Mitchell Kopelman’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2024
Mitchell Kopelman shares his thoughts and inspiration for the Jewish New Year.
Since Oct. 7, my emotions have run the gamut—happy, sad, pride, and more—each reflecting a profound connection to Israel and the Jewish People.
I have wanted to visit Israel again since the war started and was able to be part of a National FIDF Mission this summer. Prior to the mission I spent time volunteering, first packing food at Colel Chabad Food Pantry in Jerusalem, and learning about how they partner with the government in distributing food and funds to people in need all over Israel. Second, I spent a day with a group of people from Shlomi, a small community in northern Israel near the Lebanon border, who have been displaced since the 8th of October. Learning about their plight gave me a newfound understanding to their suffering.
Each day the FIDF mission was filled with emotional encounters. We visited with Magav Border Police in the Old City of Jerusalem, the unit that Rose Lubin (Z’L) was part of when she was tragically killed in the Old City last November. We prayed with soldiers at the Kotel; met with children who had lost siblings or parents since 7th of October, whose counsellors were soldiers. The counselors had lost siblings or parents when they were younger. Daily we interacted with soldiers who carry the weight of their responsibilities heavily on their shoulders. We spoke with soldiers recovering from their war injuries, one whom recently received a lung transplant.
As Israel and the Jewish World face relentless challenges, our commitment must be unwavering. We need us to stand proudly and actively for World Jewry and Israel, to combat antisemitism, and bring light to the world.
While the soldiers are fighting, each of us play our own part to fight by other means; visiting Israel, supporting Israel and our local Jewish Communities financially, lighting shabbat and holiday candles, putting on tefillin, and we must pray for the solders, Israel and the Jewish people worldwide.
Wishing you, all of Israel, Jewish people worldwide, and especially the hostages, to be written and sealed for a good, happy, healthy and sweet year!
Mitchell Kopelman lives on the Panhandle and in East Cobb. He is active in Chabad on the Emerald Coast (Destin) and Chabad of East Cobb among other Jewish community organizations.
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