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In a miracle equivalent to those of Biblical times, Israel stunned the world this week by targeting Hezbollah operatives via their beeper and walkie-talkies in an incredible and daring operation. 

It was an operation unprecedented in scale—genius, calculated, and obviously with G-d’s help—devastating Hezbollah’s capabilities. 

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, taught that everything we see or encounter contains a lesson for us in our service of G-d. Here are 7 lessons from the pager operation we can apply to our own lives: 

1. Strike your enemy when they least expect it! Utilize the element of surprise. In our personal battles against the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination), we often face challenges and obstacles that seem insurmountable. Surprise yourself by donning tefillin or by keeping Shabbat “just because” – when even you expect it the least!

2. Identify where your enemy feels most secure and strike there. Hezbollah terrorists were outfitted with beepers because they believed the old technology was more secure and couldn’t be hacked. In our lives, we need to stay vigilant with our mitzvah observance. Don’t become complacent with what you did this year—add something new!

3. Pulling off an operation like this requires a tremendous amount of planning and patience. Plans had to be constructed months—maybe even years—in advance. Likewise, in life, nothing good can be accomplished without hard work and detailed planning. 

4. From when the idea was conceived until this week when it was realized, the operation required a huge amount of courage and determination. With courage and determination we can succeed in our lives!  

5. In order to facilitate the attack, many many people had to learn to work together. There were teams in Europe, teams on the ground, all coordinating and working together towards one goal. As Jews, only by being united can we overcome all the odds stacked against us!

6. When evil stares you in the face, make no mistake: it must be destroyed. There is no room for error or ambiguity; terrorists and evil can only be dealt with in one way, which is exactly what happened here!

7. Even with meticulous planning and effort, so many things can go wrong at the last second. Faith in G-d played a crucial role here. Let us place our faith in Him now and always! He will certainly help us. 

May these lessons inspire us to confront our personal battles with courage, determination, and faith.

Our organization, Belev Echad, brings wounded IDF soldiers to the USA for medical care and whirlwind restorative outings. At this point, we’ve probably run over 75 trips. Our community jumps at the chance to show appreciation and treat our heroes to the finest that NYC has to offer. 

We’ve faced all kinds of challenges along the way, but our most recent trip was the most challenging yet. The wounds and injuries these soldiers carry are indescribable. While we’ve brought soldiers in wheelchairs and those missing limbs before, this trip was unique because the objective of the trip was to custom-make prosthetics for soldiers in need (and to receive treatment that isn’t available in Israel). This meant that we had many extremely complicated injuries all at once which made it extremely difficult to handle.

At the last minute, the mother of a wounded soldier called and begged us to add her son to the trip. Despite being full, we couldn’t say no to a mother’s desperate plea–these prosthetics are so advanced they literally change lives–so we added him to the group, making us essentially “overbooked.” 

For the past two weeks, I’ve been troubled by the thought of one soldier in particular, “M,” whose injuries cause him indescribable pain 24 hours a day. M served in Israel’s most elite force. He is a career soldier and decorated hero. 

On October 7, he rushed to help, saving many lives, until he and his team were ambushed by terrorists and completely overwhelmed. He was shot multiple times and has hundreds of pieces of shrapnel lodged in his body that cannot be removed. His injuries are so complex and unique, it’s a miracle he’s alive. He cannot sit for more than a few minutes; the rest of the time he needs to lie down. He cannot sit in a car.

I worried how we would manage. How would we transport him? Was it a mistake to include him? Perhaps we should cancel? Or bring him on a future trip? But he wanted to come and see the top NY experts, so how could we refuse?

In addition to figuring out how to manage M’s care, we had another Belev Echad trip planned–to Los Angeles–and two of our most valuable team members had to be leave to attend that, leaving us short-staffed on our highest-needs trip yet!

Thank G-d, our community got involved. One person donated a driver and car, and another donated their time to join the group. Another donated a hotel. And many people jumped at the opportunity to sponsor events and take the soldiers out at night to restaurants. Still, we were left with the problem of what to do with M, and I was genuinely unsure how to manage. 

Then, on Friday afternoon, two days before the trip, I received a call from someone I’d never met, Jack,* who told me he knew M from his time in the army and wanted to join us for Shabbat. He was so excited that M was coming to NY and he really wanted to help in any way possible.

During the call, I asked Jack about his job, and he shared that he had volunteered to serve in Gaza for a few months, and when he returned to NY he was laid off. So I shared my concerns and asked if he could dedicate a full 9 days to being with M from the morning until late at night, so M could participate fully. Jack readily agreed and jumped on the mitzvah! I was so relieved and told Jack he’d taken away my primary worry of the previous two weeks. 

I truly believe that when we push ourselves to do a mitzvah, G-d helps us find a way. I pushed hard to make this trip happen, despite the tremendous and complicated logistics, and G-d send Jack to help realize my goals. I believe that with any mitzvah, if you just make the decision to do something good, then Hashem will find a way to help you make your dream come true!

So go ahead and make your commitment to do a mitzvah. G-d will help you find a way to fulfill it! 

*Names changed to protect privacy.

The entire Jewish world is reeling.

Our enemies are ruthless and sadistic; their barbarism unprecedented.

To live at a time when six Jews can be murdered in cold blood, execution style, is unthinkable. Nauseating. Infuriating. Incomprehensible.

Carmel.

Alexander.

Almog.

Ori.

Eden.

Hersh.

They are our family. Our brothers and sisters. Each one an entire world.

And the silence is deafening.

My family and I were in Israel when we heard the news. We watched the protests break out. And then the counter-protests. It felt like the entire country was protesting. The emotions were so raw, the pain so deep, everyone felt the need to do something.

Sunday night we were in Tel Aviv and couldn’t get back to Jerusalem because the roads were closed due to the protests. Then my sister sent me a notice that the airport was going to be shut down by a strike the next day, exactly when we were scheduled to fly back to New York.

We decided to wake up early and hope for the best, bracing ourselves for a long day at the airport. We arrived at 7:30 am and immediately noticed news and camera crews on hand to witness the strike, which was set to begin at 8:00 am. At 8:07 am we were at the El Al check-in counter and I asked the attendant, “Is there a strike today?” She looked at her watch and said, “Well, yes, there is supposed to be one and I am supposed to be striking, but I don't know …”  Thank G-d, we made it onto the flight and the flight left on time.

We needed to get back so the kids could start school on time, but like the protesters, I too feel like I need to do something. We all do. The pain is so raw, the fury so potent. What should we do? What can we do? How can this be happening?

The truth is, we don’t have the answers.

Obviously, the military will do everything in its power to rescue the rest of the hostages and eliminate our ruthless and brutal enemy.

But we simply don’t understand G-d’s ways. How could He allow such evil to exist in His beautiful world?

Amidst all of this pain, Jon Goldberg-Polin’s words at his son Hersh’s funeral struck a chord. “May the memory of my son be a revolution.”

Now that is something we can do. We need to create a revolution with the tools at our disposal: kindness. Nothing is more powerful in the face of evil than love and kindness.

The terrorists don’t differentiate between religious or non-religious Jews, between right-wing and left-wing Jews. To them, we are all simply Jewish. 

We too, must not differentiate. Love all Jews equally. We only have each other. Ignore the differences; embrace unity. We share a core, an essence, a soul. When we are united, no force in the world can break us.

The terrorists sow evil, it’s up to us to harvest kindness. Give charity, even when it’s hard. Invite guests for Shabbat, even when you’re tired. Go out of your way to help others, even if it’s inconvenient.

Do it for us.

Do it for Carmel, Eden, Ori, Hersh, Almog and Alexander.

Do it for the remaining hostages who we desperately hope will be returned alive soon.

May Moshiach come now, end all evil, and reunite us with all our Jewish brothers and sisters. Amen.

My family and I are scheduled to travel to Israel this month, but the other day my six-year-old son turned to me and said “I don’t want to go to Israel.” When I pressed him for a reason, he said, “Because there is a war going on there.”

I was so surprised. How does he know?!

For the last 10 days, every morning we wake up to the headlines:

“American intelligence indicates there will be an imminent attack from Iran and its proxies.”

“US intelligence estimates that Iran has shelved its attack.”

“Mossad says the attack is back on.”

“Attack coming, but limited.”

“Iran will attack through Hezbollah.”

“Attack on hold for hostage negotiations, US says.”

It’s nerve-wracking for us, how much more so for Israelis who are truly living on the edge! The constant back and forth, will there be an attack or no attack? When? What can we do? We can’t keep living like this! It’s exhausting.

A Major in the IDF once told me that only a fool will tell you “War is not imminent,” and only a fool will tell you “War is about to break out.”

Absolutely nobody knows what will happen—not the chief of staff, not the defense minister, and not the prime minister. Not even the Iranians or the ayatollahs! The Middle East is such a volatile place; things change so rapidly that we simply know nothing. Any tiny episode can ignite the region in flames in seconds.

So, how do we continue living in such anxiety-ridden times? As it is, we Jews are anxious people!

Although it may seem counterintuitive, it is precisely at times like these that we give ourselves over to the Almighty G-d and tell Him, “We don’t have the answers, we don’t know what will be, but You do and we place our trust and our lives in Your hands!”

The only One who knows precisely what will happen, when, and how, is G-d. The world runs according to his schedule precisely!

Facing such tremendous uncertainty, we turn to the only thing that is true and solid in this world: Torah and mitzvot. By studying Torah and committing to the mitzvot, we fortify ourselves the best way we know how.

So while we may not know whether there will be another war in Israel now, we do know—without a shadow of doubt—that G-d will protect us as He has done for so many years!

And so I responded to my six-year-old son: “Of course we are going to Israel. Israel is the safest place on planet Earth—G-d keeps His eyes on the Land year-round. Unless, of course, the airline cancels, in which case we won’t be able to fly.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I embarked on a quick three-day getaway to the breathtakingly beautiful island of Capri, in the south of Italy. We spent one day touring the incredible Amalfi Coast, setting out on a hike that would take us to the famed “Path of God”— 

an immensely popular mountain trail about 4.34 miles long, at the dizzying height of 2065ft above sea level. The views were indeed heavenly, but the heat was sweltering, with temperatures soaring to over 100 degrees.

As we hiked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at Hashem's incredible creation. The scenery was like nothing I had ever seen before. Along the way, I met fellow hikers and asked them how much farther we had to go. Each person encouraged me, saying we still had hours to go, but the views would be well worth it. As we hiked, I started conversations with every passerby. We met tourists from every part of the world. Australians, Europeans, Americans, Africans, Asians—you name it, they were there. We had some great conversations, but alas, nobody was Jewish.

As I always do when traveling, I carried my tefillin in my backpack, along with water and other essentials. It's a habit I've developed over the years, because what could be greater than meeting a fellow Jew and doing a mitzvah together?

As we climbed higher, we met a fellow hiker named Mike. He told me he was from Italy, and when I asked if he was Jewish, he said no. Further probing uncovered that his mother was in fact Jewish and Ukrainian, making Mike Jewish too!

I couldn't believe the coincidence. I whipped out my tefillin and asked Mike if he had ever put them on before. He said no, so I offered to perform a belated bar mitzvah ceremony for him right there on the mountain! We recited the Shema together, and I wrapped the tefillin around his arm. He was so excited to perform this mitzvah in the sweltering heat amid stunning views! As we danced and took a selfie together, it was impossible to ignore the stunning Italian peninsula in the background.

Little did we know that this very place had a complex history. In 1541, the Jewish community was banished from the kingdom of Naples. Yet, here we were, two Jews, standing on the Path of God, performing a bar mitzvah ceremony, proudly and publicly celebrating our heritage in a place where Jews were once forbidden.

I found it ironic that the hike we were on was called the Path of God. Indeed it truly is the path of G-d—or rather, the path to G-d, where the spark of Judaism was ignited in Mike’s neshama.

The encounter with Mike taught me a valuable lesson: As Jews, it does not matter where we are from. Whether we’re Italian, French, Russian, Ukrainian, American, African or Asian, once we find the common connection of our souls we see that we are all brothers and sisters.

We are currently in the 9 days of mourning, when our main focus needs to be on uncovering the common denominator that we all share, to realize that at our core we share a deep soul connection.

As I reflect on my unforgettable experience, I realize that our chance encounter on the Path of God was more than just a coincidence. It was a reminder that our traditions and beliefs can bring us together in the most beautiful and unexpected ways. So, let us embrace our differences, celebrate our shared humanity, and never miss an opportunity to connect with others and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Today is a tense day. Israel has shown remarkable courage by striking Yemen, Lebanon, and now the heart of Tehran, and our enemies are furious. Hezbollah has just announced that we have entered a new stage of the war. Hamas has called for a day of intense rage. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has authorized a direct attack on Israel in response to Haniyeh's assassination. Intelligence indicators from Iran suggest they will launch hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, a larger strike than the one they unleashed in April. Iran, Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and Yemen will likely try to saturate the air defense and draw blood for Hamas. Israel and the US have been in ongoing talks throughout the day, planning for a possible multi-front attack.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel have issued special instructions for this coming Shabbat, such as what to do if a siren sounds during the Amidah, whether or not to go to shul for a minyan, and instructions for leaving a radio on in the background throughout Shabbat.

United, Delta, and other airlines have canceled their flights. The American embassy is warning against traveling to northern Israel.

Our enemies are more determined than ever to destroy us—not just in Israel, but all over the globe. In NY, London, Paris, Johannesburg, Sydney—everywhere there are Jews, tensions are heightened and displays of violent antisemitism have become bolder and louder. The National Security Council recommends reconsidering all travel abroad and avoiding outward displays of Jewish and Israeli identities, citing threats from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

So, what can we do?

The truth is that our enemies are stronger than us, more numerous, and better armed. We are a tiny nation, only 0.2 percent of the world’s population. Our enemies outnumber us by far!

But we have a secret weapon: our dear Father in Heaven, Almighty G-d. Hashem has been with us for 4,000 years, through threats and persecutions. We have not only survived, but flourished, and we are still here. That's why we have nothing to fear. G-d is in control, and we are His beloved children. So there is no reason to be nervous and absolutely no cause for panic! We should all remain calm and place our trust in Hashem.

What can we do practically? Do a good deed, help a neighbor, give charity, put on tefillin, light Shabbat candles, and keep kosher. Do it for yourself, your friend, and the world. The power of a mitzvah is infinite and reverberates throughout the universe. Your mitzvah today can destroy the weapons of our enemies!

L’chaim to a peaceful Shabbat!

Last week, I drove my kids into the city. It was just me and six of them in the car. No wife with me.

They all climbed inside and I turned on the music for a nice, uneventful ride.

Well, the uneventful part was short-lived, to say the least. All of three minutes in, one of the triplets, Avigayil, started screaming and crying. 

“What’s wrong? What happened?” I asked. 

She didn’t answer, so I asked her triplet brothers. 

“Yehuda pinched her,” Dovid said, explaining that she moved a couple of inches too close to him. 

My options for dealing with the situation while driving were limited. Normally, when Shevy is with me, I drive and she deals with their fights. But here I was alone. 

So I asked the older girls sitting in the middle row if I could move Avigayil up with them, so she wouldn’t be near her brothers. Unfortunately, they adamantly refused. 

Oi gevalt! What now?

So I resorted to my next best option: bribery. 

“Look, there’s a gas station about halfway there that sells kosher, chalav yisrael ice cream,” I told Yehuda. “There are only a handful like it in the whole country! If you behave and don’t pinch anyone else, I’ll buy you ice cream when we get there.” 

He didn’t answer, but I saw he was listening and I know he loves ice cream. Surely, this would do the trick. 

Feeling proud of myself, I continued driving. Avigayil had calmed down. Music was blaring. I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so good at this, I can do this,” I told myself. 

Not 30 seconds later, Avigayil was again crying hysterically.

“What happened this time?”

“Yehuda pinched her and pulled her hair.” 

Now what was I to do? I really needed my wife!

So I said, “Yehuda, look, I’ll give you one more chance. If you don’t pull anyone’s hair or pinch anyone, I’ll buy everyone ice cream. I know you all love ice cream! But this is your last chance. One more step out of line and nobody gets ice cream. 

Avigayil calmed down and I breathed a sigh of relief. Baruch Hashem, thank you G-d!

Not 25 seconds passed before Avigayil was crying hysterically again. According to Dovid, Yehuda pinched her again and very hard!

That’s it! I pulled off the highway onto the shoulder meant for emergencies. This is definitely an emergency! I brought Avigayil to sit in the middle row with her sisters, away from the boys. That’s it. No more fighting, no more pinching. Out of arm’s reach. 

And we continued on our way. This time, thank G-d, all was peaceful. 

About 10 minutes from Manhattan, Yehuda pipes up, “Where is my ice cream?”

I was incredulous! I looked at them, all playing and chatting so nicely together, even him and Avigayil—no remnants of the pinches, hair pulling or screaming. Nada. As if nothing had ever happened, they were best friends all along, and he wants his ice cream!

How could it be? Half an hour ago they were ready to kill each other! Apparently, it had completely slipped his mind at this point!

I shook my head and realized what an incredible lesson there is for all of us to see here. 

Children choose being happy over being right. Adults choose being right over being happy. Children can easily forget about their fights because they choose to be happy.

We are currently in the Three Weeks leading up to the destruction of the Holy Temple due to our infighting and hatred for each other. But imagine if we were more like kids. They fight, and then they’re OK. Five minutes later the fight is over and they want their ice cream. 

What we need more than anything else in today's day and age is to learn from our children. Let the fights be forgiven and forgotten. We are all brothers and sisters. So what if we have disagreements? In this world, which is so divisive, we must learn to love one another. 

Let's choose to be happy over being right. And in doing so, we will end the exile and bring about the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash—the third and final Holy Temple.

My dear Zalman,

As we celebrate your bar mitzvah this week, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion. 

The past 13 years have flown by; I vividly remember your bris like it was yesterday. Watching you grow into the remarkable young man you are today has been an incredible journey. We are so thankful to Hashem for entrusting us with your precious neshama to nurture and to love!

As you transition into adulthood and take on the responsibilities of the 613 mitzvot, I want to prepare you: From now on, a constant battle will rage within you—a battle between the forces of evil and the forces of light. Every moment, every day, you will face a choice: Will your eyes read the latest world gossip, or will they be fixed on the pages of the eternal Torah? Will your mouth be used to slander or to talk kindly about others? Will your hands be used to hurt or to wrap tefillin? Will your legs carry you to inflict pain or to a hospital to visit the sick?

You are now part of the “struggling brigade,” like the rest of us. But here's an important truth: G-d has equipped you with the resources to overcome and emerge victorious in this battle! The power to triumph lies within you. You cannot blame your friends, your teachers or even your parents. The power is given to you and only you. You alone can tap into that innate strength to overcome any obstacle in your path. 

We live in a world plagued by darkness, devoid of spirituality, filled with chaos. So many bad people, so many unnecessary wars. But amidst this darkness, you have a mission—a purpose that sets you apart. Your job is to find and ignite the light and illuminate a world desperately in need of hope and healing. It’s up to you to show the world that there is a Master to this universe—the Almighty G-d.

As you embark on this new chapter of adulthood, remember that the forces of light will always overcome the forces of darkness. The smallest flame can light up the darkest room; even a small spark of spirituality can dispel the darkness around us. You just have to strike the match. 

You are now fully responsible for all your Torah and mitzvot. I am thrilled that you can now help us form a minyan in shul every week! I urge you to embrace this responsibility and become a shining example of light in a world that sorely needs it.

Ever since you were born, I’ve seen the fire inside you—the burning sensation to do and live and go. You are a man on a mission. You have been given incredible natural gifts. You love helping people and you have natural charisma and charm. Take these talents with you and use them to transform the world!

May you fulfill your mission and become a beacon of hope in these unprecedented times.

Tatty

Ten years ago, a young soldier’s life changed forever in Gaza. Itai* was serving in the special forces Golani brigade during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. When his unit entered Gaza, they were bombed by terrorists, leaving Itai severely wounded, his body riddled with shrapnel.

He spent the next few months in rehabilitation, unsure if he’d ever recover, with no idea where his life was headed. Those hospital days were dark and pain-filled, but against all odds, Itai preserved and prevailed.

On his journey toward recovery, Belev Echad was with him every step of the way. I met Itai when he came on one of our restorative trips to NYC soon after his injury, enjoying 10 incredible days with our community. Itai loved all the luxuries and experiences we provided and bonded with our community in a deep and meaningful way.

He subsequently became such an integral part of Belev Echad, that I even had the honor and privilege of officiating at his wedding. It was during one of the busiest weeks of my life, but I felt strongly that I wanted to be there. I flew in, officiated and attended his beautiful chuppah and reception, and flew back a short few hours later. I was so happy to be there.

This week, I received an emotional call from Itai, now an alumnus of our program. He shared that it's been exactly 10 years since his injury and he wants to give back. Thank G-d, at this point, he is in an amazing place with a stable job and a family. He generously donated $1,800 to pay it forward to help other wounded soldiers. I told him we would allocate his donation to our food program. Every month we provide wounded soldiers with food packages so that they will have food in their homes and their fridges.

I was deeply moved by his gesture. It was a full-circle moment. Here is a soldier, wounded in battle, who received so much from Belev Echad and now he is giving back!

Could Itai have ever imagined, during those grueling days of rehab 10 years ago, that he would one day become a philanthropist for the very same organization? Imagine if he could have seen the light at the end of the tunnel during his darkest days!

Right now, there are 14,000 newly injured soldiers from the current war. If we could give them a lesson of inspiration from Itai, it would be: Look! There is hope at the end of the tunnel. This can be you one day, as long as you don’t give up.

The rest of us can learn from Itai too. Not a single human in this world goes through life without challenges. We all face obstacles and trials and tribulations. But, like Itai, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for us too—just believe in it and you will get there!

In fact, right now as Jews we are in exile—the darkest moments of exile—but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We know that Moshiach’s arrival and the Final Redemption is imminent. It will happen at any moment—as long as we stay focused on the goal and don’t give up hope.

A little bit of Itai’s perseverance will stand us all in good stead. Yashar Koach, Itai!

*Name changed to protect privacy

Every day I wake up, replete with energy, ready to bound into the day and inspire my fellow Jews and make a positive impact on the world.

And indeed, my wife and I have been able to open and run a Chabad center with a successful preschool program whose graduates now live all over the world. We’ve been privileged to reach and inspire thousands of people through our Hebrew school, day camp, shul, adult education classes, programs and events. We’ve been able to hire 70 employees and provide them with a livelihood. And of course, we have our unique Belev Echad organization, through which we’ve been blessed to restore life and meaning to countless wounded IDF soldiers.

Believe it or not, there are 6,500 families of Chabad shluchim worldwide just like us, operating over 3,500 associations across 110 countries—numbers which continue to grow weekly.

Chabad is in every corner of the world, servicing school children, teenagers, college kids, young professionals, new parents, adults, seniors, and every other demographic you can think of. There is no other organization like it in the world. We are an army, and we all wake up every morning with the same energy, inspired by the mission and vision of the Chabad movement.

What is the secret? How does it work?

The Rebbe

It's been exactly 30 years since our Rebbe left the world. On the 3rd of Tammuz, 1994, the Rebbe left this physical world after a prolonged illness, but his reach and his teachings continue to motivate and inspire all of us daily.

In the coming days, as we mark the 30-year anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, tens of thousands of people will go to visit his Ohel in Queens to pray. Some of these will be shluchim like me. Many will be members of Chabad communities and Chabad houses. Some will be there for the first time. Some will be regulars. Some will be secular. Others will be non-Jewish. There will be families, individuals, camps, communities. And then there will be some people who no one knows, who have no apparent connection to Chabad, but who have somehow, sometime, somewhere been touched by the Rebbe’s far-reaching network.

The Rebbe inspired people like no one else in history. Thirty years after his passing, I wake up every morning and study his teachings. It’s part of my life. It’s what makes me tick. It’s the source of my inspiration.

His teachings encompass thousands of pages and tens of thousands of hours of classes and recordings—there’s no way I can even begin to encapsulate all that here, but if I had to pick out three lessons that inspire me the most, here they are: 

The Rebbe taught us to believe in ourselves. No matter what challenge or obstacle you are facing, you can persevere and overcome. Whether it’s difficulty procuring a livelihood, or because you’re lonely, or are experiencing marital problems—nothing is too big or too bad. You can prevail and succeed! The Rebbe taught that each of us can change the world. Yes me, small little me, can literally change the universe with my actions. Just do one more act of goodness and kindness today and you will change the entire world

The Rebbe taught us to believe in people. The Rebbe taught us to see only the good inside of every Jew—that no matter how rough people may look on the outside, to love them and judge them favorably, because every Jew is a diamond with a G-dly core. If you can’t find the jewel hidden behind the layers, it just means you need to dig deeper.

The Rebbe taught us to believe in the world. The Rebbe taught us that no matter how bad the situation appears, ultimately it will be good. If it’s not good, then it’s not the end yet!

When we look at the war currently raging in Israel and we see how virulently our enemies hate us, and just how many enemies we have—Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, ISIS, etc—it’s easy to feel fearful and despondent. In fact, it’s only natural.

But the Rebbe taught us otherwise. G-d has a plan and we have to have faith in that plan. If we don’t see the good, it’s still coming. In fact, the Rebbe repeatedly taught that Israel is actually the safest place in the world. It’s where, as Scripture promises, “The eyes of G-d are upon the land from the beginning of the year until the end.”

We are facing the highest rates of antisemitism in almost 100 years. Of course we feel despondent! But the Rebbe told us to hold on tight. The darkest part of the night is just before dawn breaks, and that is where we are right now. The world is in chaos, our brothers and sisters in Israel and across the world are under attack; if ever there was a sign that the dawn—the Final Redemption—is about to materialize, this is it.

The light is shining brightly at the end of the tunnel and we know Hashem will never let us down. Learning and internalizing the Rebbe’s teachings will help us develop the trust and belief we need for the dawn to break through, and Moshiach to arrive, may it happen speedily!

Rabbi Uriel Vigler

As a rabbi, I've learned to appreciate the unexpected lessons that come from everyday encounters—of which there are many! This week was no different. 

When I listened to a voicemail message left by Jessica,* a very determined woman, I was both astonished and amused. Jessica had been trying to reach me and her exasperation was palpable. “Hi Rabbi, this is Jessica,” she said. “I have a million dollars to donate to your organization but you don't seem to be calling me back. Ok, thank you.”

Regretfully, the demands of my job and my schedule often prevent me from getting back to people as quickly as I wish I could. I feel bad when it happens, but the delay is usually unavoidable.

After listening to her message, I found myself in a quandary. If I call her back now, she’ll think I’m only calling her about the money! But I try to get back to people as soon as I can. So should I call back so I can get back to her quicker, or put it off so it’s clear I’m not responding just because she mentioned a donation?

Fortunately, I didn’t have to think about it for too long, because the same day—while I was at an event—Jessica called back. I answered and she said, “Rabbi, I had a million dollars to donate to your organization, but since you didn’t call me back, I already donated it elsewhere.”

Well, I thought to myself, that was pretty fast to find another organization and give away all that money, but it is what it is.

The Baal Shem Tov teaches that everything we see or hear in this world can teach us a valuable lesson, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized my encounter with Jessica is exactly what the Baal Shem Tov was referring to. In fact, my entire interaction with her may have happened solely for me to learn this lesson:

So, what can I learn from Jessica? Jessica is persistent. Determined. Demanding of immediate action. Imagine if we were all like that! Imagine if we all demanded that G-d listen to our prayers and respond to us immediately.

How many times have we left messages for Him that seemingly go unreturned? How many tears have we shed? The time for patience is over. We need to be more like Jessica!

G-d, we want to live in peace! Please, let there be no more antisemitism, no more Jews being beaten up in the streets of LA and NY. This is the biggest crisis facing the Jewish people today. Please, G-d, bring it to an end. Not down the line. Not some day. Now! Immediately!

We demand an immediate end to this exile with the coming of Moshiach, and the Ultimate Redemption, which will usher in an era of peace and serenity across the globe.

Last week, I was in the office right before Shabbat when the phone rang. I picked it up and the caller asked, “Do you guys help IDF soldiers?“

“Yes, that’s right, you’ve reached the offices of Belev Echad,” I said.

“Great,” he replied. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

I of course agreed, hoping he was interested in partnering with us to support our programs.

He asked what we do for the soldiers, and I gave him the whole rundown of all the resources and programs and support we offer, explaining that essentially from the moment an IDF soldier is hospitalized, our team is there taking care of everything they need to make a complete recovery.

“How many soldiers do you help?” he asked.

“Right now we have approximately 1,700 under our direct care,” I answered, thinking to myself, “After all these questions, I hope I’ve made a persuasive argument and he decides to get involved.”

He then said, “Who am I talking to?” and I said, “This is Rabbi Vigler.”

“What do you do?”

“I founded the organization.”

And then came the bombshell.

“How do you feel about helping people who are murdering millions of innocent women and children?”

Gevalt!

He then went on a rant about how we are killing and murdering and how shameful it is, and so on. 

I hung up at some point.

And I thought to myself, “Wow! This guy is good. First he leads me to believe that he is truly interested in our work, but really he is only really fishing for information …” And then I put it out of my mind.

While searching for an idea for my weekly blog, this story came to mind, but what really hit me was that this story hardly even registered. I didn’t report it to the police. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even think about it until I sat down to write my weekly blog! I simply moved on and forgot about it pretty much as soon as I hung up the phone.

But this is the true danger—complacency in the face of Jew hatred. Getting used to it. Accepting it as the new norm.

If you’d asked me two years ago what I would do after a phone call like this, I wouldn’t have hesitated to call the police and press for a complete investigation.

But now, I’ve gotten so used to the phone calls, the antisemitic incidents on the streets, the hate and lies being spread all over the world, that I didn’t even flinch.

Getting used to it is the true danger!

If we don’t take it seriously, who will?

This is really the story of our lives in general.

We have been living in this dark and bitter exile for close to 2000 years. We are not at home. Our true home is in Jerusalem with the rebuilding of the third Temple and the coming of Moshiach. But the darkest and most dangerous part of exile is when we become so comfortable living in exile that we stop demanding its end!

We need to demand from G-d: “Ad Mosai – until when?” How much longer must we wait for redemption? We cannot bear the pain of exile anymore. We cannot bear to be away from You, our true Father, any longer. Please take us home!

For 15 years, we’ve been hosting an annual motorcycle ride for our wounded IDF soldiers. It’s one of our longest-running programs, with motorcycle riders from all over the tri-state area coming together and volunteering for the day, to give our heroes the ride of a lifetime. We go up to Bear Mountain to enjoy the incredible scenery and end off with a lavish BBQ somewhere upstate. 

It’s a win-win all around: the soldiers love it, the riders have a great time, and we all appreciate the opportunity to do a mitzvah for the soldiers who have given so much for us. Everyone gets to feel good!

This year, over 75 volunteers came with their enormous Harley Davidsons, Slingshots, and all other fancy kinds of motorcycles.

One of the riders, Sarah,* comes every year with her husband Peter.* As we said our goodbyes at the end of the day, I asked Sarah if she would consider lighting Shabbat candles each week. I explained that it only takes a minute to do, but releases infinite light and energy into the world. Sarah politely declined, telling me that since she and Peter come from different religions, they have an agreement not to bring their religion into the home. 

I left it at that, but a week later I received a beautiful message: 

“Hello Rabbi. This is Sarah from the IDF ride. I want you to know that you and the host of the BBQ (I believe his name is Barry) had a positive impact on me when we talked before *Peter (my Christian husband) and I left. I lit Shabbos candles last Friday and plan to do so again tonight. Wishing you and your family a Good Shabbos!”

I was blown away! So much work goes into this event. From the planning to the execution, every detail is worked out by our devoted team. Bringing the wounded soldiers to New York is a huge undertaking: we fill up 10 days with incredible experiences, and some of them undergo medical treatments while they’re here. 

Just the motorcycle ride requires months of meetings and planning to make sure everything runs smoothly, followed by the over-the-top BBQ hosted by Barry and Rissie with so much love, dedication and generosity, along with the Grillfather who does an incredible job. 

And as I read Sarah’s message, I thought to myself: “All this effort and planning was worth it just for Sarah to light Shabbat candles. Perhaps that’s the very reason we even held this event!” 

The Baal Shem Tov famously taught that our souls may descend into the world, and spend 70 or 80 years here, just to do a single act of kindness for a fellow Jew. 

We have no way of knowing, though, what that specific act is. 

Could it be that 15 years of motorcycle rides were solely for this moment—for Sarah to start lighting Shabbat candles? I don’t know. But it’s certainly possible. 

Since we can’t know, it’s all the more important that we value every mitzvah and grab every opportunity to serve G-d and do acts of goodness and kindness for those around us. Who knows which mitzvah is the one we were sent here to do? And who knows which mitzvah will be the tipping point that will usher in the coming of Moshiach and Final Redemption? It could be any of us. 

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Uriel Vigler

*Names changed to protect privacy.