Dear Friends,
This past weekend, I had the privilege of joining 6,224 fellow Chabad rabbis from 100 nations around the globe, at the International Conference of Chabad rabbis in New York, also known as "the Kinus" (Kinus in Hebrew means "get together"). We gathered from around the world, in a moment of connection, and prayer to God, for our families, communities, and the world at large.
Among the faces of friends and family, was a shared purpose: to illuminate the world with Torah, mitzvot, and unconditional love. What made it all the more special was that Yitzi joined me, making the weekend even more meaningful. And here’s a picture of the two of us from 2015. Time truly flies.
Returning home, I couldn’t help but reflect on how appropriate it is that in this week’s Torah portion, Toldot, we read about the blessings that Isaac gave his son Jacob, before Jacob headed out to start a family of his own: “May you become an assembly of peoples.”
This is similar to the instructions we are given as Chabad Rabbis, to build and grow our communities wherever they may be. And this is indeed what we strive to do every day. But it’s not only for Chabad rabbis, this is a universal call. Each of us has the ability to bring people together, to gather others, and to make them feel part of a larger family, spreading connection, love, and belonging wherever we go.
Every one of us is a Shliach, a messenger from Heaven with a message for Earth. We operate as extensions of G-d's light, sent to illuminate the darkness of the world.
Sooner or later, every one of us awakens to the reality that our mission here is far greater than ourselves, and that the purpose of our life is more important to us than life itself. We feel that G-d sent us to do good here. We feel a sense of responsibility, a calling to not merely live out our years in comfort and then hand in the keys but to accomplish something, to make a difference. Another Mitzvah, another kind word, another embrace. It's our mission.
We're all Shluchim. You, me, and everyone.
From the grand banquet to quiet conversations with lifelong friends, this weekend has recharged and reinvigorated us. As we enter Kislev—the month of miracles—we prepare to share the light of Chanukah with our respective communities worldwide and tap into the blessings of this special time. I feel honored to bring this inspiration back to Naples and look forward to continuing to bring light wherever it is needed. I also look forward to sharing some of the highlights of the Chabad conference with you at Shul tomorrow.
With Chanukah already on the horizon, we can’t wait to celebrate the Grand Chanukah Festival together, titled Around the Globe.
The event is always spectacular, but trust me, this year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever.
So mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the miracle of Chanukah with us. RSVP today now at ChabadNaples.com/chanukah. We are looking for sponsors, as your support is essential to making this event possible. If you would like to bring light and blessings to our entire community, please call 239-262-4474 or email: [email protected]
Let’s light up the night together! We look forward to seeing you at the Grand Chanukah Festival!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos