On Friday morning of Simchat Torah, I was slightly surprised when I walked into shul at the Marriot Hotel and was greeted by two Yeshiva students from Brooklyn. Ori and Shai explained that upon the completion of their army service, they became religious and decided to study in a Yeshiva. They had spent Sukkot at Chabad’s World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
As is the custom instituted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, yeshiva students all over the world branch out to different communities on Simchat Torah to join in the dancing and liven up the atmosphere, as only young blood can. Ori and Shai, still fit from their army days, chose to walk to the furthest shul within walking distance. They gathered a group of twelve other guys to make the five hour trek to the Bronx, remain there for three hours and then return home. As it turned out, all twelve copped out.
After dancing the night away, Ori and Shai set out to Brooklyn at 10pm. It wasn’t long before the blisters started swelling painfully and desperation began to sink in. The plan was to seek out a Chabad House and spend the night there. At around 2am, they somehow found themselves in a rain- drenched Upper East Side and were directed by a local to the “Jewish Center” at 206 E 95th. Not knowing a word of English, they struggled to communicate with the baffled doormen of both our preschool building and our home, both of whom denied them access. Resigning themselves, they sought shelter under a canopy just outside the Chabad House where they spent the remainder of the night in the unfriendly storm. With the arrival of morning, Ori and Shai headed to shul where we pampered them with great food and real beds.
During one of our many conversations, I asked the two to please convey my regards to a friend in Israel, who, as it turns out, they also knew. When I asked them how they would remember my name, they replied in all seriousness, “Are you kidding? The entire night we wondered how we would wake up Vigler, where is Vigler, Vigler, Vigler... that’s not a name we’ll forget too fast!”
The hero of this week’s parsha (Lech Lecha) is none other than Avraham Avinu. Renowned for his unprejudiced generosity and intense kindness, Avraham took great pride in his desert hotel... an all-open tent servicing all wayfarers, religion and affiliations irrelevant. In our generation, we too were fortunate to witness an Avrahamic compassion. The Lubavitcher Rebbe made it his mission to reach every Jew worldwide, establishing over 4 000 Chabad Centers headed by enthusiastic young couples ready to sacrifice the luxuries of home in favor of building thriving Jewish communities in the remotest corners of Earth. Thanks to the Rebbe’s tireless efforts, a Jew may travel to any destination with the knowledge that he will be greeted by brothers and friends at the local Chabad House.
Just as it was for Ori and Shai, an Avrahamic tent of warmth and light awaits each Jew, no matter where he may find himself, thanks to the Rebbe’s tireless efforts.
Edward wrote...