Dear Community Members,
The entire Jewish world is shocked and pained by the anti-Semitic attack that took place in Chabad of Poway, California, this past Saturday - the last day of Passover. We mourn the loss of Lori Gilbert-Kaye and pray for the complete recovery of those injured in the attack: Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, Noya Dahan and Alon Peretz.
We express our thanks to many from the Jewish community and beyond who have contacted us over the past few days with messages of support and comfort.
The heroism of our colleague Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, leaves us in awe. He took immediate action to save the lives of his community members and even after being shot and injured, in a valiant display of incredible strength he stood before his congregation and called out: “We are strong. We are united. They can’t break us! Am Israel Chai”.
Please know that here at Chabad of Gilbert, we are in the midst of putting together, with the assistance of local law-enforcement and national Jewish organizations, a comprehensive security plan.
At the same time, terror against Jews isn’t going to deter us from our mission to continue to shed the light and warmth of Judaism wherever we can. In fact, we plan to double our efforts to spread the light of our faith and strengthen goodness and kindness in a world that so desperately needs it.
Rabbi Goldstein made a plea to all, to increase in acts of Torah and Mitzvot. We must unite to express the spirit of our people and to declare that AM ISRAEL CHAI!
This Friday night we challenge ourselves as a community. How many of us can commit to light Shabbat Candles or make the Kiddush this Friday night in honor of Lori Gilbert-Kaye. How many increments of CHAI (18) can we accumulate? Together we can brighten this world with our mitzvot! Candle lighting time in Gilbert for this week is 6:53pm. Please let us know if you can join this initiative by completing the below very brief form.
Together will all Jews worldwide, may we finally merit to see the time when the evils of war and hate will be eradicated forever, with the coming of our righteous Moshiach speedily in our days.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Shimi Ash
