Dear friend,

I am sharing here a powerful message from a colleague in California. His email came to me as I was preparing to write a high-energy message for our community and it hit every single thought I was having. Instead of re-writing the ideas again, I decided to share his. I recommend you read every word, it uplifted me and will uplift you.

 LIKE JEWISH HISTORY, THIS POST IS LONG BUT VITAL

This is an urgent message.

We are at a historic, pivotal time in Jewish history.

The Jewish spark, which usually crouches quietly below the surface of daily life, is a roaring fire.

Jewish sensitivity is heightened to unprecedented levels, at least in recent memory.

Jews are more aware of their own Jewishness than they have been in a long, long time.

There is fear among many of our brothers and sisters. The violence and tolerance for violence has frightened many Jews.

Jews are being bombarded with sounds, images, and messages that are filled with hatred and libelous accusations.

Institutions of higher education and the students who attend them are championing people of the lowest human element, cold-blooded murderers, all in a swarm of moral depravity and simple, irrational, causeless Jew-hatred.

In fear, Jews are covering their Kippahs, tucking their Chai charms, and moving their Mezuzahs indoors.

And THAT, my friends, is something we need to change.

*

When G-d chose us at Mount Sinai, we received the greatest treasure known to history - the Torah. And along with it we got the greatest challenge known to history - antisemitism.

When G-d chose us, He knew that He was putting a big target on our backs. The evil people of the world have always resented the very presence of the Jew in the world. We are reminders of G-d, morality, conscience, right and wrong - everything they despise.

But G-d equipped us with the Torah. Because of the Torah, all of history's anti-Jewish hate and abuse has not ruined us.

After everything we've been put through, we've not grown bitter.

Somehow, Jews still love life, service, wisdom, joy and finding a higher, G-dly purpose in everything.

Evil people have oppressed Jews throughout time, but we've not lost our faith - neither our faith in G-d, nor our hope for mankind - and the moment they've let up, we've recovered with miraculous, supernatural speed and agility.

Because of our faith and our Torah, we have conquered the difficult art of channeling grief and pain into positive energy.

Every highlight of Jewish history has risen from the ashes of its worst nightmares.

Most of the greatest sages and leaders in Jewish history lived through impossibly difficult chapters of Jew-hatred.

No greater example is needed than Israel - an oasis of humanity and sanctity in a savage part of the world - which was defended and nurtured and built and raised by a generation of concentration camp survivors, people who were tormented simply for being Jewish.

*

It is not enough to marvel and admire this. Because:

YOU ARE THIS. YOU CAN DO THIS.

We need to uplift and encourage our fellow Jews to square their shoulders and react JEWISHLY to what is happening. Don't look to the UN or ADL or NRA or ACLU or anyone else for how to react to all this.

Look to THE TORAH. Look to our glorious history. Look into YOUR JEWISH SOUL.

Whenever being Jewish becomes a source of aggravation and fear, that is our cue to go DEFCON 3 in making Judaism a source of meaning, pride, joy, courage, and deep, deep, powerful purposefulness.

Here are some things we CAN DO to lower our blood-pressure and raise our spirits and the spirits of our family and friends:

1. Look at the news once a day, not once every ten minutes. The news is deliberately negative because that gets more clicks and views. So why feed yourself that kind of anxiety-inducing brain poison? Let them rant, and give yourself a break.

2. Make your Jewish identity a source of invigoration and happiness by immersing in its traditions, rituals and messages.

3. Wherever you're holding in your Jewish observance, take a bold step (or multiple steps; these are historic times!) forward and I promise you, you will NOT REGRET IT.

4. Disconnect with the discouraging politics of being Jewish and connect with the vitalizing HOLINESS of being Jewish.

5. Forget about what people hate about us and focus on what G-d loves about us.

6. In fact, forget about the people who hate us and give us grief, and concentrate on G-d Who loves us and gave us the Torah.

7. Choose a Mitzvah, any Mitzvah, and make it your own. Open your mind to new frontiers of Jewish living and embrace them. Like people RAN to get the vaccine against COVID, it's time to RUN to get the vaccine against Jew-hatred.

8. It is unacceptable that there should be a Jew anywhere who ONLY feels the hate from the haters but has NEVER learned of the love and vibrancy from G-d that is found in the Mitzvot. That kind of imbalance is hazardous to good health.

9. The JOY of being a Jew is how we counter the FEAR of being hated. And the joy comes from the Torah.

So while any Mitzvah will do, here are practical suggestions:

- Guys, commit to putting on TEFILLIN EVERY WEEKDAY. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Put them on and PRAY with all your heart.

- Commit to celebrating SHABBAT EVERY SINGLE FRIDAY NIGHT. That includes lighting Shabbat candles on time and gathering for a traditional Shabbat dinner with Kiddush and Challah and dinner.

- Once and for all, GO KOSHER! There is unkosher energy in the world today, and that energy is native to unkosher food. Don't eat it! TAKE THE PLUNGE and go Kosher. Say chow to Burger King and hello to the King of the Universe.

- Guys, wear a Kippah in public, even if you never have. Let's flood the streets with KIPPAH CARRIERS. You will fill the hearts of Jews who see you with pride and joy.

- Gals, commit to lighting the Shabbat candles, every Friday, on time, wherever you are, whatever is happening. And if you do already, take a leadership role and make sure everyone you know knows how to do it and DOES IT.

- START COMING TO SHUL, PEOPLE. Now's the time. The benefits of coming to Shul every Shabbat are numerous and wonderful. Spirituality, prayer, meditation, friendship, companionship, and COMMUNITY (and Cholent). I know a really, really nice Shul that I can recommend, call me.

- Crack open the Torah and start LEARNING TORAH. Not sure how? It's painfully simple. However you listen to audio - internet, podcasts, phone app - search for Rabbi Gordon Live and start learning and enjoying.

WARNING: you will be surprised how quickly you forget about all the haters. But do not worry: G-d is watching over you, the IDF has your back, your Mezuzah is protecting you, and everything is going to be OKAY, BEZRAT HASHEM.

SPREAD THE WORD!

IT'S TIME TO GET CHAI!

Am Yisrael Chai!

Good Shabbos and Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Eli Friedman

Chabad of Calabasas

Wishing you an uplifting Shabbat,

Rabbi Mendy & Mussy

p.s. As always, we would love to chat with you over coffee or drinks, about Judaism, or just life - reply to this email.

Picture To Uplift You

Rabbi Nissen Mangel returns to Auschwitz. He was there before as a child as well as in four other concentration camps. He returned this week with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on his 90th birthday.

The Nazis tried and they couldn’t wipe us out. Our enemies are trying to do the same at this moment and they will fail as well.

“Behold, The Guardian of Israel Neither Slumbers Nor Sleeps”

Our good friends and rabbi and rebbetzin of CYP in Pittsburgh are in this picture. Sarah Rosenfeld (nee' Mangel) is a granddaughter of Rabbi Mangel and she went on this trip with her husband Henoch and their kids. She's standing in the back row on the left side of this huge family picture.

Of Interest

It Is Time to Declare the Truth About the Jews and Israel

Fire Playlist to lift your Spirits

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Shabbat Lech-Lecha

Light your candles at 6:30 pm

in Austin, TX

Shabbat Shalom, friend!

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