Uganda.
The country once ruled by a tyrannical dictator, Idi Amin. The location where terrorists landed a plane full of Israeli hostages. Subsequently, the dramatic and highly successful Operation Entebbe to rescue the hostages took place.
Now, it becomes the 100th country to have a permanent Chabad presence, serving the needs of the Jewish businessmen and tourists year-round. This news was shared at last week's conference of some 4,000 Chabad rabbis in NY. You can view some of my personal highlights here and here.
Why would anyone leave the comforts of home and community to go to the Jewishly uncharted territory of Central Africa?
This week we discuss Jacob leaving the comfort of his parent's home in the land of Cna'an (not yet Israel - as Israel was Jacob's alternate name, which he had not yet been given). Destination isCharan, where Laban would swindle and cheat him.
But Jacob realized life isn't about living where it's light, where the scenery is picturesque, where civilization happens to be civilized. There's another world like that - angels don't encounter evil, nor do they experience feeling of hatred, jealousy, or negativity. But in this world, it's all about lighting up the darkness; making positive change wherever we and in whatever we do.
So while Kampala, Uganda may not seem like an ideal vacation spot, it, along with 4,000+ communities around the world, presents an opportunity to make an impact on Jewish life, contributing, uplifting, illuminating. So long as there is a dark spot on the planet, so long as there is a person in the farthest corners of the globe without the opportunity to celebrate his or her Jewish identity, we still have work to do.
It's like the message of the upcoming holiday of Chanukah: Light up the night!
From the Rabbi's Desk
Uganda
Two Brothers
Two brothers. Yet they could not be any further apart.
While Jacob was a kind, soft-spoken scholar, Esau was a wild hunter. One led a life dedicated to the spiritual, the other a life dedicated to self. One was righteous and became the forefather of our nation. The other wicked and became the prototypical nemesis of the Jewish nation.
The big question is, why are we giving Esau a hard time? Esau had a natural predisposition to all of this. Even while in the womb, it was already foretold that Rebecca was carrying two very different babies. Esau was born full of wild red hair. Doesn't it seem like things were stacked against him, excluding him from ever being an A student?
The Chassidic masters explain quite the contrary. Esau had an extremely lofty soul, with incredibly powerful potential. Had he succeeded in taming the beast as it were, had he applied himself to just and noble causes, he would have absolutely excelled.
The lesson: At times we may feel like due to circumstances beyond our control, we have limited capacity. Whether it is the family we come from, the place we live, or the opportunities that came (or didn't come) our way. Dejection and despair can set it. Why even try?
The truth is, let's not let anything external define us or hold us back. Let's reach deep within, discover the amazing treasure trove of talents and blessings, overcome the challenges, and like a candle in the darkness, shine even brighter than we could have imagined.
Life After Death
Quite the emotional roller coaster this week. A funeral of a community member, welcoming our baby to the tribe (his name is Meir Nosson), and last night a crowd of 160+
came to hear a first-person account by Dr. Eisenbach of his time in the concentration camps (Pics coming soon). Our children having the opportunity to connect with a 94-year hold hero.
I'll share with you a thought that occurred to me as Dr. Eisenbach was holding our baby.
The very first Jewish burial takes place in this week's Torah, as it describes at length Abraham's efforts to bury his wife, Sarah. Interesting to note that the name of the Torah portion is Chayei Sarah - the life of Sarah, though the entire 
episode takes place after her passing.
The message is that death and tragedy should not be the final chapter of the book. Rather as Dr. Eisenbach showed us, we can perpetuate the legacy of those before us. We can carry on their mission. We can allow them to live through us.
This is the story of Jewish continuity midor l'dor - from generation to generation, passing the baton, or more accurately, igniting our candle from our ancestors' flaming torch, until one day it blossoms into a torch of its own.
In this format, life keeps on li
ving.
And as he covered his eyes, reciting the Shema, the same prayer that millions of Jews said on their way into the gas chambers. Yet, here he stands as a proud Jew, with family and success, dedicating his life to spreading a message of kindness and hope. A powerful moment, an inspiring message:
Am Yisrael Chai!
It's a Boy!
In recent weeks, we packed two bags. One was an evacuation kit, dreading an impending disaster. The other, a hospital bag, in anticipation of a newborn baby.
As I sat with Devorah in the hospital, I thought about the dual purpose of the building. Emergency room visits transported by ambulances with sirens blaring. Sometimes for injury or illness, sometimes for the happiest of occasions; the birth of life.
Looking out of the window, just beyond a row of houses that survived, lay the ruins of homes that were consumed by the Tubbs fire. The image evoking sadness for those who had lost so much, and yet, in the walls of the recovery room so much happiness and light.
Doctors and nurses there for the tough moments in the wake of devastation and tragedy, and there for the best; for birth, healing, and life.
Three angels visited Abraham (who was recovering from his circumcision), each with a mission. One to heal Abraham/rescue Lot, one to deliver the good news that they would be blessed with a baby, and one to destroy the city of Sodom.
As we navigate this puzzling world, we can wonder at times, why me? Why have I been blessed with life?
The answer may be beyond us, but one thing is clear. Now that we are here with the fires finally at 100% containment, we are here for a reason. Let's make it worth it.
No one knows this better than Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, who as a child hid from the Nazis during the Lodz ghetto roundup. He was eventually discovered and deported to Auschwitz. His brother, who was in hiding with him, voluntarily joined him on the transports, refusing to be separated. While Jacob survived the war, his brother was not as lucky.
How do you pick up the pieces, how can we celebrate when others are suffering, how do we move on and make it worth it? Find out how Dr. Eisenbach did it this Thursday.
And in the meantime, I'm grateful to Hashem for being the recipient of blessings, for being chosen for happy occasions, for the Miracle of Life; a beautiful baby boy.