It’s never easy saying goodbye to our snowbird friends who leave us this time of year to carry on with their ‘other lives’ up north. As I sat on the porch with a friend this week, bidding our farewells, we spoke about the incredible achievements that our Shul has reached this season.
Commencing with a busy High Holiday Season, diverse and dynamic Adult Education Classes, International Guest Speakers, an extraordinarily successful Golf Day, which allowed us to sponsor an IDF Soldier’s 4-year college education, and culminating in a magnificent season finale with an over-the-top Inaugural Gala Dinner, it was a very busy season indeed.
He spoke about his desire to involve his friends in our community, when he suddenly stopped and asked me: ‘Rabbi, how would you describe Chabad in one or two brief sentences?’
If you know me by now, I love questions! Especially those that I have no time to prepare for!
My answer, almost verbatim, was this: ‘Chabad is not a political group, nor a denomination of Judaism. Indeed Chabad laughs at any differentiation between Jews. Chabad is a philosophy that teaches us that every human being has a soul, which is a pure piece of G-d inside of him. The implications of this realization will take you a lifetime to apply!’
Indeed, once you meditate on this (yes, meditation is a profoundly Jewish concept. In fact it’s a mitzvah!), the first thing that dawns upon you is that you learn to suddenly love even the people that you don’t like…because their essence is actually one with yours!!
Another powerful implication is our personal immortality, the eternal significance of each of our choices and a newfound and meaningful relationship with G-d, (whom we likely viewed until now as an all powerful, mysterious, yet admittedly power-hungry outsider!).
But this is only the beginning of a lifetime of change, a total transformation of our weltanschauung!
When I asked a local businessman, meeting him for the first time, if he had ever heard of Chabad in his native Virginia. His response was priceless: ‘Yes of course! They're the Happy Jews!’
The Chabad Philosophy's impact upon our lives brings joy and meaning to all that we do!
So, L'chaim, to a most beautiful and monumental season together as we finally built our Chabad House. Now, lets internalize the message of Chabad's true philosophy to impact our lives in a meaningful way. Please join us at the plethora of classes we offer- you never know, it might just change your life for the better!!
Wishing you a Shabbat of internal growth,
Always here for you,
Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler