“When we focus on the present moment and appreciate the beauty around us, life becomes infinitely more meaningful.” —Menachem Mendel Schneerson
I am 47 years older than my young 26-year-old rabbi friend, Mendel Weinfeld, and though I’m not Jewish, I see him as a kindred spirit on spiritual level and am impressed with his optimism and how he overcame adversity. My wife Cecile—who "is Jewish" and I have been a guest at his and his wife’s Mussi’s home for Shabbat dinner, and we have attended some of the Jewish events at Chabad House and Almaden Winery Park. Mendel grew up in Brooklyn, NY., and I grew up across the Hudson River in Hoboken, NJ., which reminds me of Brooklyn Heights.
When we say things like a "Trial by Fire," we’re talking about a test of someone’s abilities to perform under massive pressure. The term is usually applied to situations where the challenge is so severe, but the outcome clearly measures the person’s character and determination. Such was the case with Weinfeld, a rabbinical scholar who studied in Canada, France, and Israel. He and his wife Mussi moved from New York to San Jose in January 2020, to begin their outreach program. That led to the opening of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue and community center with his wife when tragedy beset them and the Jewish Community.
It was early Wednesday Morning, December 23, 2021 when a devastating fire destroyed the Chabad House-Almaden, a synagogue in south San Jose four months after its grand opening. They had done extensive renovations and had just celebrated Hanukkah when the fire left the members of his community without a home. But, thanks to first responders from San Jose Fire Dept., and Jacob Cohen, a community member who alerted them, the sacred Torah Scrolls survived the raging fire. Some called it a miracle.
In the aftermath of this tragedy there was an overwhelming groundswell of support. Over 3500 people contributed for the new site and the young rabbi and his team launched a capital campaign “Rise from the Ashes" that allowed him to relocate the Jewish community to a site near Westfield Oakridge Mall which is double the capacity of the previous location. This was all reported in the Mercury News, and Cecile and I decided to make a modest donation and later doubled it. Some of the larger donations came from Silicon Valley billionaire Chris Larsen, co-founder of technology company, Ripple, and the Consul General of Azerbaijan in LA, who had close diplomatic ties with Israel since 1992.
Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld is the leader of Chabad House-Almaden, an Orthodox Jewish group founded in the late 1700s. It is known for its outreach efforts toward both religious and non-religious Jews, with more than 3,500 centers around the world. The late Menachem Mendel Schneerson is Weinfeld’s Rebbe (teacher)
Postscript: On Sunday, March 24th at 4:PM, Chabad of Almaden celebrates an Israeli-themed Purim with Israeli food Tel Aviv-Style and wine tasting of Israeli wines from the Galilee, fresh squeezed orange juice Jaffa-style, photo booth, and an open bar for adults. Come dressed in your favorite costume.
