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Dear friend, You've heard of Moses. The great leader! The brilliant scholar. The miracle worker. Most notably, the man who brought the Torah from G-d to us, making us the Jewish People. Fast forward to 2022. He was the conduit who made the lofty Torah accessible to each and every Jew. There are Jews in our community who can't make it to a Seder. Jews who have no way to access the Torah and its beauty. You stepped up to be like Moses. You were the conduit to make Torah accessible to hundreds of Jews. Your gift helps them celebrate their holidays, connect to their faith, and learn inspiring messages. It is my wish, that just as Moses was blessed for his efforts, may G-d bless you with wisdom, wealth and good health. Please enjoy these impact stories, specifically focusing on the elderly that you helped through your support. Thank YOU for doing your part to make the world good and holy! YOU are amazing! Rabbi Menachem & Adina Landa |
LETTER FROM
YOU Bring the Light to Novato, by Reuven Aviv
My father, Shalom came from Casablanca, Morocco. He grew up with religion, and it only deepened wherever he went.
When he came to San Francisco, he became a leader in the synagogue there and kept his connection to Judaism strong.
Eventually, we had to move my father close to us (we live in Novato), to a nursing home. It was very different from what he was used to in terms of his Judaism, community and connections which he had in San Francisco.
I brought my father to the Landa Sukkah, which was the first time he met Rabbi Landa. He held the lulav and kissed the etrog. And then he told me, “This is a good Rabbi, you should stick with him. He’s a good man.”
The holidays were a special time with the community. Even when he was in a wheelchair and things were harder for him, Rabbi Landa would honor him with an aliya during the High Holidays and dance with him on Simchat Torah.
Rabbi Landa would go visit him and would send me pictures of the visits. It always lifted my father’s spirits (and mine).
Having Chabad of Novato here meant my father was still able to go to shul, to be connected. He always said, “No matter what, wherever you are, just go in to any shul and say a prayer.” - He didn’t care about divisions, about Ashkenazic vs. Sephardic vs. Chabad etc. He cared about celebrating Jewishly, and he instilled that in us as well.
I attend Chabad of Novato services every Shabbat and I bring along my father’s Siddur with me. For me personally, it’s fascinating to the way Rabbi Landa explains everything. It’s not preaching at all. He’s really open and accepting.
You bring the light to Novato.
YOU Brought Meaning and Joy, by Evelyn Joselowsky
My husband, Jeff, grew up very traditional in South Africa. His Judaism meant a lot to him. When we lived in Oxnard, he was part of the Chabad community for 11 years. When we relocated to Marin County, Rabbi Dov Muchnik (the Rabbi in Oxnard) introduced us to Rabbi Landa.
Jeff loved going to shul because it brought out his connection. He liked telling stories and being the center of attention. Jeff also loved Rabbi Landa. He had a deep connection with him.
Jeff and the Rabbi would speak every Friday, before Shabbat. In fact, my husband died suddenly, on a Friday afternoon. Rabbi Landa was the first one at the house after he passed to help with our grief and arrangements.
Before he died, he told the Rabbi exactly how he wanted to be buried - in the traditional way.
Having Chabad here gave Jeff a lot of spiritual comfort. It colored our life in a positive way.
He just enjoyed it so much; it was very meaningful to him.
And I’m so glad that he was able to have these meaningful and joyful experiences.
YOU Were her Connection, by Patricia Kaufmann
My mother called me one day and said, “Patricia, you have to meet this Rabbi! He’s wonderful. There’s so much love and light and they have the most wonderful family you would ever want to meet.” She would constantly urge me to connect more.
YOU were her connection. The Landa family meant the world to her. Literally. She loved their children. She loved the love and joy they carried. She loved their wisdom. She loved their connection to their faith. She loved how Adina and her husband raised them with strong family values. She loved how smart and intelligent and wise they were due to their upbringing.
It represented everything that she had growing up and had to move away from.
My mother, Mirelle (or Mimi for short), was born in North Africa during the pandemic in 1918. She came from a well-to-do family in Algeria, but due to wars and other tragedies, she suffered a lot and lost everything. She was forced to flee, leaving everything she had behind.
My mother is a true hero and never gave up.
Throughout all life’s hardships, her Judaism was an important part of her, and meant a lot to her. Despite all the confusion and pain she never walked away from her faith or from G-d. She emigrated to Israel, but eventually had to leave there as well. Her strong Jewish connection felt like an unlived dream for her, until she met the Landas and became part of the Novato Jewish Community.
The holidays with the community meant so much to her because of the joy, the love, and the unity that you brought together in novato. You really have transformed Novato and Marin county beautifully.
She would be so proud to know that due to your love, strength, faith and your continuity which is what she admired so much about you, that now you have a Center. The fact that people believed so much in you that you now have a Synagogue is truly special, and that’s what my mother was raised around.
For many years, my connection with a Jewish community was non-existent until I met Adina and Menachem. It brings me such joy when I can attend and I have the comfort of knowing I have a community supporting me. Every time I attend, I know that I am honoring my mother.
