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In 5706 (1946), there was a 7 year old girl named Nehama. Her family wasn't observant, but her grandfather was, and she would often go to visit him. Her grandfather lived in Crown Heights, in Brooklyn, New York. When his granddaughter Nehama visited him, they used to go together to the park. The grandpa would read the newspaper, and Nehama would play. Nehama noticed that when a rabbi with a black beard passed by, her grandpa would stand up as a sign of respect, chat a few minutes with him, and when the Rabbi left, her grandpa looked very happy. This was strange for her, because from what she had heard from her parents, rabbis were something frightening…
Once, as her grandpa was speaking with the Rabbi, he called Nehama to speak with him as well. The Rabbi asked her for her name, which school she goes to and what’s her favorite class. Her favorite class was Physics. She also liked a certain science fiction book, and asked the Rabbi is he had read it. He answered that the had not, but that he would read it until the next time they would meet.
One or two weeks later, the Rabbi passed again through the park, while Nehama was there with her grandfather. The Rabbi had read the book and asked her what its central idea is. The story was about a faraway galaxy with a group of dark evil men, who was trying to send many dark evil people to the entire world. If they succeeded, that would be the end of the word, and we needed to be very careful.
The Rabbi continued: “You know, I too have a dream. Similar, but slightly different from the book. I want to send good people to the whole world, so that the world is filled with light and goodness.” Nehama liked the idea a lot and asked if she could be part of his people. The Rabbi answered that yes, she can. And whoever else wanted to, could.
50 years later, Nehama read in the New York Times an article about the Rebbe and Chabad and the light they bring to the world. There was the big picture of all the Chabad Rabbis from all over the world and a picture of the Rebbe. She looked at the picture, the face looked very familiar, only the beard was white. She recognized the Rabbi who had told her about his dream to fill up the world with light. She understood that while she could have joined, she finally didn’t do it. So, she called the Chabad offices and asked if it was too late to join. Of course, it was not to late, it is never too late…
This past Wednesday was the 10th of them month of Shevat, the day that the Rebbe became the leader of the Chabad movement and started to fulfill his dream, turn the world into a good and bright place. We can all join. Whoever wants to, can.
Let’s this of a small good action that we can do to participate. Make one more Mitzvah, help someone in need, bring joy to a fellow person… Let’s start!
Shabbat Shalom,
Hanna
