What Got a Shliach to Sing on a Beach in Brazil

From an email that Rabbi Zalman Marcus, Director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo in California, sent to this community for Shabbos:

Bassie and I just got back from our trip to Brazil for our grandson Yakov’s third birthday haircut. It was a wonderful ceremony with a cross-section of the S Paulo Jewish community joining for the Lag BaOmer celebration.

After the beautiful celebration, we packed up and went for a small getaway to Santiago Beach with Chana, Mendy, Yakov, and Hillel. We stayed at a home that is part of a community on a quiet, almost private beach.

On Shabbos morning, Bassie and I took a walk on the beach. It is a stunning coast. Mountains all around are covered in lush greenery, and the beaches are white with gentle waves. The weather was picture-perfect and very comfortable.

We started walking near the water, but the sun was so bright I suggested that we walk back near the trees in the shade, and that’s what we did.

On the way back, we passed families sitting near the trees, taking advantage of the shade from the bright sun.

We strolled along and enjoyed the beautiful scenery when we were greeted by “Shabbat Shalom.” We turned to see where it was coming from. A young woman was the source. She was sitting on a towel on the sand with another pregnant woman next to her and an older couple sitting behind them on chairs.

They didn’t look Jewish, but she said Shabbat Shalom as if she were very familiar with the term.

We said Shabbat Shalom back to her.

After ascertaining that she spoke English, we asked if she was Jewish. She said she was not, but she was part of a group of non-Jews who had chosen to live by the Torah as Noahides.

Every Shabbat, they attend the Chabad in Brooklin, a neighborhood in S. Paulo, for a special event in the afternoon designed just for Noahides. They also have special holiday events with relevant messages for Noahides, like Rosh Hashanah and Purim.

They were very familiar with many Jewish laws and practices.

She introduced herself as Rachel and her sister, Gabriella, who is pregnant in her ninth month. They love the Torah and biblical names, and for that reason, she plans on naming her daughter Leah when she is born.

They were so respectful and happy to meet us. Rachel shared that they love Jewish songs. Bassie asked her which ones she liked, and she responded, “Avraham Fried and Benny Friedman songs.”

Bassie then shared with her that Avraham Fried is my uncle, and Benny Friedman is my first cousin. Their eyes lit up.

Gabriela said that when we stopped, she thought I looked familiar, and now that I told them that Avraham Fried is my uncle, it clicked. They had attended one of his concerts in 2023, and I looked familiar because I looked like my uncle when she first saw me.

And right there on the beach, we sang some Benny Friedman and Avraham Fried songs that they played at their weddings.

When we explained why we were in Brazil and that our daughter and her husband run the CTeen in S. Paulo, she immediately added, “that’s Ufaratzta.” Ufaratzta is the Hebrew word G-d blessed our forefather Jacob with. It means to spread out. G-d was blessing Jacob that he would have many, many descendants and that they would spread all over the world.

The Rebbe took that word and made it the calling of the generation. The Rebbe encouraged his Chassidim to spread worldwide and support Jewish life wherever Jewish people are found.

She knew all about this. Bassie then asked if she knew the Chabad song for Ufaratzta, and she said she did. And right there on the beach, we sang Ufaratzta.

Bassie and I, from California, and Rachel and her sister Gabriella, from Brooklin, Brazil, all connected through this not-very-well-known Chabad tune. It was a moment to behold.

Rachel also shared with us that Chabad in Brooklin organizes an annual seminar for Noahides, and many people attend from all over Brazil. Who knew that there were so many Noahides in Brazil?!!

Before we said our goodbyes, Rachel asked if she was allowed to type our names into her phone. Since it was Shabbat, she did not know if she was allowed to type our information into her phone on Shabbat. We told her it was ok:)

She said she would contact us and send Bassie a link to an online group that she manages. The group shares weekly Torah inspiration for Noahides.

With that, she wished us a Shabbat Shalom, and we went on our way.

As we walked, Bassie pointed out that had we walked along the water the way we had come, we never would have bumped into them.

G-d’s ways are mysterious; sometimes, we are given a glimpse into why things happen the way they do. And we love it every time we experience it.

The Rebbe encouraged the outreach to non-Jewish people to teach them about their special connection with G-d and their seven mitzvot that were given to Noah for all humans.

It is one of the ways that we can help the world heal and become a better, more G-dly place.

After Shabbat, we received this message from Rachel:

Hi! Here’s Rachel from Santiago Beach, whom we met each other today’s morning!

It was such a sweet “coincidence” from H’shem to meet you there.

Wishing you warm and happy days in Brazil.

From Rachel and Artur

[Artur is her husband who works for the Chabad of Brooklin as a videographer]

You never know what might happen if you take a stroll on a Shabbat morning on the quiet Santiago Beach in Brazil, sporting a kippa and tzitzit.