Today is time for change. To step away from the ordinary to show the extraordinary. Our history is telling a story about this nation unlike other nations, a nation small in numbers, but remaning bigger than the numbers. Thoroughly ordinary people who lift things up, time and again into great things. We know where we came from, and where we are going. The journey our ancestors began and we carry on is our story, unfinished with a new chapter that only we can write.
Wherever you look these day you will find us, not that we are great in numbers but great in our love for one another, in our faith and our majesty and mystery Jewish way of life. The touch of the Divine Presence, the struggles and challenges we overcome, but also a life full of emunah and joy.
Judaism is a faith of the family -the chuppah, Laws and rituals, tznuis, family purity- a sacred bond. The home is the center were we keep Shabbos, celebrate our beautiful holidays, the kashrus, and pouring our heart out in personal davening to HaShem.
Today, I want to take you on a journey. We might be small in numbers but great in Ahavas Yisroel, and to show the world who we are. The video's been made, the books published, the websites, blogs written, and the songs recorded.
On Youtube and websites, you can find numerous shiurim by Rabbis and Rebbetzin's, like Rabbi Dovid Vigler who share the beauty of Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Yossi Paltiel teaches Insight Chassidus, Rabbi Manis Friedman teaches us Torah wisdom, how to deal with challenges we are facing, mitzvos, marriage and family life, and how to create a life that matters. Rebbetzin Chana Weisberg of TheJewishWoman.org, and Ordinary people, Extraordinary stories. But also all the Rabbis and Rebbetzin's who lead and guide us, uplift and inspire us. Our Rebbi's and Morahs teachings and devotion made us in what we are today.
Sweet & Good Torah, Laivi Shor always finds time in his busy shedule as a physics teacher to create the most inspiring Torah Insight. Preparing us for the coming of the Moshiach with the #TeamMoshiach shiurim are powerful.What makes it so special is that it always done with 100% simcha.
There are video's on Youtube about the Jewish way of life, Chana Horowitz takes us on a tour in " Day of my Jewish life" from Shabbos to kosher cooking and how to make a treife kitchen kosher. The challenges of family purity and of raising a family.
Frieda Vizel who I follow for some years now, inspires me with her Chassidishe tours in Williamsburg. Giving non- chassidic Jews a glimps of Chassidic life. Intoducing Williamsburg's most beloved bubbe, Pearl. The podcast with community members who left the fold. Taking us to Kiryas Joel were she comes from, and sharing with us one of the most dificult and painful moments of her life in "The Get ". Everything she does with respect, carefully chosen words and with tznius in every sense of the word.
On a Journey
Not all stories are happy ones. Izzy Posen writes about his upbringing in the Satmar chassidic community, one he since left. About the tragic death of his mother in a car accident in 2023 in France.
"Goodnight mummy, sleep well," is raw, personal and emotional. He also tells about his struggles, challenges and pain, about how his life is not always easy, but always meaningful in his blog " Keep Going."
Our normadic family " That Jewish family" Raizel, Dani, Mendel, Lev and Ariel. By documenting their travels across many countries, they broke the stereotypical Observant community, and showing how to maintain and observant kosher lifestyle wherever they are. They are currently living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and still inspiring us and making an impact wherever they go, whether that is on the streets of Brooklyn or a visit to another country. The Torah way of life is not rigid, but a warm and lively tradition with every day joy, brought to the world by That Jewish Family.
There are many channels who do podcasts, Living L'Chaim,Yaakov Langer, who enhances your life, and enrich Orthodox Jews and the world. Or Meaningful People Podcast hosted by Nachi Gordon & Co, who sits down with the most meaningful Jewish people. The personal touch of both podcasts, in sharing vulnerable life stories, family history and struggles, focussing on the meaning of life, is like having a conservation with a good friend.
A the heart of Judaism there is a covenant of love. This takes shape in many shuirim you can find online. Chabad.org answers many of your questions. Still can't find it " Ask the Rabbi. " Chabad is litterally everywhere to help Jews all around the world. In almost every country there is a Chabad House. Being somewhere remote, Chabad will drive long hours to provide you with kosher meals. " We are Chabad..and so are you! " "A Yid is a Yid is a Yid. " reflects the Chabad philosophy of the equality and inherently spiritual value of every Jew.
Jewish Venice
A home away from home is the Chabad House in Venice, Italy. Rebbetzin Shachar Banin, also known as "Rebbetzin Unplugged " is running together with her husband Rabbi Ramy Banin the Chabad House. The Rebbetzin is chef at the kosher restaurant Gam Gam. Everyone is welcome who visits and gets a warm welcome from the always kindhearted and inspiring Rebbetzin.
Shaina's Brocha.
There are not many blogs about our kinderlach, Rabbi Ari Shishler and Rebbetzin Naomi are the parents of Shaina. Shaina has an ultra rare condition called BPAN. But this doesn't stop Shaina from being truly inspiring to others around her with her beautiful and pure little neshama.She brings happiness to her parents and siblings every day, and wherever she goes. Want to be inspired to? Go and visit: Shaina's Brocha.
One of my favorite books is " A Letter in the Scroll " by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ז"ל." For as long as Jews are Jews, they contribute something unique to the intellectual, spiritual and moral life to society." Rabbi Shmuel Reichman inspires to give an deeper insight of our weekly Parshas in " The Journey to Your Ultimate Self. Various books of Art Scroll, and the stories and insight of Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein ז"ל in his book " It's all about change. "
"Rabbi Wallerstein's message was simply but yet profound, ' believe in others, see their potential and never give up. ' He taught that life's hardship were not dead ends but opportunities to grow closer to HaShem."
The Rebbe
Guidens for Emotional Wellness from the Rebbe in "Letters for life". Sometimes it happens when there is no one around or to turn to, having a question, I read or listen to one of the many recording of the Rebbe. Eventhough the Rebbe is no longer with us and never I had the chance to meet him, he still inspires me in finding answers. I believe the Rebbe continues to be the leader of Chabad Chassidim through all his wisdom, chesed and love for every single Jew.
From the Rebbe to a very special bubbe or Safta as her great grandson Dov calles her. She inspired me with " Shabbat Shalom" and educating the public about the holocaust on Tik Tok.
Lily's Promise
Lily Ebert ז"ל promised herself that she would tell the world what happened to her family, what hapened in the camps. In her book" Lily's Promise "she writes about her childhood in Hungary, her arrival in Auschwitz in 1944, her survival. Lily lost so much, but that didn't get down as she built a new life for herself and her family in Israel, and then in London. Lily died peacefully at her home in London on October 9, 2024 at the age of 100, she is buried in Israel.
There are so many more inspiring books, too many to name them all. My latest -live changing -book I added to my bookcase is " The Chassidic Approach to Joy " by Rabbi Shloma Majeski. The Secret Diary of a Jewish Housewife " by Rivka Levy, she writes in a fun way full of humor about her chaotic reality of Orthodox life in Jerusalem. A book that is a must read on days when your not so happy with the way things are going.
There are many video, songs, blogs and websites that tells us the history of Israel, our ancestral land.
Kroon and Van Maanen are the people behind the visiual Story telling of the history of Jerusalem. Exploring with camera, they visit historical Nachla,'ot. Through the lens and interviews with various Jews they write the stories in real time. Their love for Israel goes deep, and every year for three weeks Anat and her husband David can be found on the streets of Jerusalem, together with Erwin Van Maanen, a gentile with a great love for Israel and the Jewish people.
What would a Jew be Without Music ?
Music is a big part of Jewish life. We can even say that it traveled with us through the ages.
Music is the " pen of the soul " says Chabad. It speaks the language of the neshama. When words are limited, the melody of a song reaches the spiritual self. Touching our lives through the power of music, Avraham Fried, Benny Friedman, Shmeuli Ungar, Dovy Meisels and Shulem Lemmer among many others, who are sharing this experience in touching many lives across the globe. The Chassidic nigumin are taken from Shabbos, Jewish holidays, Zemiros, dance, chasene and many more events. Nigumin has a big part in Farbrengen. Like the inspiring music, and The story behind " Thank You HaShem.- Joey Newcombe.
Yonatan Razel's Vehi Sheamda, a deeply moving and powerful passage from the Pesach Haggadah;
" Hashem and the Torah is what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, but in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands."
kol Isha
Some of the amazing Jewish women singers; Devorah Schwartz, Chaya Kogan, Shaindy Plotzker, Bracha Jaffe, and my favorite Yiddish female singer Riki Rose. They all contribute something special and so beautiful.
Whether you are a writer, blogger, vlogger, creating HaShem's word in a video, singing or dancing, making an audience laugh, given them joy, and Moshiach energy in a way only Modi Rosenfeld can give you is awesome.
But there are so many Jews not on social media, they don't make video's, shiurim online, having website or writing blogs. They too are amazing, in their own homes, in the community caring day in day out for others, like our very own Hatzalah, the community ambulance service, which is non- profit and volunteer organisation. Their response is not only to our community, but to all members of the public in emergency medical need.
But also all men and women, who are deeply involved in community welfare, visting the sick at home or in the hospital, the elderly and poor who often in need of a shoulder or some support. Women who have just given birth, the community organizes pratical, emotional and spiritual support to help new mothers to recover at home.
All Jews are amazing ב"ה in everything they are doing, every little ripple creates together a big huge wave.
Josh Rosenberg in his book " Re- Orthodoxed " describes his unexpected journey through tribulations, temptation and transformation, and ultimately finding his place back in Judaism. Sharing his personal story, his hopes and inspiration especially to the younger generation who might be full of questions in finding spiritual meaning in a fast changing world. Josh: " Even in the darkest seasons of life, there is always a purpose, faith, and belonging. Redemption is always possible, that tradition can be reimagined, and spiritual fulfillment is never out of reach. "
B'ezras HaShem, may this book be a source of strength and healing to all who read it- Josh Rosenberg.
And so this is where my blog ends, but the story continues as it is so beautifully told by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ז"ל:
Against this whole complex of ideas, Jewish life is a sustained countervoice. "To be a Jew is to know that this cannot be the full story of who I am. A melody is more than a sequence of disconnected notes. A painting is something other than a random set of brushstrokes. The part has meaning in terms of its place within the whole, so that if history has a meaning, then the lives that make it up must in some way be joined to one another characters in a narrative, figures in an unfolding drama. Without this it would be impossible to speak about meaning; and Judaism is the insistence that history does have a meaning."
There is a difference between pride and arrogance. Arrogance is the belief that you are better than others. There are other cultures, civilizations, people different from each other, and other faiths. Each and everyone of us contributes something unique.
But Judaism is ours; this is our faith, our people, an inheritage we share. By loving our own people, we learn to love humanity. When you have peace with yourself, you find peace with the world.