January 17, 2008
To the Editor:
An open letter to the community
Greetings and blessings,
I have been following the recent debate concerning the municipal garbage collection, and I applaud the manifestation of “free speech” within this issue.
I will not use my right to free speech to express my opinion on this matter, as it is outside my field of expertise. But I will - with the permission of this publication — share with you (what I consider) an important message.
In my capacity as a Rabbi I can attest to the fact that we live in a very beautiful and harmonious community (I am constantly meeting new people at the Synagogue, on the street, in the shops or at other venues as a result of my personal and professional life).
I plead with each and everyone within the community to help keep it this way. Let the debate on the garbage collection issue continue - but as a debate of love and not of hatred. Let the feelings of frustration at each other bring forth compassion (that the other realizes the error of their ways) and not hate. Hate divides us whereas love unites us.
As human beings we - myself included, are by definition imperfect and are filled with wrongdoing. So let us remember that compassion can achieve greater results than hatred. For the faithful please remember that G-d blesses us when we are compassionate and kind.
Shalom (Greetings of peace),
Rabbi of the Chabad Synagogue
