Good Shabbos, everyone!

I wanted to sponsor this kiddush so I could speak about Chabad
and what specifically I appreciate about it. I believe that when
someone or someplace does something good, they deserve to be
told about it. I want to tell all of you what Chabad means to me. I’d
like to call this my Kiddush of Appreciation.
And this focus was Inspired by Linda who spoke of her gratitude
and appreciation for Chabad a few Shabbos’s ago. So thank you
Linda for the inspiration!
Rabbi Paltiel recently spoke about the various things at Chabad
that draw people in to keep coming here. He said that people of
all different kinds of Judaism come to Chabad. As the Rabbi said,
there are many other choices in town that they could go to. What
happens here is that Chabad in many different ways reaches us
deep inside our souls and touches us.
I want to tell you how Chabad has touched me.
One way I experience Chabad is CHESED-KINDNESS.
I had a shoulder replacement on June 12 and could not drive for 6
weeks. Suzanne used an app where volunteers from the
community could sign up to provide rides for me to and from
physical therapy. Thank you Suzanne for arranging this for me.
And thank you to all my drivers. I want all of you to know that I felt
such joy each time I accepted a ride!
I also love the general culture here of acceptance and kindness. I
have made and am making many wonderful friends here!
Another way Chabad touches me is through LEARNING.

A couple of weeks there was a Shabbos of comfort; just when I
needed it! Rabbi Paltiel talked about our difficult times as plowing.
The earth is turned upside down and is messy BUT IT IS being
made ready for the seeds which eventually bring growth and new
life.
Tanya speaks about the hidden good. G‑d has a reason and a
purpose for everything He does. Even when we go through a
difficult time there is hidden good within it. Eventually that hidden
good will be revealed. For example, through my shoulder surgery,
I enjoyed a greater connection with the community during my
rides to and from PT. It is good to actively think about what the
hidden good could be when we are going through the “bad”.
I also learned here about Rabbi Akiva and his optimism. Rabbi
Akiva was able to find the seeds of hope in the depths of despair.
He said, “As we contemplate hardships in our own lives, we may
become despondent. Don’t let today’s difficulties define you or
your future. Let not the challenges of today rob us of our belief in
the potential of tomorrow.”

Thank you for listening, and Good Shabbos!