Israel’s Ambassador Lauds Chabad

Chabad.org

New immigrants in Jerusalem had something to celebrate: a center that for the past eight years has provided them with an ongoing minyan, in addition to a wide range of classes and outreach activities. To fete the work of Chabad of Baka, co-directed by Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel, nearly 200 people came together on Aug. 12 for a Shabbat unity dinner, representing a thriving community of English-speaking olim from the United States and around the world.

Singles, couples and families gathered at the Euphoria wedding hall to mark the anniversary and strengthen in unity before the holiday of Tisha B’Av.

The highlight of the dinner was a surprise guest of honor: Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, who attended with his wife, Rhoda, and their children. Dermer, who lives in Jerusalem when not serving Israel overseas, addressed the enthusiastic audience, opening with “We love Chabad!”

In his talk, Dermer focused on two of the virtues that the Chabad movement aspires to and encourages, according to the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory: tolerance and pride. It’s these values that the ambassador stressed to the diverse crowd of olim from around the world, emphasizing that “our mission today is to bolster our tolerance and Jewish pride.”

Dermer noted that Chabad practices an admirable “double standard”: lovingly accepting other Jews, non-contingent upon their observance of mitzvot, while maintaining the highest standards of Torah-observant Judaism.

“Regardless of affiliation or background, every Jew feels welcome at Chabad,” said Dermer, “and can connect to Judaism in a comforting and non-judgmental environment.” Together with that, he pointed out how Chabad exemplifies Jewish pride, as can be seen clearly by the public manner in which they share Judaism with the world. “Picture the size of the menorah which is lit by your local Chabad house,” said Dermer. “That’s an illustration of their powerful pride.”

He then connected the attributes of tolerance and pride to the destruction of both Temples and the route to the rebuilding of the Temple in our days. “The first Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of idolatry,” he shared, “which stems from a lack of Jewish pride.” He noted that when you are searching in other places, that’s a sign that you are not proud enough of the faith you have. The second Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, he pointed out, because of baseless hatred and a lack of tolerance for others.

“Tolerance is one of our greatest challenges today,” Dermer acknowledged, “especially in Israel, where every level of Jewish observance is apparent, and there are so many different customs and backgrounds.” He stressed the importance of respecting one another, and remembering that Jewish strength lies in unity.

I have met many ambassadors in Washington, but I have yet to meet the ambassador of Babylonia or the ambassador of Imperial Rome,” noted Dermer. He emphasized that while the nations that destroyed the Jewish Temples have come and gone, it is the Jewish nation and the Land of Israel that are eternal, and the way to merit the rebuilding of the third Temple is “through tolerance and Jewish pride.”

Dr. Charlotte Goller, an active member of Chabad of Baka, shared the group’s sentiment when she said: “It’s comforting to know that Mr. Dermer is our ambassador!”