Dear Friends,
People need people. 
These words feel especially true to me today, following the shooting at a synagogue yesterday in my hometown of Detroit. Thank God no one was injured, but it still shakes us. Makes life feel precarious and throws us off balance.
We want to say a huge thank you to the Naples Police Department and our incredible security team led by Dennis Harris, who immediately came down to meet following the news. Our security guards are here on a constant basis, while Dennis and the Naples Police Department are constantly reviewing and improving our security, always checking in to make sure we are safe and protected. They truly go above and beyond.
While they are taking care of the physical protection and giving us the peace of mind to gather, let’s come together and strengthen the spiritual protection as well. Let's pray for Michigan, let's pray for Toronto, let's pray for Naples, and our brothers and sisters in Israel. A group of us hoped to be in Israel this Shabbat. Yet Jewish history reminds us that when circumstances prevent us from going to Israel, we can bring the spirit of Israel to where we are. Even if we are not there physically, spiritually our hearts are there and we will pray for them with the same enthusiasm, knowing we are right where we are meant to be.
In fact, have you heard that attending weekly Shabbat services at Chabad of Naples will give you a longer life and better health?
(Okay, my attorney tells me to insert the following disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Chabad's services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.")
Seriously though, numerous studies find that regularly attending religious services may benefit mental and physical health. Researchers at Emory University found that there is a “substantial amount of protection against mortality from all causes” for people who attend religious services once a week or more.
So why is attending services regularly good for you? On the most basic level, being around others is good for us. More and more research suggests how loneliness can negatively impact our health and increase our risk factors for all kinds of diseases.
Having a social life is not just a luxury. We need people who know our name, care about us, and check in on us — and vice versa. But there is much more to it than that.
When we are alone, we are only focused on our personal journey and accomplishments. Being in the presence of a group helps us realize that there is a bigger plan and a greater mission than just our own. It's about all of us achieving something incredible together.
This week's portion, Vayakhel, begins with the verse:
“Moses called the whole community of the children of Israel to assemble.”
What was the purpose of this grand assembly? If Moses wanted to share the words of God, he could have done so in other ways. As many disgruntled workers have muttered under their breath, “this could have been an email!”
Moses chose to gather the entire Jewish nation because this gathering symbolizes the bird’s-eye view — the look from above. It was as if Moses was telling them: there will come a moment when each one of you will embark on your journey, focused on your part in making the world a better place. But before we do, let's recognize the awesomeness of the moment. We are all receiving an extraordinary mission from God.
Vayakhel has the same root as kehilla, or community. Something I hear over and over again when people come to Chabad Naples is that they truly feel like family. We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that is brimming with love and tangible warmth.
Last week someone who had recently moved told me they never thought they would find a place that felt like home, but that here they found mishpacha — family. That sentiment comes up again and again. The stories are endless. You feel the warmth, the love, the sense of belonging. No matter where you are in life, you feel like you’ve finally found a home.
We were never meant to do it alone.
We need each other, more than ever.
So come to Shabbat services at Chabad. We can always make room for more family.
May the unity of our community propel us all higher and bring the world one step closer to an everlasting peace.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos