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Rabbi Fishel's Blog

We Will Dance Again

Dear friends,

This Thursday will be the holiday of Simchas Torah – the one year anniversary on the Hebrew calendar of the atrocities of October 7…

The question is, how will we mark a day traditionally observed with unrestrained singing and dancing in celebration of our Torah and tradition, knowing that it was on that very day – just one year ago – that so much pain and suffering was inflicted upon our people?...

How will we celebrate it?...

The answer is, we know exactly how we’re going to celebrate it!...

Can we dance with a broken heart?... The answer is: we must – and therefore we can…. We can – and therefore we must…

My friends, as counterintuitive as it may sound, this coming Simchas Torah Eve on Thursday, October 24, must be the most joyous one ever!... We strongly encourage and urge each and every one to show up at Chabad of Naples that night at 7:00pm – with your dancing shoes on!...

Bring your immediate and extended family, and all of your friends and neighbors along with you!... Most of all, bring your children and grandchildren!… Let them see what “Am Yisrael Chai!” looks like – in real life, in real time!... Let them see how we celebrate our enduring legacy of truth and holiness, so that they can one day pass it on to their children and grandchildren!…  

If during the Yom Kippur Yizkor we are bringing the souls of those we lost into our Shuls with our prayers, on Simchas Torah, we will bring them into that room with our dancing!… We will sing and dance, and dance some more – and all of those “Kedoshim-Holy Souls of the IDF Soldiers, all the Holy Souls lost on Oct 7 and onwards" will be dancing right along with us!…

So please mark your calendar for Thursday, October 24, as we celebrate a Simchas Torah for the ages!... 

L'Chayim & Delicious dinner sponsored by Scott, Hetty & Michael Weinstein!!

Each Hakafa will be dedicated to those who inspire us and are fighting for the Jewish people.

People like Rami, a 58-year-old farmer with no combat experience, jumped into his car and headed straight into the line of fire at the Nova Festival. Rami spent 48 hours driving back and forth between the battlegrounds and his community, rescuing 750 young people.

People like Noam, a young IDF reservist who grabbed a handgun and ran to help as soon as he heard the news. He and four other soldiers were the first to enter Kfar Aza, knowing full well they were heavily outnumbered. Noam fought off hundreds—of terrorists and saved countless lives fighting until his last bullet.

People like Rachel Pollin. For 330 days, Rachel prayed and campaigned relentlessly for her son and the other hostages’ freedom, never giving up hope. Tragically, Hersh was murdered by the terrorists just hours before IDF troops neared. Rachel’s faith did not shatter, and in a heart-rending speech at her son’s funeral, she said, “Finally, my sweet boy, finally, finally, finally, finally, you’re free."

We will dance with our children, with the Torah, and with each other and celebrate the Jewish nation that shows up brighter, stronger, louder, and prouder despite everything.

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos  

Finding Strength Together This Yom Kippur

 

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Dear Friends,

As we reflect on the past week, we are reminded of how fragile life truly is and how deeply our lives are in Hashem’s hands. It has been a time of anxiety and uncertainty, but also a time to give thanks. We are here—alive and well. While material things can be replaced, our health, safety, and the love we share with one another are irreplaceable. We know there are those whose homes and livelihoods have been affected and are going through so much. Now is the time to come together as a community, to prioritize what truly matters, and to find strength in unity.

We warmly invite you to join us tonight and tomorrow for Yom Kippur at Chabad of Naples. This is a space where unconditional love, openness, and acceptance flourish. People who come for the first time often find themselves returning again and again, drawn by the warmth and spirit of our community. Here, we stand together, shoulder to shoulder, as family. 

We are probably not what you expect, and you will probably be pleasantly surprised. You get two for the price of one at Chabad with our team leadership of co-director of Chabad Rebbetzin Ettie along with Rabbi Fishel. Our services are conducted in English and Hebrew.  I offer running commentary, insights and instructions in English, so we can always be “on the same page.”  My sermons are relevant, humorous, and if I do my job right - meaningful. You may even be thinking about them after the services. This may lead to a lively conversation. Or even a spirited debate. Imagine that.

Children are welcome. The more the better. We want them to have a great experience too! We're a friendly congregation. If you're new to our services, be prepared - someone will make you feel welcome. 

You may find yourself asking, "What do you actually believe?" Good question. We ask it of ourselves often. 

We believe that light dispels darkness.

We believe labels are for clothing, not people.

We believe that Judaism should bring people together, not keep them apart. Our differences are opportunities for learning and growth.

We believe in acts of kindness and maintaining a healthy sense of humor.

We believe in emphasizing the joys – not the “oys” – of Judaism. We’re big on the joy thing. So try it, and see for yourself how sweet it is! 

Together, we will pray for all those who have been affected by the recent hurricane, and we will offer blessings for each of us as individuals, for our community, and for the Jewish people as a whole.  

We are so blessed to be part of this amazing, open-hearted community that, over the past few days, has paused everything to be there for one another.

Yom Kippur is a time of Tzedakah, giving charity, and we humbly ask you to consider partnering with Chabad of Naples in our ongoing efforts to help others, not only in times of need, but every day of the year. Your support allows us to continue our mission, ensuring that our doors are always open for anyone in need, during good times and challenging moments alike.

To make a Kol Nidrei/Yizkor Donation click here 

To become a partner with Chabad  click here.

To make a donation to our historic Big Build click here  

May Hashem bless you and your loved ones with good health, peace, and an abundance of joy. Gmar Chatima Tova—may we all be inscribed for a good and sweet year.

With heartfelt blessings,

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

Personal Prayer

Dear Friends,

As we anticipate what the next 48 hours or so may bring, and connect with family and friends in prayer and good thoughts, allow me to share a personal prayer.

Dear Father in Heaven, in the past few days we have witnessed and experienced the best of humanity. The kindness and generosity of community members and total strangers, the opening of hearts and homes all across Collier County and beyond, men and women putting the needs of others before they're own safety.

Look down from your heavenly abode and grant peace and salvation to your children, calm the seas and silence the winds, and bring us all back safely to our homes, so that we could continue to walk in your ways and make this world an even better and kinder place. 

With love and blessings that we all remain healthy, safe and sound!

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

 

How Our New High Holiday Prayerbooks Became a Blessing for TWO Communities

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How Our New High Holiday Prayerbooks Became a Blessing for TWO Communities

 

This year, we made the decision to acquire new machzorim (special prayerbooks for the High Holidays) for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and we are deeply grateful to the families who stepped up to make this possible.

 

Thank you to Gennadiy Berlyand and Tatyana Berlyand and their family, for sponsoring 300 machzorim for Rosh Hashanah, and Mark Kreindel and Sharon Kreindel, Bruce Barron and Jacki Barron, and Mark and Ellie Mandelbaum, for sponsoring 300 machzorim for Yom Kippur. Thanks to their incredible generosity, we are blessed to be able to provide Chabad of Naples with new, beautiful prayer books that will enhance our High Holiday experience.

 

The new machzorim will ensure our congregants can pray with focus and intention during these important days, when prayers for our families, the Jewish people, and Israel, are more vital than ever. But as I always say - whatever page you are on is the right page!

 

But what makes this story even more special is the way Divine Providence worked to connect our community to another in need. As I waited for the delivery of our new machzorim, I held on to the old ones, wondering what we could do with them. Then, as if on cue, I received a message from Rabbi Sholom Dubov of Chabad of Orlando. They had just experienced a devastating fire, and their community was in desperate need of machzorim for the upcoming High Holidays. I knew right away—this was why we had held on to the old books. I immediately told Rabbi Dubov, "I have 250 machzorim ready for you." They picked them up, and I am filled with gratitude that we could be of help in this time of need.

 

Our decision to replace our machzorim will not only bring beauty to our own prayers but also allow us to share with another community in need. It's a reminder that we are all intertwined, our prayers lifting each other up, especially in times of hardship.

 

Thank you again to the Berlyand, Baron, Mandelbaum, and Kreindel families for their kindness and generosity in making this possible. Your contributions have not only enhanced our own community but have touched the lives of those in Orlando as well.

 

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, we welcome everyone to join us at Chabad of Naples. We have a seat for you! (Though for security reasons, we do kindly ask that you let us know your name in advance.) Please RSVP to [email protected] today so we can plan accordingly! We are a family here, and everyone is welcome to join us in beautiful prayer, whether or not you have a machzor. Our prayers connect us all, and together, we will have an uplifting High Holiday season that elevates each and every one of us.

 

May this Rosh Hashanah be filled with love, unity, and blessings for all. We can’t wait to welcome you. Shana Tova!

 

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, but sometimes it just doesn't tell the whole story.

 

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Meet the Rich family––Larry and Deborah with their son, Jake, daughter-in-law, Ariela, and their fourth child, baby Menachem Mendel.

 

Rewind to the year 2004. My wife, Ettie, and I were fairly new in town and I was doing some shopping at Publix on a Friday afternoon. I saw a woman, Deborah Rich, who looked like she might appreciate the well wishes of "Shabbat shalom." Sure enough, she responded enthusiastically. Just a few weeks later, her husband, Larry, asked me for a prayer book for their son. I was happy to help him procure one and I began a friendship with his son, Jake, who became a regular at Chabad of Naples and a dear friend of our family.

 

Fast forward to 2013, when I was blessed to attend Jake's wedding in Chile to a lovely girl, Ariela (Ettie set them up!), and now to 2024 with an invitation to come to Atlanta to be the Sandek (relative or friend who holds the baby) at the bris (circumcision) of their fourth child. It's a real "pinch me" moment, and it all started with a chance encounter and a small prayer book! Thank you to G-d for the layers and layers of little miracles that had to occur to lead to this joyous occasion!

 

As Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year) approaches, we turn inward for reflection. This story, and the incredible journey that Jake has taken with his Judaism, reminds me that we don't always know which moments are the big and which are the small. Sometimes what we would consider a miniscule act of kindness or consideration can create a massive ripple effect in someone else's life. As we resolve to do and be better this upcoming year, let us not underestimate the value of small steps in the right direction. They may just lead you to the huge celebration of a tiny new soul.

 

It's a special moment for the family of course, but also for the Jewish people as a whole, as our nation is going through a difficult time. Having another child entered into the covenant as we have been doing for thousands of years is a beacon of hope for the continuation and triumph of the Jewish nation.

 

Thank you to Hashem for allowing Ettie and myself be a part of this miraculous journey. Mazel tov to the whole Rich family!

 

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