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Rabbi Fishel's Blog

good will prevail!

Dear Friends,

The fourth night of Chanukah is upon us! The menorah's tiny flame flickering in the darkness symbolizes the victory of light over darkness; that at the end of the day good will prevail!

In the midst of these confusing times, Chanukah arrives just on time, with its message of light, hope and optimism. Let us celebrate this Chanukah with even more joy and pride than ever before. Let us renew our faith and optimism, and recommit ourselves to bring our own light to the world; the light of Torah and mitzvahs, the light of goodness and kindness, which will dispel the darkness of evil and shine forth the glory of everything that's good and G-dly.

Chabad of Naples is celebrating 13 years of Outdoor Chanukah Festivals!
We can't wait to see everyone tonight!

The highlight, as always, will be a special performance by our very own Naples Preschool of the Arts and Hebrew School students. There will be plenty of chocolate themed activities, incredible booths, delicious food, live music, a BUBBLE SHOW, and so many exciting activities for children of all ages. We are honored that Naples Mayor Bill Barnett will be lighting the Chocolate Menorah. The event is FREE and open to the entire community, so bring your friends! 

The Menorah is traditionally kindled in the evening, a time when the glow of the flames will illuminate the world around it. The famous Jewish saying that "a little light dispels a lot of darkness", is true all year round, but is especially true as we light the Menorah. The beautiful lights of the Menorah and the eternal message of G-d's protection of the Jewish people, of the bravery of the few standing up for what is right, continue to have meaning and value thousands of years after the story first occurred.

The world has lots of challenges and issues that need resolving, including the war and terrible tragedy that is going on in Syria, the terrorism that has been happening every few weeks in Europe, the bitter bias at the UN which saw hundreds of Anti Israel resolutions passed in the last few years including one this past Friday afternoon and just eight against the Syrian crisis, sickness and diseases, prejudices of all other kinds, and a host of other issues and problems.

Yet then comes the light of Chanukah, and it reminds us that to win darkness, you don't always need to be the majority to be right and succeed, instead we need to increase in our own determination to increase in spiritual light, both in our own home and lives and also in the world around us and doing so can change the world for the good. When that happens, we will light up, inspire and beautify the world around us, be a source of encouragement to ourselves and others to be forces of goodness and kindness, and slowly but surely dispel the darkness that is out there and make the world a much better and brighter place.

It happens one candle at a time, one Mitzvah at a time...

Wishing you a joyful, inspiring and meaningful Chanukah!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

Amazing Success!

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Dear Friends,

Truthfully, I don’t feel that a Facebook message does justice to what happened yesterday. Every person who has shown support along the way, every individual who has invested so strongly in Chabad of Naples & Preschool of the Arts, really deserves a personal thank you. 

This video is but a small token of our gratitude. Please consider it as personally directed toward you, and as a personal thank you for your ongoing support.

We're so touched and humbled by the outpouring of support over the last 26 hours. We would like to thank all our friends, and supporters, for participating in this incredibly successful effort.

Please take a moment to view the success of our 24hr campaign: www.chabadnaples.com/matching2016

If you didn't have a chance to participate, and you are feeling especially thankful, please consider doing so, so we can start 2017 on a strong note. Visit  www.chabadnaples.com/donate

Thank you for being a partner with us in our special work! 

WITH DEEP GRATITUDE TO OUR MATCHERS THAT ENABLED THE DONATIONS TO TRIPLE! Stuart & Sondra Avrick | Shulamit, in loving memory of Nicki |Mitch & Sheila Spaiser| Jacqueline Simenauer, in loving memory of Tara Heidi Simenauer Pond/ Alan & Sudie Peyser.

Chanukah gives us a chance to reflect on how greatly we value and appreciate you. We want to personally wish each and every one of you a Holiday Season filled with friendship and traditions. May the warmth and glow of each Chanukah candle make your heart and home happy and bright.

We look forward to seeing you at the "Chocolate Factory". There will be plenty of chocolate themed activities, including a lighting a large Chocolate Menorah, incredible booths, delicious food, live music, a BUBBLE SHOW, and so many exciting activities for children of all ages. We are honored that Naples Mayor Bill Barnett will be lighting the Chocolate Menorah. The highlight, as always, will be a special performance by our very own Preschool of the Arts students. The event is FREE and open to the entire community, so bring your friends!

May you and yours be blessed in 2017 with an abundance of health, sustenance and happiness.

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos
Arthur Seigel, M.D., President

 

 

Wow! ~ What a weekend!

Dear Friends,

Wow!

What a whirlwind of a weekend! We are at a total loss for words. The outpour of love & friendship these past few days has been overwhelming and heartwarming. As parents, Ettie and I  are filled with the utmost gratitude for our blessings - our children, our families, and our friends who came together (in large numbers!)  from all over the world to celebrate and share our joy and pride. Whether we’ve come to know you through the shul, the school, the Shabbat dinners, the classes, the programs, or just a pleasant crossing of paths, you mean the world to us and to our children – especially to our Bar Mitzvah boy – and we were able to feel that love flowing in both directions.

We are grateful to be a part of this special community, and we look forward to reciprocating this warmth and affection at all of your simchas in the months and years to come, may they be many!

You have our heartfelt thanks for being with us either physically or in spirit- to be able to share our naches with all of you is the greatest gift. 

Wishing you a beautiful Shabbat!

 

Annual International Conference

 

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This weekend was a landmark event for our family - for me, Ettie, and the children. Mendel just turned 13 on Friday and as we anticipate sharing the Bar Mitzvah reception and celebration with our Naples Mishpacaha next weekend, as is the custom, we witnessed Mendel's calling up to the Torah on the actual day in NY. Mendel recited his Chassidic discourse, five pages of philosophy by heart in Yiddish, in front of many rabbis (no pressure) and he aced it.

 

 

With perfect timing it was so special to come together at the Annual International Conference of Chabad Rabbis for stimulating workshops and to absorb wisdom from friends and colleagues. There must have been close to 5,000 friends from 84 nations that made it surreal and it was just so inspiring that we went on literally for 24 hours because we didn’t want to miss a minute! Add to this, the mind-boggling realization that now Mendel entered into this circle and joined in this amazing group of friends - it was powerful beyond words.

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Mendel and Yitzi, with special permission, joined me at the amazing banquetand danced the night away, celebrating the light and the love.

We could not ask for greater nachas or gifts to instill in our children, the love of life and light of Torah that leads to unique friendships and the betterment of humanity around the world.

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