Rabbi's Blog - Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho

Spiritual Globalization

Friday, September 26, 2025 - 8:04 AM

Rumor has it that the most simultaneous, universal water consumption occurs during halftime of the Super Bowl. Consider it a collective usurping of resources.

Could you imagine the other way around? Imagine if hundreds of millions of people simultaneously did an act of sharing, a selfless deed. Or recited a prayer. Or shed a tear for a friend. Or gave a loved one a hug.

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Our Rabbis teach us that on Yom Kippur the essence of the Jewish soul emerges from a potential year-round slumber. On this day all Jews are equal. No one is holier than another. No one is closer to G-d than another.

Can you imagine the power of one soul? It’s infinite.

Now imagine the collective gift of all the millions of souls sharing and giv… Read More »

Once Upon Now

Friday, September 19, 2025 - 8:29 AM

We are beholden by the actions of our forbearers. Ever since the founders of this country established a Constitution, we must abide by it. Even if we disagree with it, we cannot simply do away with it. We must follow a process and vote in order to potentially amend it. Similarly, we inhabit the world that our ancestors left us. The discoveries, the scientific advances, the wars, the successes and failures – all of it is imposed upon us whether we like it or not.

In a strange fashion, we accept that reality. Our ancestors have a right of sorts to foist this on us because they are the ones responsible – in a way – for our existence. If not for them, we would not be here.

Yet, we still have the right… Read More »

Clear Confusion

Friday, September 12, 2025 - 8:43 AM

We clearly live in a confused world.

No, I’m not only referring to the inexplicable actions of someone so full of hatred, confusion, and instability – to take someone else’s life away in barbaric fashion.

I’m mainly referring to the rest of us.

Much of what I have been hearing the last few days – from all sides of the political and cultural spectrum are things like: “Where do we go from here?” or “We are at a boiling point. Civil war is around the corner.” “How can our society and country ever heal?”

On the one hand, it’s a somber and gloomy assessment of our current reality. It doesn’t lend itself to hope and inspiration.

But, perhaps – just perhaps &n… Read More »

Lost Property

Friday, September 5, 2025 - 7:57 AM

One of my assignments as a rabbinic intern in South Africa was to visit businesspeople on Friday afternoons. In typical Chabad fashion, I went with a colleague searching for Jews. We developed a “route” – a standard contingent of businesses that we would visit each week, reaching out to fellow Jews with Shabbat wishes, Torah materials and an opportunity to do a mitzvah. For some it meant a schmooze about Yiddishkeit, for others a reminder to light the Shabbat candles.

The opportunity to lay tefillin was a key offering. One fellow was particularly angry at us for even asking. He immediately showed me the door and stated, “I know why you guys are here. And I want nothing of it. I may be Jewish but I don’t do rel… Read More »