Ten is a BIG Number -- Ten is ... a Decade!
Just as we are about to celebrate our Tenth Year Anniversary -- my wife left me! Hold on now, -- Ettie leaves me for a week every year at this time, to attend the International Chabad Conference. This gives Ettie an opportunity to recharge her Preschool batteries by networking with some of the most energetic and dynamic women and sharing new ideas and techniques in education. And lucky me -- I get to make the BIG decisions with the four beautiful children -- is it Cheerios or toast for breakfast? It also reminds me of just how much a wife and mother does: the love, the attention -- and a lot of hard work. With one month to go to the tenth anniversary, I salute my partner Ettie, and all the partners of Chabad. Thank you.
We have so very much to be thankful for as we approach this decade-marker. We could not have achieved this alone. We are honoring the development of this journey we are taking together, and these are some of the people who make it possible: Carol Glassman who receives the 2014 Chabad Naples Benefactor Award. She was the first journalist who wrote an article about Chabad in Naples and has continued to keep us 'famous' and to contribute to our goals. The Sexton Family, for their involvement as parents and contributors who have enhanced our Number One Preschool of the Arts, will receive the Preschool Tribute. I look forward to greeting you all personally on Monday, February 24. Click here to view our mini-site!
In the past I have quoted a beautiful, relevant piece from the Talmud that tells how a man brings wheat into the home but it is the woman who fashions it into bread and cake. It doesn't mean that man alone brings home the wheat; it means that the women turn the kernels of dreams into reality. My wife Ettie helped me turn the hopes and dreams and ideas I had into something real and solid. Ettie: for your loyalty, dedication, devotion, friendship and love I give you my gratitude and so much more.
The 'other woman' in my life gave me the greatest gift I could ever receive as a young boy: my most precious childhood memories are of my mother sitting by my bed and reading to me -- she gave me her presence. Not presents, but presence. She concentrated her entire being into those moments and was completely there for me. Mom, I love you!
Anniversaries and special commemorative days set aside to honor mothers and fathers are always fun, but the love and support we receive from all of these special people is unconditional and we should not limit expressing our appreciation to them on only one day of the year.
Yesterday, marked the 26th yahrzeit - anniversary of passing - of our beloved Rebbetzin, Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of righteous memory; wife of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory.
Our daughter Chaya Mushka is named after this very special woman, as are thousands of other young women who walk in her path and try to live up to her shining example. Her yahrzeit is occasion to be inspired to grow spiritually, for all of us, and especially for Jewish women. Click here to learn more about this extraordinary woman.
Wishing you all a beautiful Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos