Dear Friends,
As the holiday of Passover descends upon us, Ettie, Mendel, Yitzi, Chaya and Hinda join me in wishing you and yours a truly joyful Passover holiday.
We are thinking of family and friends far and near and wishing you a very special holiday full of quality time and traditional experiences, creating lifelong memories with family and friends.
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Our homes will soon be filled with the sounds, aromas and traditions of the Seder table. Families will gather, children will ask the Four Questions, and we will once again retell the story that has shaped our people for more than three thousand years.
We are pleased to present this year’s Pesach journal, with inspiring articles exploring the magic of matzah, the powerful women of Jewish history, the benefits of Shabbos, and even a Duolingo lesson. We hope these insights provide you with “gold nuggets” of Jewish wisdom for a more spiritual and renewed Pesach.
Here at Chabad Naples, we are witnessing a renewed thirst for connection, learning, and spiritual meaning. Shabbat services continue to grow, events are filled to capacity, and classes are thriving.
We hope you will continue to grow, learn, strengthen our faith in Hashem, and pass on our story to the next generation. This is the Jewish way.
The Haggadah teaches us: “In every generation, a person must see themselves as if they personally left Egypt.”
Every generation faces its own “Egypts” — its own challenges, fears and moments of uncertainty. And every generation must rediscover its own courage, faith, and determination.
Pesach reminds us that empires rise and fall. Tyrants come and go. The Pharaohs and Ayatollahs eventually pass into history. But the Jewish people prevail. Because through it all, we never lose faith in the promise that guides us — Hashem’s promise that He will always stand with us.
That promise comes alive during one of the most powerful moments of the Seder, when we sing the words V’hi She’amda:
“In every generation there are those who rise against us to destroy us, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, saves us from their hand.”
The Jewish story continues. A story of faith. A story of light that no darkness can ever extinguish. This is the power of Pesach.
As we gather around our Seder tables this year, may we feel the strength of our past, the blessing of our present, and the promise of our future. And may we merit to celebrate next year together in a world filled with Shalom.
L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim. Next Year in Jerusalem!
From our family to yours — Chag Pesach Sameach.
Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos