Dear Friends,
What an incredible Sunday! Seven hundred people reserved for our grand opening, and we felt terrible having to close reservations when we reached capacity. We had barely opened the building, and already we were wondering: Do we need another one? No pressure!
It was such a joy to see people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate. It meant so much to finally share the new classrooms and the amazing Wonder Lab with you, a place where children can follow their curiosity and discover something new every day. And our beautiful rooftop terrace gives us another wonderful place to gather, celebrate, and spend time together. To see these spaces filled with people enjoying them after so much planning was a joy in itself.
There was wonderful food, good conversation, and the pleasure of being together. Shulem Lemmer’s sweet voice brought so much warmth to the day. Everywhere you looked, there was friendship, singing, and happiness.
To our generous donors, our partners, and everyone who helped make this project possible, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Ettie and I felt the love of this community so deeply on Sunday. Twenty-three years together, and still so much to look forward to.
There is one moment I cannot stop thinking about: the children coming onto the stage and singing “A Million Dreams.” The joy on their faces, their voices coming together, the excitement of being up there. After everything that went into this project, watching those children sing was such a beautiful reward. I could have listened to them all afternoon.
This week’s Torah portion is called Toldot, “generations.” Looking at those children, you could understand why that word means so much.
When G-d speaks of His love for Abraham, He points to his commitment to teaching his children and household to live with righteousness and justice. Abraham and Sarah invested themselves in their children. They gave them love, guidance, and an example of what it means to care for another person. There had been great figures before them, including Adam and Noah. Abraham and Sarah helped ensure that the goodness they brought into the world would continue through the next generation. And in Toldot, we see Isaac and Rebecca investing in their own children, passing on the faith and values they received.
A child sees someone welcomed into their home and learns what it means to welcome. They watch a parent take the time to help another person and begin to understand kindness. What we give our children becomes part of how they see the world and how they treat the people around them.
That is what we want for our children. To know that they are loved, to learn how to care for others, and to grow up bringing goodness wherever they go. Now more than ever, the world needs what they have to give.
The Rebbe Rashab taught that we should spend half an hour each day thinking about our children’s education. Make time to consider what they need, how they are growing, and what we can give them. Sometimes a conversation, a little encouragement, or our full attention means more than we know.
And we all have a part in this. Whether we are raising children of our own, guiding a student, encouraging a young friend, or supporting a school, we can help a child grow. These are our children, too.
That is what we celebrated on Sunday, and what continues here every day. If you haven’t seen the newly expanded campus, please reach out. We would love to give you a personal tour. There are still beautiful dedication opportunities available, and we still need your support for this project. You can join us at NaplesBigBuild.com.
Thank you for investing in our children. May we have the joy of watching them grow, seeing the good they bring into the world, and knowing we helped them along the way.
With love and wishes for a beautiful Shabbat,
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos