As part of a Yud Shevat initiative, UK Shliach Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet did a whirlwind tour of Europe over a week. He traveled to communities in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, and parts of the UK to bring an uplifting message and words of encouragement in these troubling times.
In some instances, the response was overwhelming.
In Malmo, Sweden, two gentlemen joined the evening who has been on the Chabad mailing list for twenty years and never came to anything. They described the evening as emotional and inspiring,” and committed to start attending more.
An older Israeli woman stopped coming after October 7th as she lost family on the day. She turned up on the night and was visibly moved and tearful throughout.
In Milan, Italy, hundreds undertook new mitzvos by hanging specially designed cards on the special Tu B’Shvat “mitzvah tree.”
In Manchester, UK the energy was high resulting in several staying after the lecture for an impromptu farbrengen which went on for several hours.
“It’s amazing to see the resilience of these varied communities. European Jewry is always acutely sensitive to the rise of antisemitism but they are responding with defiance. The indefatigable Jewish spirit burns bright,” Rabbi Schochet said.
