Though Tuesday evenings’ temperatures were way below zero, a solid group of women came together with Chavie to create Focaccia Garden Art in honor of Tu B’Shvat, the Rosh Hashana of the Trees. While weather would be a factor in other communities, Bozemanites are resilient, and we recognize that celebrating as a community is important and we don’t search for reasons to stay home.  The next night it was -11 and we attended Menny’s soccer championship game (which his team won) and everyone showed up, no excuses, no “it’s too cold to go out” storytelling. It’s a mentality of resilience that is vital in a “snowflake” generation.

In this week’s Torah portion, Yisro, we read about Jethro, Moses’ illustrious father-in-law. His story is stunning: He was a pagan priest in Midian, studied and practiced all forms of idolatry, fell in love with, and converted to, Judaism, is lambasted and ostracized by his native community, his daughter Tziporah marries Moses, and he eventually meets up with the Jews in the desert after the Exodus and splitting of the sea. Yet, Jethro is resilient, so finding a home among his Jewish family wasn’t enough for him. After giving Moses some advice, he heads back to Midian to educate, inspire, and eventually convert, his fellow family members still immersed in paganism. He doesn’t choose his personal comforts in a blessed environment with spiritual satisfaction; he loves Judaism so much that he feels compelled to share it with others.

It is said that “Resilience is not what happens to you. It’s how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you.” Too many young people, and even some older ones, have come to believe that if something is too hard, a bit complicated, just a tad out of our comfort zone, we should drop it like a hot potato and find something easier. We skip class, work, appointments, classes, services and everything in between because it’s just too hard and we need ease. What Menny and his team taught me, and so did the women making bread, that if you have priorities, you see meaning and productivity in the moment, you hit delete on the excuses and go out there and get it done.

Perseverance is the name of the game. Don’t quit, just put on long johns!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

On Sunday, after Chaya headed back to Chicago, Chavie and the kids joined me on a road trip to Billings to celebrate the 30th birthday of my colleague Rabbi Shaul and the third birthday of his daughter Zelda Rochel. Sitting at the Better Together event space, interacting with the growing community, listening to the spiritually nourished members of Billings Jewish community speak about their Shluchim, Rabbi Shaul and Mushky, was heartwarming. Moving to Billings, Missoula, Kalispell, or Great Falls, is courageous, embarking into the unknown, hoping for a miracle, and believing that Jews will be open to your message. Yet, when we choose to believe that the souls of Jewry are on fire and will be open to receiving the holiness, we merit supernatural blessings in all our endeavors.

You gotta believe that it’s possible if you want the sea to split.

In this week’s Torah portion, B’Shalach, we read about the splitting of the Red Sea. The Midrash tells us that while the other tribal leaders were fearful of entering the sea lest they drowned, it was Nachson the son of Aminadav, leader of the tribe of Judah, who entered the water before it split because G-d said to move forward, and he trusted G-d. It was only afterwards, when the water was reaching Nachson’s nose, did G-d intervene, instructing Moses to stop praying and instead to spread out his hands with his staff, and make the miracle a reality. So often we are paralyzed from doing the right thing, making positive changes, because we are scared that it won’t work out. Hashem showed us that we must follow orders, stick to His program, and the rest will play out exactly as it’s meant to.

Napoleon said, “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools”. When I see the accomplishments and growth of the Chabad Centers around the state, I smile. It isn’t just the quantitative growth, which is incredible, but the qualitative growth of the individuals being impacted by the emissaries of light, ambassadors of love, who grace their communities with the beauty of Torah, the excitement for Mitzvos, and the deep wisdom taught by the Rebbe of blessed memory. Clearly humanity is thirsting for spiritual quenching, the Neshama wants nourishment, and these couples provide it. The drive back from Billings was certifiably terrifying, but it was worth it, so we could see the splitting of the sea in real time with Jewish brothers and sisters enjoying tradition with the amazing Shkedi’s in the Magic City.

Do you believe in miracles? I do, because I experience them!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!