Please read my article in The Times of Israel called, “Bring Every Jew Back.”
Today in a beautiful Chabad synagogue here in Florida, the Rabbi called to the Torah a bar mitzvah. But in this case, the bar mitzvah “boy” was a 43-year old man!
Read what happened and hope you enjoy! 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So I love going to the Chabad synagogue down in Fort Lauderdale
The Downtown Jewish Center Chabad.
They are so welcoming and genuine.
Rabbi Kaplan and his wife Devorah are absolutely charming, wonderful people.
The davening is traditional and I love singing all the prayers exactly as I remember them as a child.
The speech is always relevant bringing the Torah’s message to what’s going now.
For example, tonight is Shavuot and the celebration of the getting of the Torah and our obligation to live up to the mission we’ve been given.
This is similar to the big story this week with Meghan Markle marrying into British Royalty with Prince Harry–thereby she becomes royalty. So too the Israelites entered into a marriage contract with G-d Almighty at Sinai, and they became royalty to G-d entrusted to keep his commandments and as a “light unto the nations” to always do the right thing.
The Rabbi is a true inspiration and today, we talked with him about living in the amazing times of Mashiach.
There is so much polarization and confusion in the world.
From people to countries looking for a guidepost–whether individuals, corrupt organizations, extremist politicians, or fascist and warring countries.
I so agree with the Rabbi that we are living in miraculous times and redemption is right around the corner.
Everything we do is an opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem and turn the tides in the war of good over evil.
Married to G-d, but in humility, we serve him and do good and help bring the world to love, peace, and Tikkun Ola m. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Thank you so much to Rabbi Schneur Kaplan for his wonderful speech today in Downtown Jewish Center Chabad synagogue, Fort Lauderdale.
He told the story about the boy who grew up in Israel as a chasid, but later left chasidism to work the land–he drove a tractor!
Years later, the young man rediscovers his religion and goes back to yeshiva to study, and he is excellent and surpasses many of his peers.
Eventually, he ends up in a one-on-one with the Rebbe–and he waits with baited breath for what the great Rebbe will tell him that will guide his life–will he become a great scholar, Rabbi, shaliach, or head of a Yeshiva.
Then the Rebbe speaks, and says:
“You will be a tractor driver”
The young man is shocked and goes back to studying Torah with even more determination and harder than ever.
Once again, he comes before the Rebbe, and he is anticipating what he will say.
Again, the Rebbe looks deep into his soul and says:
“You will drive a tractor!”
Sure enough, the man now understanding that he has to meet his particular fate head on, goes back to working the Holy Land and driving the tractor.
But in so doing he is able to do outreach to tens of thousands of people who otherwise would have never had the opportunity to be brought close to Hashem through Chasidism.
The message was that we are not all destined to be clones, robots, or do the same thing in life.
The Torah is our guide to serve Hashem and do what is right.
But each of us has our own mission in serving Him and we can achieve greatness and Holiness even when we drive a tractor or do whatever we do.
I am not a Rabbi, but in my own way, I try to raise my family–be a good husband, father, and prior a good son–and also to serve with integrity and a good example in my professional and educational endeavors.
It’s okay that I’m not a Chabad Rabbi doing outreach–that’s not me–although I did meet someone today from my elementary school, Manhattan Day School, that did become just that and we had a nice kiddish lunch with him and caught up together after services.
I am me–and I am okay with me.
I don’t have to be someone else–anyone else.
I can do good being me–and that is what I will try to do with each and every breath of every day.
Whether I drive a tractor (or this cool VW van with a big smiley face), we all serve our Maker. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
We went to synagogue yesterday and the Sukkot celebration today at Chabad in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
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