www.chabadsudbury.com | Blogs | Jewish Sudbury Blog

Mazal Tov Allens

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 5:47:00 PM

On behalf of the Chabad Center of Sudbury, we extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Jacoby Allen on his Bar Mitzvah this week.

Mazal Tov to his dear parents Dan & Racheline and to his grandparents and family.

May Jacoby continue to be a source of Nachas and joy as he continues his journey as a Jewish adult and takes upon himself the Mitzvot and traditions of Judaism.

Mazal Tov Weisenbergs

Fri, 29 May 2026 5:48:00 PM

On behalf of the Chabad Center of Sudbury, we extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Avigayil Weisenberg on her wedding in Israel this week to Yehoshua Eliyahu Hagage

Mazal Tov to Saaadia & Chana and family and may you continue to have Nachas and joy from your beautiful family!

May they merit to build a beautiful and eternal Jewish home full of blessings and happiness.

Momentum, Life & Community

Fri, 29 May 2026 5:45:00 PM

The crowds and atmosphere on Shavuot were truly amazing, and we appreciate each and every person who was able to join us to mark and celebrate the holiday.

Wednesday evening was a meaningful night as we concluded a very engaging course, "For all Humankind". It included a lot of beautiful ideas and discussions about how to make the universal messages of Judaism, be understood and appreciated by ourselves and the world around us.

Our next course "Sinai & Civics", celebrating 250 years of America is starting on June 9th and you can read more info about this great course.

We had several beautiful services this week and thank everyone for coming and for enabling others to say the Kaddish. This coming week, we have several more scheduled.

Multiple Bar Mitzvahs are happening at this time of the year, and we are looking forward to celebrating one tomorrow with Jacoby Allen and his family and several more over the weeks to come.

The final weeks of Hebrew School and CTEEN programs are coming to a close over the next two weeks, and from there we move right into Camp!

While growth and joyful moments are always there, in reality in our community and area, there are of course other moments of loss, health challenges, pain, and people struggling. As a community we collectively try and be there for each other for the good, the celebrations, and shoulders to lean on, and providing support in tangible ways, as needed along the way, for those who it makes so much of a difference to.

Thank you to everyone who helps make the growth of community and connection happen for so many, each and every week.

Tomorrow as read about the many offerings of the twelve tribes at the inauguration of the Tabernacle, it almost seems redundant to repeat the identical gift of each and every tribe. The commentaries discuss this at length and present various ideas and explanations for why the Torah, which is often so sparing on words, chooses to repeat so much identical messages in this week's portion.

One of the main themes, is that no two people are the same, and no two tribes are the same, and even what appears to be the same action on the surface, on a deeper level, when we talk about emotions, sentiments, Kavana, intent and the inspiration and meaning that we assign to our actions, the same action, can be vastly different despite looking very similar on the outside.

The Torah wishes to teach this idea and to acknowledge that while we do have so many actions and Mitzvot we seek to do in our Jewish tradition, the actions and intent of each person are considered unique and special to that person, and to G-d, it is not just play and repeat, but rather it has the unique input and qualities of that specific person.

Likewise as we observe and celebrate the growth and dynamics of a community, it is always so important to remember and be mindful of the fact, that each and every person, with their joy, pain, happiness, challenges, strengths and weaknesses, are truly bringing something unique and special to the community and its growth.

Please join us tomorrow for the Shabbat Services & Kiddush Luncheon as we celebrate community together!

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos

Yisroel

Shavuot Recap

Fri, 29 May 2026 9:06:00 AM

Thank you to the beautiful crowds who joined us to celebrate Shavuot for the services and the special celebration.

From the beautiful crowd of 130+ who joined us for the main Shavuot Celebration on Friday afternoon to hear the Ten Commandments and celebrate together, to the many who joined us for the morning services and other events over the holiday, it all made for a beautiful and inspiring holiday.

At the event on Friday afternoon, we read the Ten Commandments, spoke of some Shavuot messages, and enjoyed a massive buffet celebration, gifts and ice cream for the kids, and lots of socializing and community.

Thank you once again to Alex & Sandra Gutt for being the main sponsors of the Shavuot celebration in honor of their daughter Rachel, and thank you to the many others who helped support these events with sponsorships, assistance, security, clean up, setup and more.

A special thank you to Chana Freeman for making all of the amazing Cheese Cakes!

Memorial Day Invocation & Ceremony

Mon, 25 May 2026 9:00:00 AM

Good Morning Ladies & Gentlemen & Honored Veterans

It is an honor to be standing here together with so many veterans and their families and at a monument where we remember those who served and gave their lives during World War 2, Korea & Vietnam.

Today on Memorial Day we are here to honor those that have served and protected our country and given their lives to uphold the freedom and values of the United States of America.

As we do so, I am thinking of my great Uncle who was in the British Army, an ally of the US, who was killed while fighting the Nazis on the beaches of Dunkirk. I am thinking also of my own two grandfathers who fought the Nazis in the Second World War, and my wife Shayna’s Grandfather who escaped Germany from the clutches of the Nazis and came to the USA, a country that welcomed this young fleeing Jew on the run from the Nazis, with open arms, and then joined the US Army as part of the famous Richie Boys and played a critical role in the liberation of Europe from Nazi Tyranny.

I think of the thousands of American Troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy into walls of lead, and yet kept going forward, since they knew what they were fighting for, and there was no choice other than to win.

I also think of so many survivors of the Holocaust who have described what it was like to be waiting for the American troops to liberate the camps and the love and gratitude that they welcomed them with.

80+ years ago, not everyone appreciated America’s role and the great sacrifice that was needed to put an end to the tyranny of Hitler, even as tens of thousands were being taken to the ovens every day. Yet thanks to the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of lives the Nazis and their allies were defeated and destroyed, and a terrible evil and murderous movement was stopped from being able to expand its reach.

Sadly, when we run from evil, it chases after us. Only by confronting it, can we put an end to evil and bring more peace and unity to the world.

Today as we mark Memorial Day 2026, I would like to take a moment to honor the memory of the 13 Men and Women of the US Armed Forces who fell in Operation Epic Fury over the last few months.

· Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien (Indianola, Iowa)

· Capt. Cody A. Khork (Winter Haven, Florida)

· Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor (White Bear Lake, Minnesota)

· Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens (Bellevue, Nebraska)

· Sgt. Declan J. Coady (West Des Moines, Iowa)

· Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan (Sacramento, California) [1, 2, 3]

· Sgt. Benjamin Pennington [1]

· Maj. John "Alex" Klinner (Auburn, Alabama)

· Capt. Ariana G. Savino (Covington, Washington)

· Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt (Bardstown, Kentucky)

· Capt. Seth R. Koval (Mooresville, Indiana)

· Capt. Curtis J. Angst (Wilmington, Ohio)

· Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons (Columbus, Ohio)

Dear Veterans and Family Members, for all of us, it is this kindness, empathy and fight for good that you all stand for and what we honor today It is thanks to the sacrifices and often the ultimate sacrifices, that so much of the world is able to live in peace and not under tyranny.

Throughout America’s History, there have been so many who gave it all, and so many who paid the ultimate sacrifice, so that we today, and so many others around the world, could live in peace and prosperity.

Your sacrifice and the message that it represents is more important than ever.

We honor our own Scott Milley from Sudbury who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and the tremendous dedication of his family and friends.

It is our duty to ensure that their memory and efforts serve as an inspiration to ourselves, our families and our communities so that we may continue to uphold and strengthen the values they fought for, of bettering of the world and protecting humanity.

We pray Thee, Gracious Father and Merciful King, bestow your Divine blessings upon these heroic veterans and upon their families, and may their devotion and loyalty be an inspiration to. Let this Memorial Day stimulate us to be mindful of our responsibilities and duties as conscientious citizens of this great country.

We pray Thee, Merciful Father, sustain and protect the armed forces of the United States of America wherever they may be, so that they succeed in making the world a better place and a place of peace. Help all the nations of our world realize the cruelty of bloodshed and the futility of warfare. Inspire them to labor with all their might to banish conflict and strife, and to establish world peace.

Hasten the fulfillment of the visions of the Prophets - when the work of righteous shall be peace, and its effect, tranquility and security forever; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

I will conclude with the prayer which we pray daily, Oseh Shalom Bimromav To He who makes peace on High, may He bring peace upon us and upon all of humanity, and let us say, Amen.

The Scroll is Burning but the Letters are Flying

Thu, 21 May 2026 9:00:00 AM

"We've existed so long, because the Torah kept us strong, and the Torah will never disappear" is a refrain from a popular song about Jewish pride and values, that is sang in many Jewish camps all over the world.

It is a joyful song, with a subtle and powerful message, and a reminder about what has helped us stay strong over the years, stay true to our faith, and continue to seek to be a light to the world. In one word, it is the "Torah". In a few words, it is the Torah and our faith in G-d, and our loyalty to staying connected to this and living it and passing it on in each generation.

Rabbi Chanina Ben Tradyon was one of the leaders of the Jewish people during the Roman persecution. He defied the Romans and would teach children and students the words of the Torah, despite the risk of being put to death that came with this action, which the Romans had banned..

The Romans eventually arrested him and decided to publicly burn him with a very slow and cruel death. They wrapped him in a Torah Scroll and covered him with wet wool, as the flames burned, so the death would be slow and painful.

His students and daughter were forced to watch this terrible scene, and in those final minutes he had a few conversations and messages which he shared which are still discussed thousands of years later.

At one point his students asked him, as he was surrounded by flames, Rabbi, "what do you see"?

He responded, "I see the parchment is burning, but the letters are taking flight!".

His students were not asking him what he physically sees, they were asking for his view and what would become of them and their future. He responds, that the body may be burning, but the letters, the holy messages of the Torah are flying, they will not be burned, they will endure, and continue to imbue those who study them, with the eternal message of the Torah and its moral and Divine teachings.

His students took this message with them, and despite the continued persecution, they found a way that to make sure that eternal words of the Torah, would continue to live on through them.

Tonight, we begin the holiday of Shavuot and it continues for the next 48 hours. In addition to the cheesecake, blintzes and more, the holiday is a celebration of the anniversary of the Giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai 3,338 years ago.

We mark this day, with the reading of the Ten Commandments, with celebrations and gatherings and with extra study. Yet underlying it all, is a reminder of the anchor and vision that is at the core of the story of our people, which has given us strength and motivation through fire and water, throughout history, to stay the course, and continue focusing and delivering on our mission.

There are so many things that come and go in life, some last longer than others, some are gone with the wind, as a new fad comes and replaces the old one, and what was lit and cool just a few months ago, is now relegated to the dustbin of history. Yet Judaism, has built at its core, an eternal set of values and teachings, which are as relevant today in the age of Artifical Intelligence and SpaceX as they were thousands of years ago in the days of Desert Intelligence when the Jews were in the desert.

Let us celebrate Shavuot and create more time to study the timeless words that encapsulate our mission and collective purpose. Be joyful and grateful that we can celebrate the gift of the Torah, with its letters and words which have been passed down, one generation the next by those who often paid such a high price and made so many sacrifices, to ensure that we today can continue the mission of our ancestors.

G-d willing our children too, will continue celebrating, learning and living these same letters and messages and be the ones to continue passing down this chain of tradition and purpose.

Indeed, "We've existed so long, because the Torah kept us strong, and the Torah will never disappear".

Chag Sameach and Happy Shavuot
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos

Yisroel

P.S Please join us for the many beautiful Shavuot services and celebrations over the next two days, which you can read about below.

King Charles & the Challah & a Message of Shabbat

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:08:00 AM

This week, King Charles made a surprise visit to Golders Green, a heavily populated Jewish neighborhood in London. Apparently among the places which he visited, he also visited the Jewish bakery Grodz, (one of my favorite childhood bakeries), and was gifted with a large Challah, presumably for his Shabbos dinner this week.

His visit was in response to a wave of violent antisemitic attacks which have taken place on that same street and in that same neighborhood over the last few weeks.

King Charles has always been a mentsch, and this visit and the warmth it was received with by the community at this time, shows on just how much it was appreciated, and what the message conveyed by this visit meant. This visit was more than just meaningful, it was a show of support from the Royal Family to the Jewish community in the wake of seismic events that have rocked the community.

I hope that King Charles truly enjoys the Challah this evening as he prepares for a nice Shabbos Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

Meanwhile across the pond, right here in Sudbury, the Town of Sudbury has scheduled this Saturday as a celebration of 250 years of American Independence, and across America, thousands of communities are celebrating a Shabbat to honor 250 years and American Jewish Heritage Month.

Yet the truth is that besides the Challah that may or may not be eaten at Buckingham Palace this evening, and the many celebrations scheduled for Shabbat, this Shabbat has a deeper significance in the Jewish tradition, as it is the Shabbat before the holiday of Shavuot, which we celebrate in just a few days.

Shavuot was the moment we received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago, but also the only time, when the entire Jewish people were in unity with one another while in the desert. The verse changes the language of the usual text and stresses the singular nature of the encampment by Mount Sinai to emphasize the unity that existed there, versus the dozens of other encampments which are described in the plural, due to the inherent divisions and disputes which so often arose.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, would often encourage the Jewish world, to use the Shabbat before the holiday of Shavuot which celebrates the giving of the Torah and the unity that preceded it, as a Shabbat of of unity and togetherness. He spoke of the need to mark this Shabbat of oneness, by putting aside external differences and instead focusing on our collective mission and purpose, which we were given at Mt. Sinai.

So wherever you are in the world, take a moment to watch the Shabbat candles as they are lit this evening, and think of their glow and the message they have conveyed for thousands of year, and think about our collective and shared mission in life, and this day can empower us to work harder and better than ever before, to bring unity, meaning and the glow of the Shabbat message to all of humanity.

Please join us tomorrow for the Shabbat before Shavuot, a Shabbat of Unity, a Shabbat of celebrating Jewish Tradition and Faith, and a Shabbat of inspiration for our shared values and gifts that we can continue to build a beautiful world with.

Candle Lighting in the Sudbury area today is at 7:43pm

Services tomorrow begin at 10am, with the Torah Reading and Messages at just after 11am and the Kiddush Luncheon at 12:15pm.

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos

Yisroel

P.S Please join us later in the week for lots of great Shavuot Celebrations which you can read more about below.

Reflections from a Short Trip to Israel

Fri, 8 May 2026 1:37:00 PM

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday morning, I returned to Sudbury from Israel after a whirlwind trip for Shabbat and a few days, for a special family reunion in honor of my mother's birthday.

Although so many people asked us if we weren't scared to go with the current dynamics, and even some people in Israel asked us the same question, the reality on the ground couldn't be any different.

We remembered the words of the verse that the Land of Israel, is the land which G-d watches from the beginning of the year until the end of the year, and thought about practical aspects of what we need to do, and remembered how much the Lubavitcher Rebbe would encourage people to go, even during challenging times like the Six Day War and again in 1991, and off we went.

Resting was not on the agenda, just spending some quality time with our parents, and doing lots of meaningful and special things together.

On the last night of our visit, as reports began to emerge of tensions dramatically rising, the sentiments start to get to you even with all the grit and faith that you can manage. But it was then that we reminded ourselves, it is Lag Baomer, a truly joyous and special night, and let us just go and gather at one of the many celebrations and put our headspace into something meaningful, holy and joyous.

Just a block or two away, and in typical Israeli style, there was not a trace of tension, as hundreds of people celebrated around a fire, with songs, music and meaning, and just a heavy dose of pure joy for the holiday and its message as men, women and children gathered to celebrate.

Later that evening as I walked with my brother Shmuel for miles across Jerusalem at 1am, we saw and joined events with tens of thousands of people celebrating in the streets. The only thing palpable in the air that night, besides the smell of smoke from the bonfires, was the deep joy and meaning of this joyous and uplifting day.

We had wanted to visit Meron for this holiday but it was closed due to missile fire from Lebanon, which had struck the mountain for several days in a row. We sufficed with seeing it from Safed on Sunday, from the same vantage point that so many of the spiritual leaders like the Arizal and others would often do.

The artists quarter was shuttered and hardly a visitor was in sight, but still whoever we spoke to, was so happy to have some visitors that day.

Half way down the mountainside in Safed, we went to visit the synagogue of the famous Kabbalist, the Arizal which is nearly 500 years old. We said some prayers and reflected as we thought about the layers of history, ideas, and meaning that are embedded in the stones of this ancient synagogue.

When we exited the building we saw a massive rainbow covering this ancient synagogue which faced Meron from across the hills of Safed, as the sun rays shone down from above.

An occasional drone or fighter jet overhead simply became part of the background noise that accompanied the deeper sense of life and purpose that continues as always.

Tourists are missing and certainly so many places are empty and deserted and the storekeepers, artists and so many others are struggling, and yes so many told us about the challenges that they have been living with and the traumas that they or their family members have had to face.

Yet there is no doubt that the resolute determination and faith and hope and grit for a better future and real peace has become a visible part of life. This was seen and felt both in so many dozens of conversations with so many, and also in our visits to the most random places or seeing thousands of people celebrating Shabbat at the Western Wall.

The irony was that so many people who spoke to my parents expressed their shock at recent events in London, and asked them how safe they feel living in the UK.

The news cycles can suck one into a narrative of fear and tension, yet the realities of life are far more complex, and ultimately people are continuing to LIVE as they zoom in to the goodness and meaning of each day and moment, and work, learn, study, pray, celebrate milestones, weddings, do acts of kindness and so much more.

G-d willing, we will see much better days ahead and let us never let fear or anxiety deter us from doing what we need to do in life and staying the course.

In this week's portion we are reminded of many unique Mitzvot that only apply in the Land of Israel, including the Sabbatical Year, laws of real estate, and so much more. These commandments are not just to create a just and well managed society, they are also to imbue a sentiment of living for a higher purpose, and one in which the altruistic greater good is always front and center of our direction and actions.

An example of this is seen with the Mitzvah of the Sabbatical year, in which the land must lay fallow for a year, and the focus shifted from chasing the dollar, to tuning in to the deeper messages of life. One could certainly do another trade that year, but the overall goal was to foster an awareness that ultimately the work that we do, is part of a much greater purpose, and it is that greater good, which must always be front and center of who we are.

Please join us for services and the Kiddush Luncheon tomorrow at which I will share some anecdotes and stories from this visit.

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos

Yisroel

Kehilanu Speaker Recap

Fri, 8 May 2026 1:36:00 PM

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at Chabad of Sudbury to hear Miriam Schler, the founder of Kehilanu, who shared a powerful presentation regarding the innovative trauma treatment model, which Kehilanu provides to so many who have experienced different kinds of trauma in Israel in recent years.

You can learn more about Kehilanu's work on their website at www.kehilanu.org/en

Lag Baomer Recap & Photos

Fri, 8 May 2026 1:35:00 PM

Thank you to the dozens of families and individuals who joined us for the Lag Baomer Celebration at Chabad of Sudbury this past Tuesday. From Horse & Pony Rides to fun on the Bounce House, to great food from the Grill, a Lag Baomer Bonfire and S'mores and so much more, everyone had a blast enjoying this festive holiday.

You can see lots more photos on Facebook.com/chabadsudbury

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out with so many pieces of this community celebration.

Hello from Israel

Fri, 1 May 2026 12:30:00 PM

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I arrived in Israel to join my parents and siblings for a special family get together in honor of our mother's birthday. We had planned this a while back, but then didn't know if we would come or not due to the war and all the flights being canceled.

The airport was certainly very very quiet, but people are extremely grateful to see people coming from outside of Israel during this time.

We have been keeping in mind that which the Rebbe would always tell people, during times of crisis in Israel, that it is the land about which the Torah says, "A land, which the eyes of G-d your Lord are on from the beginning of the year until the end of the year".

I had jokingly told my parents who live in London, that we decided to gather in Israel, as it is safer than England. Yet the day before we came to Israel, there was another evil attack on the Jewish community in Golders Green, and my brother in law's study partner was one of the seriously wounded victims. Thank G-d he is doing much better and has since stabilized.

Last night we went to the Western Wall and saw thousands of people there, large groups singing and dancing, and overall a beautiful spirit of determination and faith, despite the many current challenges.

We have visited some people our community has connected with in the past, keep restocking on ice cold drinks to share with those doing security duty, and hope to do lots of meaningful visits on Sunday.

The country is preparing for Lag Baomer, and its joyous and uplifting messages of faith, hope, recovery, and the fiery passion that is embodied in the teachings of Judaism.

Posters with parades and bonfires and upcoming celebrations, along with a constant chatter of if there will be celebrations in the North which keep getting downgraded, are constant here.

Lag Baomer also marks the end of the plague which killed 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, and is celebrated as being the end of this terrible pandemic. Yet we are told that he was only left with five students, so what indeed is there to celebrate?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe suggested, that the celebration is the fact that Rabbi Akiva didn't throw his arms up in despair, and instead said, let's rebuild, even just with these five and find a way to build up once again. The celebration, is this act of courage and faith, in the face of so much pain and difficulties, and that ultimately, this decision helped produce the next generation of leaders who inspired and led the Jewish people, including someone like Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

In a few minutes we will head to the Western Wall to pray and welcome in the Shabbat, and know that despite all the chatter in the air, Lag Baomer is coming along with its joyous message of pride, joy and determination to never stop marching forward with meaning, joy and faith and loyalty to fulfilling the Divine mission we have been trusted with.

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos from Jerusalem!

Thank you to my sons and their friends and Shayna who are running Shabbat and the services this weekend at Chabad of Sudbury!

If anyone would like to participate in our efforts to make a difference while we are here to show support to those going through so much, you may do so using this link.

Yisroel

Passing of Rabbi Yaakov Lazaros

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:28:00 AM

Rabbi Yaakov Lazaros, who directed and ran Chabad of Framingham for close to 48 years, passed away this morning surrounded by his family.

Rabbi Lazaros was a deeply spiritual and genuine person and Rabbi and a devoted husband, father of seven children and many grandchildren.

On Thursday I sat across the table from him in his synagogue and we chatted, never did I imagine that within 36 hours he would pass away.

In our early years in Sudbury before we started our own services, I would walk the 4+ mile walk each Shabbos to be a part of the Minyan, and during that time, I had the honor to get to know this silent and gentle spiritual giant, who had impacted so many hundreds of lives in such a meaningful and deep way.

Rabbi Lazaros had a love for studying Torah and in this picture I took several years ago, he was concluding a tractate of Talmud on the day before Passover, making a Siyum.

On Thursday, Rabbi Lazaros told me that he is up to page 96 in the tractate of Sanhedrin, but is finding it harder to concentrate although he wants to finish it.

In that conversation, Rabbi Lazaros was very open with me about what lay ahead, and his humility, simplicity, greatness and sincerity were all on display in full force. I couldn't talk for a few minutes in the conversation as I was so overcome and couldn't stop thinking about it since then.

Rabbi Lazaros was born in Germany to Holocaust survivors, and led a authentic and proud Jewish life, that brought Judaism and meaning to so many, in the Framingham area and well beyond.

Rabbi Lazaros, your unique light will be missed, you are leaving behind a beautiful family and so many people you impacted so deeply, who are all devastated by your loss.

To your dear family, may G-d comfort you all.

Leilui Nishmas, Rabbi Yaakov Noach Ben Mordechai Tzvi Z"L

Hearing the Birds Chirping & Month of Healing

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:08:00 PM

Bracha Sassonikin from Metulla, Israel, right on the border of Lebanon, described to me this morning the new sounds they are hearing this morning of the birds chirping, the trees blowing in the wind and the sound of quiet that has settled in.

I asked her and others in the border towns of northern Israel what do they feel now?

She told me that what keeps her going is quote a father always told her in Yiddish, "Mir Darf Farshteyen, as men Farsheteyt Gornisht, ober der Aibisheter vet Helfen", meaning, "we need to understand that we don't understand anything, but G-d will help".

After a few very challenging few months for her and so many others who have stayed put despite the daily missiles, anti tank missiles, cluster bombs and more, they have been hoping and praying for a decisive end to the terrorism from across the border.

Today they have a lot of questions and things they don't understand, but they are as always full of resilience, hope, and faith that things will work out and G-d willing be much better no matter what happens.

Today & tomorrow we mark Rosh Chodesh Iyar, the month whose letters of the name, famously are referred to as an acronym for the words of the verse, "Ani Hashem Rofecha", "I am G-d your healer".

Indeed, may this new month of Iyar bring Israel and all of us everywhere the blessings of healing and hope which we all need.

Tomorrow we read the portion of Tazria & Metzora, which discusses the skin condition known as Tzaraat which would afflict people, and our sages say, was spiritually linked to negative gossip and slander of others.

Once diagnosed the person had to go out of the camp or city and be alone for a week, as they contemplated the negative impact of their gossip and reflected on how to use their voice for the good and positivity going forward.

Yet during this time, the person was considered to be ritually impure in a very severe way, and whose actions had brought an intensity of death.

Ironically, the name of the portion which discusses this condition, is called Tazria, to conceive, as it discusses some of the laws and Mitzvot surrounding birth, even as most of the portion speaks of this terrible impurity and negativity.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe would point out, that the name of the portion, Tazria, Conceive, is actually the message of the purpose of this entire process, it was to become something better in the process, to have a new positive outlook on life and become a new kind of person through this process. So while the actual experience was negative, what resulted at the end was a much healthier moral person who used their tongue for the good and to build the world and society.

As we begin to celebrate this month of Iyar, the month of healing, we pray and hope that despite all the challenges and negativity of the last few months, we are able to move forward and create a better world with blessings for Israel and blessings for all of us everywhere, so that we create a new and much better reality going forward.

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos

Yisroel

Artemis

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 1:30:00 PM

As we were celebrating a beautiful Passover here in Sudbury, the historic mission of Artemis II mission was launched which has carried four crew members farther from Earth than any human has ever traveled, looping around the moon and now returning home, for a total distance of 252,756 miles.

While there have been creative images shared with me, of images of the Chabad of the dark side of the Moon, this journey is one of tremendous meaning and inspiration on so many levels.

When the Apollo 8 mission first orbited the moon in 1968, the Lubavitcher Rebbe reflected on several powerful lessons. One of the ideas which he shared was how rockets rely on massive fuel tanks, but once their job is done, those tanks are released. What once propelled them forward would otherwise hold them back and slow them down.

So too in our lives. We grow, we evolve, and sometimes what once fueled us can become a burden. Real growth means knowing what to hold onto and what to let go.

The path of Artemis II traces a graceful figure eight, using the moon’s pull and Earth’s gravity to guide it precisely home, no extra fuel required.

G-d charts our journey. He places within our lives the exact tools and strengths we need, at the exact moment we need them to max out the opportunities and challenges that lay before us. Our task is to trust, and learn to use them and to remember that even the sky is not the limit.

The greatest discoveries and opportunities await us in our journeys, as we remember the Divine power invested in each one of us individually, collectively as the Jewish people, and globally as humanity, we can remember that the best growth and opportunities for good for the world, are within reach, as we continue to push forward on our individual and collective journeys.

Wishing the Atremis Crew a safe landing!

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel

Seder Recap

Mon, 6 Apr 2026 1:12:00 PM

Thank you to the 80+ who joined us for the Community Passover Seder on the first evening of Passover. The room was packed and atmosphere was a beautiful one of inspiration, community, stories, melodies and tradition.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, with setup, support and sponsorships, security, shopping and so much more.