By Rabbi Rafi Andrusier
SAN DIEGO –My association with Chabad of Poway began before we moved to San Diego to establish a Chabad House for the eastern San Diego region in 2012. Even before I met my San Diegan wife, Chaya, in 2010.
In 2007, I was a young rabbinical student in Chicago, and I was looking for a constructive method to fill my summer break. A California friend mentioned a community that could use some extra hands; Chabad of Poway.
Just a short time earlier in May, the community was hit with a tragedy. The premature death of 19 year old Jenny, daughter of one of the community founders.
As you have seen the Chabad response over the last few days, so it was 12 years ago. The Rebbe’s enduring message of adding light and mitzvos. Chabad of Poway began a mezuzah campaign in the community in Jenny’s memory. Yet this campaign was slightly different than others. Typically, a campaign will call for Jews to affix mezuzahs on their doors. Yet, by and large, most of the Chabad of Poway community had already installed Mezuzahs, thanks to the rabbis’ efforts over the previous 20 years. Now, in 2007, the campaign highlighted a largely unknown practice: Mezuzah inspection. (For more on how that works: jewishec.com/256924).
This was an arduous task. Each mezuzah from every household in the community had to be fetched, sent off to a sofer (scribe) to be examined if kosher status remains intact, and then later returned and reaffixed.
The reserves were called in and in mid-August 2007 I found myself in the van of Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld driving from San Diego International Airport.
The hours were long yet fulfilling. Many mezuzahs were considered invalid. Some had cracked letters, others were turned to charcoal under the heat of the SoCal sun, while still others were fraudulent mezuzahs to begin with. They were all replaced with new kosher mezuzahs.
Fast forward to April 27, 2019. The terrible act of hatred occurs in the lobby. Rabbi and two others were injured and Lori Kaye murdered in cold bold- just for being Jewish and going to shul. Tragedy strikes Chabad of Poway again. Rabbi Goldstein declares to his congregation just minutes after the attack, “We are strong! We are united! They can’t break us! Am Yisroel Chai!”
We will not cower in fear. Rather we will proudly attend our shuls this week and many weeks into the future.
The Chabad response rings again. Add in light! Do a mitzvah! Lori, who loved Shabbat and lit candles every week, cannot light candles this Friday. Will you light Lori’s candles this week?
Will you put on Tefillin in Jewish defiance, and wrap the straps around your finger? Rabbi Goldstein no longer has all 10 fingers.
Many have told me in our Chabad of East County community that they’ll place a mezuzah on their door to battle the darkness. Do you have mezuzah? Has it ever been checked?
Chabad rabbis from across the country and around the globe have said their communities stand in solidarity with our San Diego Jewish community. They are going to shul, lighting candles, and putting on Tefillin.
The world has its eyes upon us now. Where do you stand? What is your response?
My wife and I are here to help. Whether its with the candles, Tefillin or Mezuzahs. That is why we are here. That is why Chabad is here, in Poway and every corner of the globe. To help us all battle the darkness.
See below for information to get involved.
- Register your mitzvah pledge at jewishec.com/shareshabbat. All pledges are shared (anonymously or not) with Chabad of Poway and the Goldstein family.
- Women and girls: Light Lori’s candles this Friday at 7:13 p.m.
- Women and girls: Join Chaya and the broader S. Diego with a special Challah bake on Thursday night, May 2 at 7:00 pm. RSVP required at chabaddiego.com/lori
- Men and boys over 13: Put on Tefillin
- For assistance with Tefillin, Mezuzahs, Candles, or anything else in between, please reach out to Chaya or myself. Rabbi@jewishec.com or chaya@jewishec.com. Phone: 619-387-8770 (text is ok)
- Join us at Chabad of East County for shul this week and #ShareShabbat. There will be extra security.*
Rabbi Andrusier is the spiritual leader of Chabad of East County.