Reflections on Gimmel Tammuz: The Chabadnik in me...

You might remember the old Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheat commercial.  Basically, the cereal has two sides: a frosted side and the whole wheat side.  The commercial features a person who transforms from a kid to an adult while saying, “The KID in me likes the frosted sugary side, while the ADULT in me likes the health benefits of the whole wheat side.”  It’s much better to watch the video.

What’s this have to do with anything?

This Shabbat (tomorrow) is Gimmel Tammuz, the 3^rd day of the Jewish month of Tammuz, which is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late Lubavitcher Rebbe.  Chabad has had a considerable influence on my life, and I consider myself a chasid even though I don’t necessarily dress like one nor have all the customs and the like.  So…the Chabad chassid in me has something to say!

I could go on and on (and on) about the teachings of the Rebbe.  You can also buy some of the great biographies that came out last year for the Rebbe’s 20^th yahrzeit.  Instead, there are two articles which speak volumes – VOLUMES – about the Rebbe’s influence and what we can learn from Chabad.  

The first is an outstanding overview of the Rebbe’s thinking about the modern world entitled Divine Zeitgeist – The Rebbe’s Appreciative Critique of Modernity.  It is a tour de force of some of the guiding philosophy of Chabad with great footnotes to boot.  The second is a terrific graphic entitled Unconventional Wisdom: A sampling of the Rebbe’s revolutionary teaching and initiatives.  It offers a practical blueprint of what makes Chabad so successful.  Please read, enjoy, and I think you’ll also be inspired.

No person or movement is perfect, but I often say that if the whole Jewish community could be more like Chabad, we’d be much more successful – and closer to redemption.  

The Rebbe’s yahrzeit is as good a time as any to think about how we each can be more active in enhancing Jewish life in the modern world whatever we do and wherever we find ourselves.

Yehi zichro baruch – may his memory be for a blessing.