“Jews Don’t Run:” South African Rabbi Delivers Message of Courage

On Sunday, 10 Kislev, November 30th, Chabad of Flatbush welcomed Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Senior Chabad Shliach in South Africa and Rabbi Emeritus for Life at the Sydenham Shul, one of Johannesburg’s leading and most influential congregations, for a powerful presentation titled “Jews Don’t Run” at their new location in the Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead.

Drawing from nearly 50 years of leadership through South Africa’s turbulent political transitions, Rabbi Goldman delivered a message that resonated deeply with current global concerns affecting Jewish communities. The rabbi, who has deep roots in Flatbush – as his late father, Rabbi Shimon Goldman, operated a butcher store on Coney Island Avenue for decades – brought both personal connection and international perspective to the gathering.

The event began with a buffet brunch bringing together families in the warm atmosphere of the new Chabad House location. While Rabbi Goldman delivered his lecture and Q&A session starting, a special children’s program ran simultaneously, ensuring the entire family could participate in this meaningful gathering.

Rabbi Zalman Liberow, director of Chabad of Flatbush, discussed the recent developments regarding the new location of the Chabad House and shul on E. 22 St. He then introduced the guest speaker while noting the special significance of the date, mentioning that it marks the day of liberation of the second Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch from his imprisonment in Russia – a great day of celebration and redemption that added deeper meaning to the evening’s theme of standing strong against adversity.

Rabbi Goldman cited the Rashbam’s commentary on Yaakov’s wrestling match with the angel of Esav. According to the Rashbam, Yaakov had developed a pattern of fleeing from danger – from Eisav, from Lavan, and now planning another escape route. The Divine wrestling match and resulting injury taught him a crucial lesson.

“The Rashbam says that Hashem was telling Yaakov: ‘Enough running away. Stand your ground, confront the enemy, deal with it, do what you have to do. Don’t run away,'” Rabbi Goldman explained.

This lesson applied directly to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s 1969 decision about Crown Heights. As Jewish families fled the changing neighborhood, the Rebbe declared: “The Previous Rebbe bought 770 here. We’re not going anywhere. We’re staying right here.”

The Rebbe made a rare halachic ruling that leaving Crown Heights was forbidden. “You’re putting those who remain in danger. The more Jews that leave, the more vulnerable the community becomes,” Rav Moshe Feinstein concurred, saying he would have issued the same ruling.

The results speak for themselves: “Today Crown Heights is a unique model of a racially mixed neighborhood living in peace.”

When Nelson Mandela was released in 1991, many feared that he would lead an era of revenge against the white minority, but the Rebbe told South African Jewry: “It will be good there until Moshiach comes, and after Moshiach it will be even better.”

Rabbi Goldman emphasized: “When the Rebbe told people not to leave where they were, it was a considered, premeditated, visionary answer. At times, the Rebbe did encourage people to evacuate, like after the Islamist revolution in Iran of 1979.”

Following the lecture and an extensive Q&A session, participants watched a compelling video of the Rebbe that was released by JEM just the night before on this very topic. The footage showed the Rebbe speaking to people from various communities worldwide who were worried about security situations in their cities or countries, with the Rebbe’s consistent message: “Don’t worry. Stay where you are. Help bring Moshiach from where you are.”

At the conclusion of the event, the organizers referenced the timeless teaching of the Tzemach Tzedek. A follower of the third Chabad Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, once requested his blessing and approval to immigrate to the Eretz Yisrael, explaining that he yearned to immerse himself in Torah and prayer in the holy land. The Tzemach Tzedek responded, “We must make Israel here, make this place the land of Israel” (in the original Yiddish, “mach doh Eretz Yisrael”).

This teaching, they emphasized, captures the essence of Jewish responsibility wherever we find ourselves – not to flee from challenges, but to transform our present circumstances into places of holiness and purpose. It perfectly complemented Rabbi Goldman’s message about standing strong rather than running, reinforcing the evening’s central theme of Jewish resilience and commitment to our communities.

The event drew community members seeking guidance on maintaining Jewish presence during uncertain times, concluding with the powerful reinforcement of this enduring traditional Jewish wisdom about creating holiness wherever we are called to serve.