Dear Friend,
Something remarkable happened in Israel this week.
No, archaeologists have not uncovered a bronze proto–chicken soup pot, and no one has discovered a way to make Egged bus drivers slow down on hairpin turns. Yet what happened was so predictable that no one could have predicted it.
No less than 27 members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament, famous for holding frank disagreements on just about everything) got together for a session honoring Chabad’s growing contributions to Israeli—and world—society.
Speaker after speaker, from across the Israeli political spectrum, took to the podium to share his or her impressions of the Rebbe’s unifying impact on Jewish life and on their personal lives.
How did the Rebbe do it? How could one person’s message resonate with such a diverse group of individuals? Perhaps the answer is as simple as one word: light.
There is a Yiddish saying, “Light draws near.” When you light a candle, people come close to bask in its glow. The Rebbe held aloft a candle of Torah light, illuminating, comforting and guiding each and every individual.
This Shabbat is the Rebbe’s 21st yahrtzeit. What better time is there for us to lift our own torches high, sharing this message of unity, empowerment and transformation with everyone around us?
Menachem Posner,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team
