Rabbi's Blog - The Shul of Bellaire

A Jewish maverick!

Friday, November 22, 2013 - 2:22 PM

A Jewish maverick!

Today the USA commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of one of its most inspirational leaders John F. Kennedy. For a video of the Rebbe addressing President Kennedy’s establishment of the US Peace Corps click here.

Today also marks another important anniversary. On this day (216 years ago) the first leader of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, was released from Czarist prison and thereafter began teaching Jewish spirituality with greater intensity, spawning a spiritual renaissance within Judaism.

There were certain Jewish principles that had been dormant for centuries, and Rabbi Schneur Zalman fought - quite literally - that these principles be restored to their proper place within Jewish life. If you look around the Jewish world today, you can see how successful his approach has been.

Here are three examples of his ideas and imagine modern-day Judaism without them:

1. Serving G-d with joy! As opposed to serving Him solely out of a sense of obedience. (Think: the evolution of Jewish education away from the early 20th century model of angry Hebrew School rabbis.)

2. The inherent value of a human being, based on their essential G-dly soul at their core, not based on their talents, wisdom or even their level of Jewish observance. (Think: the quest for non-denominational affiliation.)

3. Jewish People-hood not like other nationalities, rather it is essential to the very being of each Jew. (Think: The deep concern for Israel expressed by Jews around the globe.)

These are some ideas for which Rabbi Schneur Zalman lived and for which he was today vindicated. In his time these ideas were not only novel, they were also threatening to the accepted divisions among Jews - either you were a scholar or you were a nothing!

Comes along this maverick and re-introduces ideas that every Jew can relate to and be inspired by!

Today, every person has complete access to the beauty and depth of Torah and Judaism and can pursue a spiritually productive life.

With each year, thousands more Jews begin to appreciate how integral these ideas are to Judaism, and ultimately how integral they are to life itself.

It is yours for the taking, get a taste by joining a class, private with the rabbi or in a group, and your life will be enriched for good!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

We need your Toys!

Friday, November 15, 2013 - 1:20 PM

Unless you’ve been hiding out in a cave, you know that this year is that rare occasion when Thanksgiving and Chanukah coincide. The last time it happened was in 1888 and it's impossible to determine when or if this will ever happen again.

Come to think of it, they actually have a lot in common.

Thanksgiving comes packed with a deep narrative, about an arduous journey to escape religious persecution for freedom in a new land, the establishment of a democratic charter and the sense of Divine providence that carried those refugees through their plight.

That is Chanukah, a narrative deeply embedded in the collective Jewish psyche of how we fought back against religious oppression in our own land, earned our freedom and thanked G-d for the miracles.

On Thanksgiving Americans act as if they identify with the plight of those Pilgrims. Most of us, after all, are descendants of those who fled to this side of the planet seeking a new and bright future. And when we think of America, we still think of a land of promise and liberty.

So Chanukah and Thanksgiving are deeply connected, and that connection can be summed up in just four words, "Thank G-d, we're free."

The 'Bellaire Chanukah Festival' gained a reputation for its creative themed Menorahs. So this year we decided to do something that emphasizes the ‘giving’ theme, a Menorah filled with toys, which will be distributed (through Aishel House) to children suffering from illness, so we can brighten up their Holiday as well.

Thanksgiving should always go together with giving-back and this is a great way to teach this lesson to the children.

Please help us create the Toy Menorah by collecting new toys that you will bring to the 'Chanukah in Toyland' celebration on Sunday, December 1, at Bellaire Town Square, ensuring that every child has a smile on their face this Chanukah.

Let's do it!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

Leaping Forward!

Friday, November 8, 2013 - 2:10 PM

Leaping Forward!

I am excited to be back in Bellaire after spending a most incredible five days at the International Conference of Chabad Rabbis in Brooklyn, NY.

Participating in learning sessions, workshops and seminars with some of the greatest Jewish leaders in the world today, and of course spending countless hours with beloved friends, from all four corners of the globe, was a much needed injection of inspiration and purpose that I hope to share with all of you.

Check out the Times of Israel, Jewish Telegraph Agency and the Jerusalem Post, all are beautiful articles reporting on the weekend.

For a few pictures of my self and Joel Joselevitz at the Grand Banquet CLICK HERE.

We were privileged to hear an inspirational message from guest speaker U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, I highly recommend listening to his talk CLICK HERE.

The Chabad rabbis in attendance represented communities, cities, states and countries throughout the world, each committed to the mission of Chabad to reach every single Jew in their locale, and to share the light of Torah and Mitzvot with each of them on their level.

And this week, we are back, recharged, refreshed and refocused. That is how life is. Sometimes you need to take a step back to take a giant leap forward.

In fact, that is what our forefather Jacob did.

He seems to be taking a step back as he leaves the Promised Land to live with his gangster uncle, Laban. But the truth is, it was just temporary. Soon he will return with a large family, wealth and life experience—the necessary ingredients for the Jewish nation he was about to start.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky