By the Grace of G‑d
Erev Sukkot, 5782 • September 20, 2021
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Bevel,
As I reflect on the past few weeks, some thoughts stand out firmly in my mind.
First and foremost: I am so grateful to you!
You've shown your support, love, friendship and care to people around the world in a tremendous way.
It’s really remarkable: You will probably never meet all the people that you’re helping, yet you were there for them in their time of need!
I’m inspired, uplifted, and humbled by your devotion and care.
I’d like to share with you a bit of what happened behind the scenes here at Chabad.org:
Only a few short weeks ago my team and I began reaching out to people like yourself to share a little bit of the urgency we were suddenly getting from all kinds of people, from practically every corner of the world, about all kinds of urgent needs.
Between catastrophic weather patterns, uneasiness about anti-semitism and Israel, continued political division, and the Covid-19’s new variant, the questions, anxiety and concerns that people were turning to us with were raw, acute and voluminous.
All this in addition to the "regular" incredibly high volume of Judaism and High Holiday queries, which were coming in fast and furious.
Honestly, we were overwhelmed by the challenge.
And then you stepped up:
We started reaching out to ask for help for these people and their increased needs.
You said: “Yes!”
You reacted with incredible loving care and commitment, and you shared your very own resources — to put other people’s minds and hearts at ease.
You — along with so many caring and kind individuals — helped. Your gift truly made a difference. Your kindness was felt and your care very much appreciated.
You had a direct, immediate, and long lasting impact!
Here is a small sampling of the people you helped:
Don was feeling low because he felt unworthy and not ready to face G-d during the High Holidays; you lifted his spirits and soothed his soul.
Evy, now 93, is not allowed to light a fire in her new nursing home residence. She wanted to know what she should do about her Shabbat candles because she has lit them for more than 80 years and couldn’t imagine Shabbat without lighting her candles. You helped her figure out a safe solution.
Jon wanted to know how to hear the Shofar with his hearing aid; you helped him.
Sarah wanted help in figuring out her parents’ yahrtzeits; you helped her.
Eric needed help in learning how to blow the Shofar at home. You were there for him.
Becca couldn’t go to Yom Kippur services this year. A family member came down with Covid-19 and the whole family was in quarantine. They anticipated disaster and sadness. But you helped them enact a Yom Kippur service in their own backyard — and the prayers, rituals and stories turned it into an inspiring Yom Kippur for them. “Obviously, the situation was not ideal. But thanks to your booklets, we were able to experience a feeling of inspiration and connectedness to our religion and our family. And we took great comfort in knowing that we were joining with so many other Jews all around the world, doing the same thing.”
You helped these people. You made sure they had what they needed. And you helped our team navigate a really difficult challenge.
The words “Thank you” seem too small. But it’s what we have. So, from the bottom of my heart:
Thank you!
Thank you for being there. For helping us. And especially: For helping them!
All of us at Chabad.org feel honored and privileged to witness your generosity and its effect, and we feel humbled that you chose us to deliver your kindness to the world.
We are extraordinarily grateful, and we say: THANK YOU!!
And we bless you:
As you gladdened the hearts of so many others and helped them usher in the new year with love and connectedness, may G-d’s abundant blessings for you of goodness and sweetness overflow, and may they buffet you and all yours to joyously “dance into” the imminent Sukkot holiday — and the entire year to come — with health and happiness and all other good things and, in your great merit, may our world be redeemed and transformed.
With gratitude and appreciation,
On behalf of the entire Chabad.org team,
Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin
Director