Rabbi Fishel's Blog

Tomorrow, Shavuot (Friday, May 22) is a VERY BIG DAY.

12:30 PM Reading of the Ten Commandments

1:00 PM Dairy Buffet 

Dear Friends, 

As Shavuot approaches, we're reminded of the profound significance of this holiday, when we commemorate the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. But why was Sinai chosen above all other mountains? The answer lies in its modest stature. Humility, we are taught, is a prerequisite for delving into the teachings of the Torah.

Yet, if humility is paramount, why not give the Torah on level ground or in a valley?

The answer lies in the delicate balance between humility and pride. While humility is crucial, so too is a healthy sense of Jewish pride. We should never allow ourselves to adopt a victim mentality or define our Jewish identity solely in opposition to the hatred of others.

We are not merely anti-anti-Semites; we are a people chosen by G-d to illuminate the world with our values and teachings. Being part of the Jewish people should fill us with immense pride. So let us walk tall, not out of arrogance, but as emissaries of the divine, ambassadors of the richness of Jewish tradition and values to the world.

The Jewish mission is alive and well and we're celebrating it tomorrow. Stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish nation as we recommit to the eternal vision of the Torah this Shavuot.

It's considered especially important and powerful, in terms of potent blessings and inspiration, to be in the synagogue while the TEN COMMANDMENTS are read. The Rebbe of righteous memory encouraged even infants to attend for the reading.

Join us on the first day of Shavuot, Friday, May 22 at 12:30 pm for the reading of the Ten Commandments, followed by a Delicious Dairy Buffet and Cheesecake/Ice Cream Party. (For the full holiday schedule, see below).

A great kids program led by Chaya and Hinda Zaklos is planned, complete with goodies and prizes.

RSVP at this link! We hope you will join us to celebrate this joyous holiday as a community!

Chag Someach, we hope to see you!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos
 

SERVICE TIMES

Friday May 22 – Shavuot Day 1

Shacharit: 10:00am

10 commandments Ice Cream & Dairy Buffet: 12:30pm

Saturday May 23 – Shavuot Day 2

Shacharit: 10:00am

Yizkor: 11:15am

Yizkor" memorial and prayers for the sick

The holiday of Shavuot is an especially auspicious time to recall loved ones who are no longer with us (the "Yizkor" memorial prayer). In addition, after the reading of the Ten Commandments, we will be reciting the “mi shebairach” prayer for the sick.

While it is not the same as doing so in person, you can send us any names you wish to be included as follows: [email protected]

• Yizkor – Hebrew name and name of the father (if known)
• Mi shebairach - Hebrew name and name of the mother (if known)

And may we all be blessed with His abundant goodness!!

Dear Friends,

What do you picture when you think of the desert? Endless amounts of nothingness? A hot, oppressive environment where most living things cannot thrive?

The Torah paints a different picture of the desert, and there are two significant points in particular I'd like to highlight.

The Torah portion "Bamidbar" is always read on the Shabbat before Shavuot (this Friday and Shabbat). "Bamidbar" literally means “in the desert.” While the desert is a hot place replete with sand, it is also a place of silence, free from visual and auditory distractions.

Silence is often conflated with quiet. How many times were we told by our teachers, or did we tell our own children, to be quiet? But quiet is merely the absence of sound. Silence is full of its own virtue.

When we are silent, we are able to tap into the essence at our core, and to truly listen to the divine whisperings that shape our traditions and practice. Our holy sages said “Silence is a fence to wisdom," and silence accompanied the priests' service in the Temple. The Amidah, the most profound daily prayer, is also said silently.

The famous Shema Yisroel alludes to this truth. There is no sufficient English equivalent for the layers contained within the Hebrew verb SH-M-A in its wide range of senses: to listen, to hear, to pay attention, to understand, to internalize and to respond with our actions.

At Sinai, the Jewish people said, “All that God says, we will do and we will hear.” Listening is crucial to faith, enabling us to hear the music beneath the noise. In our noisy world, filled with constant information, much of it negative and these days frightening, we need moments of silence to hear the “still, small voice” of God, reminding us we are loved, heard, and embraced by God's everlasting arms. So let's escape the outside noise and come together at Chabad Naples, where everyone's voice counts!

There is another characteristic of the desert that illuminates why God chose to deliver the Torah in what most would call the middle of nowhere.

Just as the desert is wide open territory for everyone to take advantage of and make their own, the Torah was given to the Jewish people in order for each and every one of us to make it our own, by delving into it and discovering its beauty and inner secrets.

No one person can claim ownership of the Torah; it belongs to every Jew equally. That's why this Torah portion is always read the week prior to the holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate the anniversary of the Jewish people receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai. It's also why the Torah was given to the Jews specifically in the desert.

Everyone gathers together and receives the Torah at his or her own level. Each year, it is as if we are receiving the Torah anew for the first time!

So this year, what deserts are you facing in your personal life? That which may feel like a lack can really be an opening for change. A space ripe for self reflection. A chance to take ownership of the Torah in a fresh and personal way.

It's no coincidence that the Torah is compared to water. For when you've been wandering in the desert for a long time, you desperately need a drink. (And of course, you need a delicious dairy buffet lunch as well!) Each of us is poised to receive that which quenches not merely our physical thirst, but our spiritual thirst as well.

Come receive the Torah with us next week at our community Shavuot celebration. We can't wait to see everyone there!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos

Dear Friends,

Nearly 250 people joined us for our Lag B'Omer barbecue, and we are still riding the wave of positive energy. Roberto and Thais outdid themselves once again with their incomparable hospitality. The music was vibrant, the food was delicious, and the smiles were beaming from every corner. Over and over people came up to us and said, "Thank you Rabbi and Ettie. We really needed this."

But what exactly did they need? A hot dog? A cool drink? A great burger? Far from it. Any of the individual components of the celebration could have been procured on their own — although nothing quite on the level of the Chabad Naples burgers (thank you Peter and Eric for their expert grilling). It's the togetherness they needed. That's what we all need. And that's the X factor of a community gathering. That's the meaning behind the expression "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." That's the je ne sais quoi of being part of something bigger than yourself, yet knowing deep down that you are an integral part of that whole.

The Torah portion this week says, "v'chi yamuch achicha… vehechzakta bo." Meaning, if your brother or sister falls on hard times and reaches out their hand, you should strengthen them. This goes far beyond making sure their material needs are met. Firstly, recognizing them as your brother or sister — taking a moment to see them for who they really are: a precious soul cut from the same cloth as your own. This infuses any help you give with dignity.

Secondly, giving them hope. Sparking joy, sharing a laugh. We are all in this crazy ride of life together, and the together is what makes it bearable. It's an appropriate lesson to draw from Lag B'Omer, as Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai taught that Kabbalah is not meant to make us more mystical — it's meant to make us more real.

There is a story told about a devastating famine in Russia: A beggar, weak and starving, approached Leo Tolstoy for help. Tolstoy searched his pockets but found nothing. Instead, he took the man’s hand and said, “Don’t be angry with me, my brother. I have nothing with me.” The beggar’s face lit up and he replied, “But you called me ‘brother.’ That was the greatest gift you could give me.”

The Torah charges us this week to lift one another up. Everyone has something they can give. We may not all have deep pockets (although if you do, please give generously!), but we can all offer a kind word, a simple favor, a genuine smile, and a sincere “how are you really doing?”

How can you make someone feel seen? What needs to be healed? Where is God hiding? In the noise of modern life, how can you remind someone that we are in this together — that they were never meant to do it alone?

If you seek the opportunity to help others, you will find it. And you may hear for yourself: "Thank you. I really needed this."

The magical feeling we experienced on Lag B'Omer is a regular thing at Chabad Naples! Join us for our famous Shabbat service or one of our many programs, and mark your calendars for Shavuot, Friday, May 22, featuring a legendary dairy luncheon you won’t want to miss!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos