By Rochel
Standing by the airport gate just minutes before boarding my plane from Sweden to Holland, a secular man approached me and asks, “excuse me are you Jewish?”
Bewildered and surprised, I replied “Yes, I am, are you?”
“Yes, I am,” he replied.
He introduced himself and asked me my name. He was surprised when I told him that I was a Lubavitcher, “I think my family will laugh when I tell them that I asked a Chabadnik if she is Jewish!”
During our conversation together, I learned that he was touring Scandinavia for the past few weeks and playing music in different clubs and bars with his friends. Now he is on his way back home in Brooklyn.
Surprisingly, he was just writing a post card to his family and was going to tell them that he hadn’t seen any traces of Judaism here; until he saw me. Wow!
After some small talk, we boarded the plane and my seat was on row 17. Accidently (or maybe it was Hashgacha Pratis?), I sat on row 16, and before I knew it Steve, whom I met earlier, was coming towards the back of the plane, where I was seated! At this point, I realized that there must be a deeper purpose to meeting this person. I made a resolution with myself to try and encourage him to do at least one extra Mitzva.
From the start of the flight, he had all sorts of questions regarding Chabad and the Rebbe. We had a long discussion. When the time was ripe, I asked him if he would be in shul Rosh Hashana to hear the shofar. He politely declined and said it was too difficult and he had a busy schedule.
“Here is my chance,” I thought to myself.
I showed him a picture of the Rebbe, and asked him if he would go hear the Shofar in the merit of this Rabbi. After some thought, he agreed to go! Boy, was I excited!
We continued talking, Steve started saying that he feels a very special connection to Chabad and he told me his story.
A few years ago, he had gone jogging with a few friends. Somewhere along their path, they met a few Chabad bochurim who asked them if they would like to hear the Shofar. Being in a rush, they declined. To their surprise, the boys started jogging with them and blowing the Shofar. He was moved by their love and devotion for another Jew.
This was the beginning of his connection to Judaism and now, he told me, I am continuing that connection.
We are in the midst of Chanukah, a festival that perhaps has the easiest message to share: Light.
There isn’t much to explain, there aren’t many rules and customs. All you need is a wick and a fire and you brought warmth to another person’s life. A simple candle can lead the path to anyone who went or was born astray.
So let us share this light – men, women, elders and youngsters. No matter what our day job is, we have a role in Mivtzah Chanukah of the Rebbe. Let’s go beyond our comfort zone and reach out to every Jew around us by approaching them and not waiting for them to approach us.
A freilechen Chanukah!
P.S. In Crown Heights, Menorah kits for Mivtzoim are placed in many Shuls for Anash to give to Yidden they meet or know. The boxes will be refilled constantly.
The following is a list of shuls where Menorahs are available: Empire Shtibel, Ksav Sofer, Beis Eliezer Yitzchok, Shein Shul, Beis Binyomin, Aguda, Ohel Nosson, 770 Montgomery, Beis Levi Yitzchok, Frankel Shul, Reim Ahuvim, Khal Chasidim , Lefferts Shul, Getzel Shul and Nosson’s Shul.
Women in shlichus are very important. Just for the fact that a shliach has to be married to be a shliach ( they would not be a shliach whithout a shlucha)
Women has to influence and inspire other women and children
Women should not try to talk to men to influence them ( this is not their shlichus) when they are alone with them
They can influence them if their husbands are present
this is a great story and very inspiring thank you for sharing 🙂
That is completely disempowering for women, as
what you are essentially saying is that the only reason a man has to talk to a woman is because of his physical attraction for her. This contravenes the idea of women on shlichus, and frankly contributes to those who continue to objectify women even now in 2013. You should have a blessing that you learn that women have other things to contribute to society besides a pretty face.
Happy Chanukah
Very inspiring
Got the idea from me and couldent even keep up. I think i was the one who did it. I jogged along eastern parkway and also in the park for at least ten times then i bles the shofar for the “( female) rabbi” of the reform synagouge across the st.
I’m blown away
Thank you
Happy Chanukah
to#20
Folks do it all the time. They just don’t broadcast it to others.
Thank you
Go rl and all the sweden staff!!
I would not recommend to a girl to talk to a man alone
A man can say anything just to keep conversation going
I don’t see any accomplishment here.Just plain words
its obvious that a non frum man asking a girl if she is jewish ,is because he felt some kind of attraction.he was just saying what the girl wanted to hear
What does it make a difference? The message is clear- we can’t b lazy we are the Rebbes soldiers until the end of Golus
Maybe girls should star going on merkos shluchos…they do a good job
Thank you Rochel
A women sitting and conversing for hours with a man….
The Rebbes shluchim are conquering the world
She and her family are a true example of the Rebbes Shluchim. Thank you for spreading the light
M schanowitz said he was jogging with guys and blowing shofar, maybe he is the one
Wowwwhoww
This girl Rochel is a sample of a generation transformed by the Rebbe. Unreal.
A girl going about her own business, yet she gets her ‘excitement’ from influencing another Jew to do a Mitzvah! So natural, so authentic. The Rebbe’s miracle!
Who were the bochurim that jogged?
We have to spread the light until we reach every jew
I have tears in my eyes, really great story
I went on mivztoyim today
Everyone should go!!
Thank you for sharing
We are not always lucky to see such results
Great girl! keep it up!!
<3 ur campers or perhaps counselors...
Thank u for sharing
Amazing story
Very well written
Thank you for sharing