Dear Friends,
This Shabbat, as America marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, we pause to appreciate one of the greatest blessings a person, a family, and a community can know: the blessing of freedom.
There will be flags, family, barbecues, and fireworks. But July 4th is more than a national celebration. It is a moment for all of us to recognize the freedom, opportunity, and dignity this country represents.
For us as Jews, that appreciation runs especially deep. For so much of our history, Jewish life was lived under fear, restriction, or uncertainty. Here in America, we have been blessed with the freedom to live openly and proudly as Jews. We can build a synagogue, place a mezuzah on our doors, educate our children, gather for Shabbat, serve Hashem with confidence, build communities, and be there for one another. That is a blessing we should never take for granted.
From its founding, America recognized a powerful truth: our rights and dignity are not given by government alone. They are endowed by our Creator. Every person has value because every person was created by Hashem.
Freedom built on that foundation is not only a privilege. It is a responsibility. This week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, speaks directly to that responsibility. Moses is told that he will not enter the Land of Israel. This was the dream of his life. He had led the Jewish people out of Egypt, through the sea, to Mount Sinai, and across the desert. And now, at the very edge of the Promised Land, he learns that he will not go in.
What does Moses do at that moment?
He does not focus on himself. He turns to Hashem and asks for the next leader.
He says:
יִפְקֹד ה׳ אֱלֹקי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר
“May Hashem, the G-d of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community.”
And he asks that the people not be left “like sheep without a shepherd.”
Moses understood something powerful. Life is not only about what we build. It is about what we leave for the next generation. That is true for the Jewish people, and it is true for America.
Freedom is precious, but it is never automatic. It must be cherished, protected, and passed on with responsibility. At a time when antisemitism is rising and moral clarity is needed, we must continue to stand proudly for the values that make this country a blessing: faith in the Creator, respect for every person, moral courage, kindness, and the willingness to stand up for what is right.
That is one of the messages of Pinchas: there are moments when values require courage. We cannot be passive about the future of our people, our families, or our communities.
So this July 4th, we do not only look back with gratitude. We look forward with purpose. What kind of country will we help build? What kind of community will we leave behind? What values will our children and grandchildren see in us?
The answer begins with how we use our freedom. Use it to do a mitzvah. Use it to help another person. Use it to build family and community. Use it to bring more light into the world. That is the spirit we try to live every day at Chabad Naples. Every person is cherished. Every soul is precious. Our hope is that everyone feels loved, welcomed, and part of one mishpacha, one extended family.
We felt that so powerfully this week with the launch of Kitchen of Kindness. The response was beautiful because it was not only about meals. It was about people being cared for, feeling connected, and knowing they are part of a community that shows up for one another.
That is freedom at its best: using the blessings we have been given to bring kindness, dignity, and goodness into the lives of others.
May Hashem bless this country, protect those who defend it, and help each of us use our freedom with purpose, gratitude, courage, and kindness.
With love and blessings,
Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos
