebrate! Join the community to celebrate Purim and feel the power of Jewish unity. Please RSVP today at ChabadNaples.com/Purim to join us at our Purim events for all ages! 

We pray that just as the tables were turned then and our Persian enemies were destroyed, so too we will be able to celebrate a complete IDF & US victory and the downfall of our enemies

TODAY! In the words of the Megillah: “And these days (of joy) shall be remembered and re-experienced throughout every generation.”

Wishing safety and peace for Israel and the world and a happy Purim to you and your loved ones,

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos  

Dear Friends,

Purim is a very special time of year. It is full of joyous celebration: Dressing up, festive meals, sharing with your friends and neighbors, a l'chaim or two. But it's special for my wife, Ettie, and I on a personal level because it was the first event we put on after we had officially moved here to Naples so many years ago. We held it at the Naples Women's Club, and I still remember so clearly bringing our first born, Mendel, who was just a few months old at the time (he’s 22 now!). See the pics for a trip down memory lane.

So what's the message of Purim? Truthfully there are so many, but I'd like to give you three specific takeaways that are highly relevant to our own lives.

1. You Have a Unique Life Mission

Esther is told by Mordechai that she must speak to the king and plead for her people. She replies: That’s impossible. Everyone knows the rule of the kingdom. If you enter the king’s chambers without first being called, you will be killed “I haven’t been called for 30 days!” she relays to Mordechai.

What does Mordechai’s reply to Esther. “Who knows? It might be that you were chosen to be queen just for this moment!” Every encounter, talent, and strength that we have been given is for a purpose. Each of us has our own unique spiritual fingerprints to leave in this world. God places us exactly where we need to be to accomplish our mission. Esther is asking us to discover the meaning of our existence, and the unique circumstances in which we find ourselves.

2.⁠ ⁠Live with Courage and Compassion

After accepting her mission, Esther says, “I will go to the king. And if I die, I die.” I will give it my all. I will muster the courage to do my best.

As life progresses into its later stages, many people are left with their regrets. If only I had…but the moment is lost. Esther is telling us to seize courage, step up to the plate and at least know forever that you tried to make a difference.

3.⁠ ⁠Don’t Bow to Haman

Mordechai refused to kneel or bow down to Haman. Every generation has its Haman. Any force that threatens your ability to connect to your soul or tries to cool your passion for what is right and truth is a figurative Haman. 

There will always be people who belittle your desire to be better and live higher. There will be those who mock your standing for truth, for your people, and the land of Israel. Don’t crumble. Don’t bow. Never lose your passion for goodness. Stay strong as Mordechai did.

Purim is always special. But this year, it feels especially urgent to show up. To gather. To celebrate with like minded adults. To bring our community together to a Purim party filled with pride and joy.

Join us for Purim. Stand together as a community that believes in hidden miracles and living faith. Let us open our eyes to the blessings around us, even when they are not loud. Let us pray for victory for the USA and Israel, for the safety of our soldiers and civilians, and for security and peace for the entire world.

Especially this year, our presence matters. Our joy matters. Our unity matters. During these times that feel so tenuous, staying strong is more important than ever. And it’s easier when we do it together!

So let’s gather this Purim, celebrate the victory of Jewish redemption, and joy of Jewish life. 

Just as the Jewish people gathered together so many generations ago and nullified the decree set to destroy them, so it should be with us.

Do not miss the moment. Click here to join our Grand Purim Party!

Shabbat Shalom & Happy Purim!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends,

This week had many noteworthy moments, but the highlight for me was officiating an Upsherin and a wedding. As I was standing under the Chuppah with the beautiful couple, I took the opportunity to share a few thoughts with them. They say your wedding day is like your own personal Yom Kippur. Your slate is wiped clean and it is an auspicious time for self-reflection. One of the concepts I shared was this:

Anybody who knows anything about construction will tell you that the most important element in building a new home is its foundation. It’s all about the foundation. If the foundation is strong, the home can withstand whatever destructive forces — even strong Florida hurricanes — that might come along and threaten its stability and integrity. But if the foundation is weak, God forbid, you can have all of the nicest finishings and furnishings, the most exquisite rugs on the floors and tapestries on the walls, all so beautiful and impressive on the outside, but all of that surface décor will do little to keep the home intact when those forces inevitably come along.

So why am I going on about the foundation? Because in this week's Torah portion, Terumah, we read about the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. We often discuss the more obviously holy components like the Ark or Menorah, but there are many verses dedicated to the bases, the pillars, the middle rod, and the sockets. And why is that? Because those seemingly mundane elements created the Tabernacle's foundation, which stood strong as a home for God. A strong foundation is everything.

So while I don't expect us to spend our days talking about our homes' joists or footings, sometimes we need to dig a little deeper. Get past the superficial and really see what's underneath. In life we must ask ourselves: “What is my foundation?” What are my principles that are unbreakable? How do I stay grounded and connected when the storm winds begin to blow? Which mitzvah connects me to the God grid, so to speak?

That's why at three years old, when we celebrate the Upsherin (first haircut) of a child, we set the stage for a life of engaging with Judaism and Torah. We introduce them to the Hebrew alphabet and other mitzvot they can now begin to understand. That strongly rooted foundation in Jewish identity will serve them well for their life ahead.

As we grow up, our abilities and responsibilities increase, but we still must maintain that connection to our foundation. In Jewish practice, upon awakening in the morning we recite a small prayer called Modeh Ani, which expresses gratitude to God for giving us the gift of another day. It sets the tone for the way you move through the world during your waking hours. Remembering that you are connected to the Divine, that your connection is strong because it is fortified with a Jewish foundation — and because of that, you can handle anything that comes your way. But it is more than a morning ritual. It reminds us that every life needs a foundation, something steady that holds when the winds begin to blow.

The foundation of everything is serving God with joy, and we need that more than ever. So come to Chabad of Naples. Come together — let's stand together on the strong foundation that is our beautiful community. Can't wait to celebrate with everyone at the Grand Purim Party!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos