Visiting the Ohel is a powerful and very personal experience. I did not grow up Chabad and in my younger days Chabad rabbis, with their long black coats, black hats and degree of observance felt very far from the Jew I considered myself to be. In other words, I did not see myself like “them”. Now, almost 20 years since my start with Chabad, there is no other Jew I want to be.
I have leaned on my Judaism in times of joy and times of sadness. I have studied and prayed and been supported and guided in prayer by the many Chabad rabbis who I consider mentors and friends. It gives me great comfort to read my children’s psalms each day, and to know that G-D appreciates when they give Tzedakah, when they make blessings, and when my daughter lights the Shabbat candles each week. My Judaism has grown from something I did a couple of times each year, to something that defines who I am every minute of every day.
I realize now that all of this is directly related to the Rebbe, and his influence over Judaism in America and worldwide. When I visit the Ohel it is not just to pray in a very sacred place, but to appreciate that the reason it is so important to me, is because of everything I have in my life that was made possible by the Rebbe making Judaism so local, and so approachable.
“The Rebbe brought Judaism into my home, my children’s homes, and countless others. His name will forever be a blessing.”