Lake Arrowhead Chabad Celebrates A Year of Illuminating California Town

Nestled among the imposing San Bernardino Mountains and home to resorts and beach clubs, Lake Arrowhead, California, may not always have seemed the most natural place for a Jewish community to form. But in the past year, led by Rabbi Zalman and Geula Bernstein, Judaism has come to the shores of Lake Arrowhead.

Rabbi Bernstein credits the generosity of countless Crown Heights community members who have become integral partners in the explosive growth of the Lake Arrowhead Jewish community. “The warmth and enthusiasm with which so many Crown Heights community members greet me, and the generous way in which they partner with us in our shlichus has brought the light of Yiddishkeit to hundreds,” Bernstein said.

For the first time in Lake Arrowhead’s history, a public menorah lighting took place, with more than 100 people in attendance, the mayor and council members included. For the first time, a rabbi gave an invocation in Big Bear City Hall. Thirty people attended Chabad’s inaugural Passover Seder, and many more attended the beautiful Sukkos event, soulful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, and lively Purim party.

The isolation of Lake Arrowhead’s Jewish community — and the pressing need that the Bernsteins are filling — was made all the more evident to Rabbi Bernstein one day when he put tefillin on with 91-year-old Jacob, who exclaimed, “Well that’s the first time I did that!” They celebrated his Bar Mitzvah right there on the spot.

And then they met a man named Avi, who put a new mezuzah on his door and wrapped tefillin. Watching him, his children inquired what he was doing, what were thoise strange boxes and straps? He explained that he was praying because he is Jewish. “What does ‘Jewish’ mean?” his son asked innocently. The Bernsteins’ connection with the family grew, and a few months later, when Avi’s son was asked in school what he wants to be when he grows up, he wrote “I want to be a Rabbi.”

All of this took place because Yidden living nearly 3,000 miles away showed that they care deeply for the physical and spiritual wellbeing of every Yid — even if they are in farawy Lake Arrowhead, even if they have lived more than nine decades without ever wearing tefillin; even if their children do not know what a Jew is.

“None of this could have happened without the continuing support of the Crown Heights Jewish community,” Bernstein said. “Whether you gave a few dollars or a few thousand dollars, you are the reason Sarah lights candles with her daughter every Friday night. You are the reason Jacob had a Bar Mitzvah at 91 years old. You are the reason that Avi’s son wants to be a Rabbi when he grows up.”

“Without you, there is no public menorah lighting in Big Bear. Without you, there is no Passover Seder for vacationers and locals. Without you, there are no HIgh Holiday services or Sukkos celebrations.”

For Jacob, and Avi, and so many others in Lake Arrowhead who have discovered their Judaism thanks to Chabad, that small — or large — donation you made has meant all the world.