Another week has gone by. Another attack against a Jewish institution, this time a Synagogue/school in Michigan. Another water-main break in New Orleans, (you think we should be under a default permanent boil water advisory?). There were also some nice things in the community, a bris, a Bar Mitzvah, Limmud-NOLA.
One of my highlights this week was attending a Siddur party for my first grader. Following much time invested in learning how to read Hebrew, the first graders of Slater Torah Academy are ready to start praying from their own Siddurs. A beautiful ceremony included the parents inscribing a message to their child and decorating the cover of each Siddur. The children, wearing crowns that proclaimed “my prayer” in Hebrew, sang several songs from the prayers. Then each of them was presented with their own Siddur. Refreshments, including a “siddur cake” were then served.
It was very special to see ten children from diverse family backgrounds so enthusiastic about prayer. Each child feels the culmination of their years’ long quest for Hebrew reading achievement and a love for connecting to Hashem through prayer. This is a foundation for Jewish life that will make a big difference going forward for those children, wherever life takes them. I was speaking to one of the other fathers and he shared with me how proud he is of his child, who, on his own, says Modeh Ani and washes his hands (Netilat Yadaim) every day.
I am grateful to all the staff and administration of Slater Torah Academy for enabling our children to thrive Jewishly. Everyone who is involved in establishing and supporting this important institution in our community should be proud of the work they have done. Our greater New Orleans Jewish community needs to become more aware of the valuable and critical role Slater Torah Academy serves in ensuring a Jewish future for our community.
May we as a community derive much “nachas” from these children. If “it takes a village to raise a child,” then everyone in the “village” can rejoice in the accomplishments of the children. The most powerful weapon against antisemitism is raising proud and thriving Jews.
Over the next two weeks, Chabad of Louisiana will be distributing 1,100 boxes of Shmura Matzah in New Orleans and the Northshore. Together with our colleagues in Metairie and Baton Rouge, close to 2,000 boxes of Shmura Matzah will be distributed throughout the state of Louisiana. If you would like to volunteer and help deliver, please let us know. Even an hour or two of volunteer time would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to our sponsors, Vivian and Richard Cahn, Steve Rittvo (in memory of Lee Rittvo), and Bradley Egenberg.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin