Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, Chabad of Nashville, invites all who wish to stand in solidarity with the Chabad community of Poway and the Jewish community as a whole to a Shabbat service on Friday at 6:00pm. Chabad of Nashville is at 95 Bellevue Road. Please read his letter below.
Dear friend,
We are heartbroken and pained by the cold blooded attack that took place on Shabbat, the last day of Pesach, during services, at Chabad of Poway, CA. This is an attack on all of us, and we grieve for the family of Lori Gilbert-Kaye who lost her life & pray for the recovery of Noya Dahan (Age 8), Alon Peretz and Rabbi Yisrael Goldstein who are injured.
We thank all of those who checked in on us here in Nashville, and showed their care and support.
Together with assistance from local and Federal law enforcement, we will continue to review our security measures & take utmost precaution to ensure the safety of each and every person, adult and child, that enters our Chabad campus and center.
You may ask, what can I do in a moment of darkness and pain? The Rebbe-Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory often reminded us at times like this that along with the outrage, mourning, and grief, we must focus on action and positive change. A little light pushes away a lot of darkness.
Let us each take upon ourselves a new mitzvah this week to combat the ugly hate that has again reared its ugly face. More than just a nice sentiment, the light and goodness we bring into the world through performing a Mitzvah - by adding in goodness and kindness we create real, positive change, generating light, and bringing the era of redemption ever closer.
Today, please reach out to another with kindness, give extra charity, put on tefillin, say some Tehillim (psalms), attend a Torah class, resolve to light Shabbat candles, or choose any mitzvah that is close to your heart.
As Rabbi Goldstein said in his personal appeal to the world following his surgery, "this Shabbat, let us fill up the Shuls, all of our Houses of Worship, and let us show that nothing will take us down. Let us show that this will not deter us nor scare us. Jewish unity is what we need now. A little bit of light dispells a lot of darkness. Am Yisrael Chai!."
Let us pray that G-d send healing and comfort to the Jewish community of Poway. We pray for the day when all evil and hatred will vanish from the world, and only goodness and kindness will prevail.
In the merit of our collective Mitzvot, may we each bring much comfort and peace to each other at this challenging time
AM YISRAEL CHAI - We the Jewish people have, are and will live on forever more.
With deep pain, endless love and fierce determination,
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel
Chabad of Nashville
PS Please join us at Chabad of Nashville, this Friday evening at 6:00 pm, for a Shabbat in solidarity with the Chabad community of Poway, and in a communal outcry against the rising tide of anti-Semitism. Together, let us stand tall as Jews who proudly celebrate the freedoms of this blessed nation, which allows us the freedoms to celebrate our faith without fear or intimidation.