Chabad of Naples — Local services in Naples

For almost a week, I’ve been trying to label my feelings and find the right words to express the tsimmes of emotion that has overwhelmed me since I reached out to Chabad of Naples for help on behalf of my mother. More than gratitude or appreciation; more than an act of chesed or a mitzvah. So much more than nutritious, delicious nourishment when she was depleted and ravaged by illness.

The gift bag my mother received was incredible, generous, delicious, extravagant, beautiful, creative, life-saving, remarkable, Divinely-inspired, and at least a hundred more adjectives; and yet, I can’t think of any holy enough to describe the truer gift she received, the feeling of her mother’s and daughter’s presence right when she was too sick to even drink water and completely alone.

You delivered that on day 3 of not having taken in anything but club soda and crackers; day 9 of me being locked down in another country while my mother was suffering with Covid-19. To a survivor of the Shoah, divorce, 3 cancers, and the losses of her parents, brother, and a husband. And to the caregiver who saw her through all those surgeries and cancers and treatments and losses, and couldn’t be there now.

The gift that I received included pictures of the gift bag and its contents on my out-of-country iPhone, as well as updates on when it would be delivered, my mother’s ability to answer the door, and when it was received… together with empathetic listening, reassurance, peace of mind, and a reminder that I am not alone. I even had someone else thanking ME for reaching out and giving others the opportunity to do mitzvot!

What words describe how I felt when I heard my mother’s voice for the first time in days, about an hour after the package was delivered? I knew that she hadn’t been eating, had no appetite, and that everything she put in her mouth (even water) “tastes disgusting”. She had been too weak and without a voice for so long that we were barely existing on short, confused text messages between long silences. Complicated by the flood of tears coming straight from her soul, I could hardly make out what she was saying when she called to tell me about the delivery, thanking ME with: “I had a little piece of kichel, Lis, and it was the most delicious mouthful… a yiddishe tam… there are no words… my heart is so full… a gezunt in dayn heartselleh…”

Thank you for being the angel my mother needed when I couldn’t be. Thank you for delivering Yiddishkeit to someone who was very desperately lacking. Thank you for healing those pieces that medicine just can’t reach.

Very sincerely, Lisa...

When we moved to Naples, we immediately found our new Jewish Spiritual home. Rabbi Fishel, along with his wife Ettie, is warm and welcoming to all, with an amazing memory of every person entering the sanctuary. The services are spirited and uplifting to everyone, regardless of level of congregants past experiences. After being a part of a wonderful traditional congregation, I was truly impressed, with the immediate connection to The Chabad of Naples family . Every Shabbat is led with beautiful melody, and current interpretations by the Rabbi of the Torah and stories relating to our lives and our families. The Kiddush luncheon continues with family atmosphere and the feeling of belonging whether it is your first time, or you are a weekly attendee. We are truly welcomed and feel blessed and enriched by Rabbi Fishel, along with his wife Ettie, and the Chabad...

And she got the teaching job. My daughter and I attended the Rosh Hashanah service and dinner as our introduction to Chabad. From our first moment inside we were warmly greeted and made to feel at home. The separation of men and women was a new experience for us. The service while mostly in Hebrew, was fairly easy to follow with page numbers announced. We enjoyed the sermon immensely and then went to enjoy a full Jewish dinner, yummy! We also met a lovely couple, he a retired teacher from New York. They really encouraged my daughter, an aspiring teacher subbing in the Chicago school system. A few days ago, just before Yom Kippur, she went for a job interview and was hired for a full time teaching position. I am convinced that the positive energy she received from her experience here, helped her out...