Dear Friends,
Thanks to Ettie's tireless efforts, we were blessed to host a magical evening last night entitled Wow! with Ruhama. Many of you know her from her @RuhamasFood brand, and from her many popular online channels where she shares authentic Middle Eastern recipes with a focus on Jewish culture and connection through food.
The Wow! comes from a small moment in her life, when she tasted one of her delicious dishes and said "wow" out loud to herself, but the greater lesson we can take away is anything but small. Throughout the presentation it became clear that Ruhama lives her life in a constant state of wow. She exhibited such gratitude and took several opportunities to thank G-d. She demonstrated genuine humility, so thankful for every follower she's gained; not taking anything for granted. She had an innate sense of joy that so many seek but do not find, and the impact it had on everyone in the room was palpable.
It ties in beautifully to this week's Torah portion of Vayishlach, where our forefather Jacob says to G-d, "I have been made small from all of the kindness and all of the truth which you have done for me." The phrase "I have been made small" means to be humbled. To recognize and appreciate anew all the goodness G-d has placed in our lives.
It is worth noting that Jacob had immense struggles to overcome; in number and severity. Yet he chose to focus on the good. He chose to express his gratitude to G-d for every kindness he experienced. He chose to be in awe--or I think we can say in wow--of life.
People often ask me what prayer is really about, and I think Jacob provides us with the perfect template. Prayer is about celebrating the majesty of creation, about thanking G-d for the sun, for the moon, for the stars, for our ability to wake up in the morning, to walk, to have a job, you name it. It gives us the power to focus on the good in our lives, humbling ourselves and embodying our gratitude so that every moment can be a wow moment.
So, speaking of inserting a little wow into our lives, be sure to join us for our Chanukah Festival at Cambier Park on Sunday, December 14th. Please take a moment to RSVP, so that we can plan all the Wow! accordingly.
I feel humbled and grateful when people come to a Chabad of Naples program, event, or Shabbat service and say "Wow, what a beautiful experience, Wow, there's so many people here!” People are always impressed by the joyful energy in the room; the thankfulness, the connection. So thank you to everyone who makes our community so special. The Jewish people are a special nation who are grateful for the gift of life even when it is difficult. We have certainly not had an easy go of it, both historically and in modern times. Seeing the commitment to Judaism and surge in Jewish pride after October 7th is powerful. Joy is not about your circumstances, it's about your perspective. So let's continue to find the wow in every moment and soak up the joy that results.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos