Dear Friend,

Next Monday night, Jews worldwide will be sitting around the Seder table, with family and friends. The seder is the most observed Jewish tradition with around 7.5/10 Jews attending one. Here is a story about this very topic:

In the early seventies, the Jewish Federation of North America decided to launch a campaign. They sought to institute that at every seder table there should be an empty chair to bring into the Jewish consciousness the awareness that - if not for the holocaust and the loss of our 6 million - there would have been another Jew sitting in that seat.

Recognizing the power of the Chabad movement worldwide, the leaders of the federation came to see the Rebbe in Brooklyn with a request. They asked him to please have his emissaries around the world spread the idea of the empty chair, so that this custom will become established the world over. 

The Rebbe’s answer stunned the leaders of the federation: "Your idea of adding a chair is very important, and I’m ready to join the call. But, there is one condition…the extra chair should not be empty, but filled."

The Nazis endeavored to have fewer Jews at the seder table. The antidote to the Nazis will be to launch a call to the Jewish people today to add a chair to their table and to fill it with a Jew, who - if not for this invitation - would not have celebrated the Seder night.

Today marks 115 years since the Rebbe's birth. (The Rebbe was born on the 11th of Nissan in 1902). The Rebbe dedicated his life to "filling seder tables with Jews".  It is exactly 60 years ago (1957) that he issued a famous public letter about the Hagadah's"four sons" who join us on the seder night and pointed out that all four – even the rebellious one – shows up at the seder. Today, we have a fifth son. The child who doesn’t show up at the seder. And it is our mission to spend the next few days reaching out to our Jewish friends, neighbors, and co-workers, to join us and celebrate being Jewish.

If you know of any Jews who may not have a seder to attend, please give them a call. Let them know how important this holiday is and invite them to your seder or one of the many Community Seders around the area including our own.  

As we prepare to enter this preparatory Shabbat, leading us towards the liberation of Passover, I want to wish you a most meaningful and joyous holiday. May we merit to be liberated from our inner Egypts - our bad habits and misplaced desires. And may we tap into our G‑dly spark that seeks to soar free and express itself through the Torah and mitzvahs.

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This Shabbos, davening at 909 Reedy Creek Rd. begins at 9:30 am with Torah Reading and discussion at 10:30 am. As the shul is already setup for the seder, we will be davening in the lounge.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Yisroel and Rebbetzin Chana

PS. Next Shabbos, we will be out of town, spending the last days of the holiday with family.