I flew to Johannesburg this past week—a 16-hour flight that tested my endurance in every way. I absolutely detest flying. I find being confined to a finite space for such a long period of time truly challenging. Plus the flight was delayed two hours in both directions this time!
But I was highly motivated by my destination—my niece’s wedding and a reunion with my parents and all nine of my siblings. A rarity indeed! In the last decade, we’ve only managed to come together like this twice.
Every step I took, every corner I turned, brought back a flood of memories. The streets, the shul, the houses—so much nostalgia at every turn. Being back, all together, in the city of our childhood, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of our upbringing … it made that 16-hour flight all worth it!
Johannesburg, with its vibrant energy and warm community, holds a special place in my heart. It’s the only place in the world other than Israel that has a special blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that things will be good there until Moshiach arrives! The Chabad community, in particular, is thriving—a testament to the power of faith and resilience.
The whole trip was an opportunity for my siblings and me to reconnect on a deep level. We went out to eat, had Shabbat dinner together, danced the night away at the wedding, spent time with our parents, and visited childhood landmarks. We stayed up late into the night, sharing stories, laughing, crying, fighting, and reminiscing about old times …
We’re all grown up now, with separate lives, families, challenges, joys, and struggles. We all have our unique talents and skills, and we try to utilize them to the best of our abilities.
My oldest brother is a hand surgeon in Israel, highly devoted to his patients. My youngest brother is a Chabad rabbi in Houston, Texas. My sisters all live in South Africa and my other brothers live in Palm Beach, Florida and in Flatbush.
But despite our divergent paths, our individual struggles, and our unique experiences, when we’re together, we find common ground. After all, we all come from the same parents, we were all raised in the same house, and as kids we all played, fought, and we grew up together. And when we gather around like this for a family reunion, we realize that we all share the same blood. So we bond over our shared heritage, our Jewish roots, and our family ties.
This experience parallels the story of our People. We are a diverse and complex nation, comprising 16 million individuals with varying opinions, backgrounds, and practices. We span the spectrum from right-wing to left-wing, Reform to Orthodox, and everything in between. Some attend synagogue regularly and others do not. Some observe Shabbat, others do not. Yet, despite our differences, we are all part of the same family.
As recorded in this week's parshah, we are all descendants of a common ancestor, united by our shared experience at Mount Sinai. We received the Torah together, as one people, and we are still bound by that sacred covenant. We read how G-d descended upon the mountain, where we stood, united, like brothers and sisters, willing and eager to accept Him as our ruler.
That unity remains our strongest weapon. So let us pray and make every effort to remain united, because only then will we merit the Final Redemption and the ultimate reunion with our people, with Moshiach, and with our Holy Temple.