This past Sunday night I attended the Holocaust Memorial event at the JCC. It was a well developed program that had many inspiring elements. The ceremonies, the readings and the featured speaker all contributed to the overall experience. As with most Holocaust related events, there was a strong emphasis on Zachor - remembering and maintaining the memory of what happened, as well as trying to ensure as much as we can that "Never Again."
I have always felt that there is one extremely integral element missing from most events, writings and talks about the Holocaust. The extermination of six million of our brothers and sisters resulted in a major void, one third of the Jewish people was gone along with all of the good that they would have contributed to the world. While we cannot restore their lives (though we need to have a stronger sense of responsibility with regard to repopulating the Jewish people), we can do our part in filling the void of goodness and spirituality that was left after their destruction.
Imagine, six million people worth of Mitzvot. Six million poeple worth of Torah study. Six million people worth of goodness and kindness. That is a major void that we can fill, one Mitzvah at a time. In doing so we also assure that we have the last word over those who sought to destroy, not only Jews but Judaism (which are really inseperable). We need to take this task seriously - because if we will not do it, nobody will do it for us.
A colleague from Chabad of Uraguay produced a short but powerful video clip that addresses this point. It can be viewed at www.chabadneworleans.com/1180316.
I want to remind you about the great opportunity to hear from one of the most respected teachers of Jewish mysticism in the world - Laibl Wolf - who will be conducting a Kabbala Seminar here is New Orleans on Monday, April 26. The topic, Think Right, Feel Right, Do it Right. For more info click here.
This coming Thursday is our class of the month - this month's topic: The Kabbala of the Aleph & Aleph Meditation.
It is with great pleasure that I wish Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Nemes a hearty Mazel Tov upon the engagement of their daughter Chaya Mushka to Mendel Ceitlin. We look forward to celebrating with them at the wedding.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate Beth Israel upon their upcoming groundbreaking this Sunday.