Kfir Founded Chabad of Temecula!

 


For ten years I’ve been waiting for this to happen, and it’s finally happened.


Kfir and Wendy just founded Chabad of Temecula.


I’ve written about what “community” means before.  It’s when individuals add a dimension to their existence and become part of a larger whole called “the community.”


Hopefully over the past ten years, Natanya and I have been loyal to our mission.  We’ve accomplished a thing or two.


But community has always been a challenge.


It felt like I had relationships with lots of people and we could make events big and small, but the “community” part just wasn’t taking off.


I had set a mental note, kind of like a little sign to myself, that when someone from the community spearheads get-togethers of any kind, I will know that the community is going to start happening.  


And this past week Kfir did it!


About two years ago we started a monthly “BIG minyan” in honor of Hakhel (year of gathering).  It has really been wonderful.  Guys (and ladies) have been coming, and it’s really been special.


About six months ago Kfir asked me if we could make a “shiur” (class) during the week sometime.  He wanted to host it at his home.


While I so much wanted it to happen, I knew that it had to come “from below”, so I asked him to post on our minyan chat asking if guys want to come.


At first there wasn’t much response.  


I told him to bring it up at the monthly minyan, which he did.


Not much response.


Then, this past Shabbos, without me even prompting him he asked the guys again if they want to come.  A couple guys on the spot committed and during the week I encouraged him to reach out privately, which he did.


It’s a lot of work to gather people together, but Kfir did it bravely and toughly.


We had a fantastic “shiur” (class) at his home with a beautiful kosher spread (thank you Wendy!)


It filled my heart.


And now that we’ve passed this milestone, I’m confident that in 5 years from now we’ll look back to this shiur at Kfir’s home with eight guys and say this is when Chabad of Temecula really took off, and it was thanks to Kfir’s persistence!


Thank you Kfir & Wendy!


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