In the last 12 hours, I have met in person with Rabbi's and Colleagues from many parts of the world, including Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Cyprus, Paraguay, England, France and so many other places. Yes, I am at the International Conference of Chabad Shluchim in New York (and Shabbat Services will be run by my children and layleaders), along with many thousands of others.
Many of the Chabad Rabbi's have stayed behind in Israel and will join in virtually with an event in Israel on Sunday, and the theme of the convention is how to uplift our people and help Israel, during this challenging time for Israel and world Jewry.
This morning, I spoke to a friend of mine who is a Rabbi and a reservist in the IDF who has been helping with identifying the murdered victims over the last few weeks. I asked him how he is managing and he shared with me what keeps him going and what he is keeping in mind every day.
This morning on the way to the Rebbe's resting place, I gave a ride to several Rabbis from Ashkelon and Dimona in Southern Israel. One of them brought his 13 year old son along for this visit.
He shared with me many crazy stories and many inspirational stories of the strength, courage and huge surge in morale and Jewish identity that is happening in Israel. He showed me videos and photos of his daily visits to the worst hit areas to bring support and inspiration to the people who live there and to the soldiers before they go in to battle.
I spoke with a friend from France, who described how life is there and how they continue to grow Jewish life, even in the face of tremendous challenges.
My friend from Brussels, shared with me, how he heard the news of the war a few minutes before Yizkor. He had a huge room full of people, many of them elderly, who had no idea what happened. He decided, that it his responsibility to share with them the news and do it the right way. In those few moments he spoke of our obligation to respond to challenges with positivity, never giving in, and being proud of our Judaism even when it is hard, and then after that message had sank in, he shared the news that the war had broken out.
Each person has another story, whether they are on the front lines in Israel, Ukraine, Russia, France or US College Campuses, but the message is all the same, we will be positive, we will fight back with goodness strength and pride, we will not remain silent until every hostage has been returned, and now more than ever, it is imperative to live and breathe Am Yisroel Chai.
I encourage you to consider watching the main session this Sunday at 1:45pm which will be an event both in Israel and the US, with representatives from all over the world by logging on to www.chabadsudbury.com/kinus
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel