june, july & august 2016

Rabbi’s Message
Dear friends, The Rebbetzin and I have been involved with a new and historic development which will have a profound impact on the Jewish people. All over the world, particularly in Latin America, Asia and Africa, there is a small but growing movement toward Judaism that will in the future grow to have great impact on the Jewish people. The groups are very varied. They include the descendants of the victims of the Spanish Inquisition who want to return to their original faith; groups which feel they are descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel; and those who have come to the conclusion that Judaism is the true faith which mandates a life affirming and beautiful way of life. I think these communities have a great lesson for us. If people all around the world sense the greatness of Judaism and want more than anything else to embrace the Jewish way of life, it must offer something profound and beautiful. The Rebbetzin and I have just returned from a visit to Madagascar where a large group converted to Judaism. I was surprised at the depth of their knowledge, mostly obtained by way of the internet, and their commitment to keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath and other Jewish practices. Sometimes we need outsiders to point out to us the richness of what we already have and the greatness of the gift of Judaism that our parents and grandparents have bequeathed to us. These communities teach us that being a Jew is not something trivial or unimportant. Soon we will be celebrating Shavuot the festival of the giving of the Torah. We are privileged to have received that gift. In a world where the prevalent secular way of life has not always produced the best results, let us give Torah Judaism and the Jewish way of life the importance it deserves Have a great summer,
Rabbi Sussman.