Rabbi Fishel's Blog

Purim was one of the very first events that we held in Naples. It was our first opportunity to bond with the community in a real way and to begin to embrace each other with love and happiness. Purim reminds us of when we began our journey with this beautiful community: it was much simpler but the foundation for the love and happiness we now enjoy. 

When Ettie Zaklos and I arrived here Mendel was only a little boy and soon he will have his bar mitzvah. How little we really understood when we first came here: at times success seemed insurmountable. We didn’t know anyone, the place was new, but we followed the message of Purim and continued with our dream. We believed G-d is always working behind the scenes and if we did our part we would see our dreams unfold and become reality. Today, just as with the Purim story, we see the miracle. We look with joy upon what we have established here in Naples together: a beautiful Chabad campus, a vibrant community, a hugely successful Naples Preschool of the Arts, and a center of love and light. 

In these frantic days, as our prayers and thoughts go to the victims of terror in Brussels, we must try to keep our eyes focused on better times and keeping the miracle alive. 

In your own life today you can absorb this message -- come & hear the story at Chabad this Thursday -- are you ready for it? It's one of the happiest festivals!

Connect with the past so it can guide us all for the future.

On a simple note it is the happiest day of the year, so let’s celebrate! There's a HUGE Purim Party planned on Thursday, March 24th at 6 pm. 
Make your reservations now - space is limited! See you there!

I know my mother reads the weekly messages so this would be an amazing opportunity to give her Nachas.  Today is my mother's birthday and to commemorate this event, as it is also the week before Purim, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share just a little bit about this remarkable woman because she inspires me with her powerful love, positive energy, and zest for life. (Of course my Dad does as well, but it's her birthday.)

I want to convey from the depths of my heart how much I recognize and appreciate the tremendous privilege it has been to be raised and mentored by such a truly devoted and sterling woman like my mother. I often wonder where I would be today if it were not for the encouragement and anchors of steel with which my mother, held us as we were growing up.

We know Judaism and the Bible contain nice slogans, but for my mother it's the essence of who she is and what she is all about. She lives her beliefs. She always conducts herself with humility and dignity, and there is always a certain happiness, optimism, and boundless faith emanating from her. She has shown me – time and time again – what it means not to be broken by hardship and deprivation in life, but to live life on a higher level, with faith and dignity, with serenity and equanimity, and above all, with joy and gratitude for every day Hashem gives us on this earth.

Now a parent myself, I see that if I really want to teach my children how to conduct themselves in all areas of life, it's not only by instructing them but also by showing them with my actions, as my mother did. She showed us by her own behavior in a powerful way: it's not what she said to us, although she surely said some powerful, wise, and insightful words, but it was the way she conducted herself and her attitude. She taught me as a child to be the best I could be, lifting me up to the fullest potential.

We used to joke that the post office is being sponsored and supported solely by my mother because she makes and maintains connections with people, remembering their birthdays and sending out cards. She happens to have an amazing memory and she remembers everyone's numbers, showing her genuine care for people. It’s never about herself, always about others and after you meet her you are left with a good feeling and her happy positive words, regardless of the situation. Life with my mother has always been positive and inspiring, motivating me to want to pass it along.

This is what I, G-d willing, would like to emulate. 

So to my dear mother: May your Special birthday be a milestone and a turning point for new and redoubled resurgence of strength, energy and accomplishment, enabling you to enjoy much nachas from all of your very grateful, respectful and reverential children and grandchildren for many long, happy, healthy and blessed years to come!

Today we welcomed the new Jewish month of Adar. Our sages tell us "when the month of Adar arrives, we increase in joy."

Joy is a very powerful emotion. Tradition teaches that joy has the power to break through boundaries and restraints. As we each experience our personal struggles, Adar reminds us that being joyful transforms our struggles into triumphs.

May G-d help us all that they be in an easy way and a swift manner. 

Our featured program is our grand Purim party, another "Purim at the Circus" experience. See below for all the details, and make sure to mark your calendar.

As our children prepare for Purim, one of our most fun-filled  celebrations, my heart lifts and swells with happiness whenever I witness and share the smiling joyful  faces such as we see here. At Chabad Naples  not only are we dedicated to making it into the most positive experience we can create, but we want our children to enjoy coming.

Happy children, happy learning, Chag Purim sameach!

With blessings for a peaceful and joyous Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos