Dear Friends,
This week had many noteworthy moments, but the highlight for me was officiating an Upsherin and a wedding. As I was standing under the Chuppah with the beautiful couple, I took the opportunity to share a few thoughts with them. They say your wedding day is like your own personal Yom Kippur. Your slate is wiped clean and it is an auspicious time for self-reflection. One of the concepts I shared was this:
Anybody who knows anything about construction will tell you that the most important element in building a new home is its foundation. It’s all about the foundation. If the foundation is strong, the home can withstand whatever destructive forces — even strong Florida hurricanes — that might come along and threaten its stability and integrity. But if the foundation is weak, God forbid, you can have all of the nicest finishings and furnishings, the most exquisite rugs on the floors and tapestries on the walls, all so beautiful and impressive on the outside, but all of that surface décor will do little to keep the home intact when those forces inevitably come along.
So why am I going on about the foundation? Because in this week's Torah portion, Terumah, we read about the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. We often discuss the more obviously holy components like the Ark or Menorah, but there are many verses dedicated to the bases, the pillars, the middle rod, and the sockets. And why is that? Because those seemingly mundane elements created the Tabernacle's foundation, which stood strong as a home for God. A strong foundation is everything.
So while I don't expect us to spend our days talking about our homes' joists or footings, sometimes we need to dig a little deeper. Get past the superficial and really see what's underneath. In life we must ask ourselves: “What is my foundation?” What are my principles that are unbreakable? How do I stay grounded and connected when the storm winds begin to blow? Which mitzvah connects me to the God grid, so to speak?
That's why at three years old, when we celebrate the Upsherin (first haircut) of a child, we set the stage for a life of engaging with Judaism and Torah. We introduce them to the Hebrew alphabet and other mitzvot they can now begin to understand. That strongly rooted foundation in Jewish identity will serve them well for their life ahead.
As we grow up, our abilities and responsibilities increase, but we still must maintain that connection to our foundation. In Jewish practice, upon awakening in the morning we recite a small prayer called Modeh Ani, which expresses gratitude to God for giving us the gift of another day. It sets the tone for the way you move through the world during your waking hours. Remembering that you are connected to the Divine, that your connection is strong because it is fortified with a Jewish foundation — and because of that, you can handle anything that comes your way. But it is more than a morning ritual. It reminds us that every life needs a foundation, something steady that holds when the winds begin to blow.
The foundation of everything is serving God with joy, and we need that more than ever. So come to Chabad of Naples. Come together — let's stand together on the strong foundation that is our beautiful community. Can't wait to celebrate with everyone at the Grand Purim Party!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos