Chabad of Anthem

07/12/2026

A couple of weeks ago, our son Mendel left for Belgium to spend his summer as a counselor in a Jewish day camp. Like so many young Chabad rabbis-in-training, he chose to use his vacation not simply to travel, but to serve others and help Jewish children grow in their Judaism. (I know—Belgium isn't a bad place to spend the summer either!)

When we spoke shortly after he arrived, one thing stood out immediately. He told me there were many visible demonstrations and symbols connected to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. More than once, he and his friends were shouted at simply because they were visibly Jewish. Today, while visiting Amsterdam, they experienced even more hostile comments.

As a parent, it's never easy to hear that your child has been the target of hatred. But what filled me with pride wasn't what happened to Mendel. It was how he responded.

While sightseeing through Amsterdam, visiting historic sites, an old synagogue, and the Anne Frank House, Mendel and his friends noticed a Jewish man standing in a public square. They walked over, introduced themselves, and asked if he would like to put on tefillin, the small black leather boxes worn during weekday morning prayers as a way of strengthening our connection with G-d.

He happily agreed.

Afterward, they broke into song, singing Am Yisrael Chai—"The Jewish people live"—and began dancing together in the middle of the square.

Mendel sent me a video. In the background were Palestinian flags waving. In the foreground were young Jews smiling, singing, helping another Jew perform a mitzvah, and celebrating their shared heritage.

That image has stayed with me.

What do a group of teenagers do when they're given free time in one of Europe's great cities? They don't just look for the next tourist attraction. They look for another Jew to help perform one more mitzvah.

They are young men on a mission.

This week begins the period on the Jewish calendar known as the Three Weeks, when we remember the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the painful exile that followed. Our sages teach that the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam—baseless hatred between fellow Jews.

If baseless hatred helped bring about destruction, then its opposite must help bring about healing.

The antidote is ahavat chinam—baseless love.

It's choosing kindness even when it isn't expected.

It's caring about someone you've never met before.

It's reaching out to another Jew simply because they are family.

A pair of tefillin offered in a city square may seem like a small gesture, but it carries a profound message: "You matter. Your Judaism matters. We belong to one another."

That is what has always inspired me about Chabad's approach. The mission isn't simply to teach Judaism. It's to love another Jew enough to share it.

Perhaps that's also a lesson for all of us, whether or not we ever stop someone to put on tefillin.

Is there someone you can encourage this week? Someone who feels forgotten? Someone you've never really gotten to know? Can you do something kind simply because another person deserves to feel seen and cared for?

Hatred can be loud, but love has always proven stronger.

Every act of kindness, every mitzvah, every expression of Jewish pride helps bring a little more light into a world that desperately needs it.

May we each find opportunities this week to replace indifference with kindness, division with connection, and fear with faith. May our acts of love bring us one step closer to the day when peace is no longer an aspiration but a reality.

If you know a Jewish child who might enjoy an unforgettable summer, please help us spread the word and share our camp information at cgiofphoenix.com.

And if you would like to help make camp possible for a child whose family needs assistance, please reach out to me directly or consider making a scholarship donation here.

Or consider purchasing something on Camp Gan Israel’s wishlist. https://link.jewishanthem.com/go.asp?li=1A0A36B39CAA09D490E50F2F59854D9E&ui=11F79BCB1C041B74A3817093B541A5E2
Click here to purchase!

Gan Israel campers are imbued with a deep sense of pride in their Jewish heritage and a love for the land of Israel, in a safe and fun environment.

06/27/2026

This week we wrapped up the very first week of Camp Gan Israel here in Phoenix.

For Rivky and me, it has been a whirlwind of long days, countless details, and plenty of happy chaos. Yet every year, I find myself surprised all over again by how much I genuinely love camp.

There is something incredibly uplifting about watching children discover the joy of being Jewish. Whether it’s singing a song, making a new friend, learning a Torah story, or proudly reciting a blessing before eating, you can almost see their Jewish identity taking root. It’s inspiring, and it’s a privilege to be a small part of it.

This Shabbat also marks a remarkable day in Jewish history. Ninety-nine years ago, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson—the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe and father-in-law of the Rebbe—was miraculously released from a Soviet prison.

At that time, the Communist regime was determined to erase Jewish life. Jewish schools were shut down. Ritual baths were closed. Teaching Torah was forbidden. Anyone who encouraged Jewish practice risked imprisonment or worse.

The Previous Rebbe refused to give in. He continued opening schools, supporting Jewish families, and strengthening Jewish life, knowing full well the danger involved. He was arrested because he would not abandon the Jewish future.

As I stood this week watching over a hundred children fill our camp with laughter, songs, and Jewish pride, I couldn’t help but think about that contrast.

Ninety-nine years later, we are doing exactly what he was imprisoned for—but freely, openly, and joyfully.

For me, this story is also deeply personal.

Growing up, I heard countless stories about my own great-grandparents and previous generations who sacrificed everything simply to remain Jewish. Some endured unimaginable hardship. Some risked their freedom. Some even gave their lives so that Judaism could survive.

These weren’t distant historical figures. They were our grandparents. Their courage became part of our family’s story and helped shape who we are today.

Earlier this week, during our class in Anthem, I tried to share just how much their self-sacrifice still lives within us. They are our real-life heroes.

Of course, our lives today are very different.

Thank G-d, we live in America, where we enjoy freedoms that previous generations could only dream about. We can gather openly in synagogue, send our children to Jewish programs, celebrate holidays, and practice our faith without fear.

But that doesn’t mean our generation has no challenge.

Every generation is tested in its own way.

Their challenge was persecution. Ours is often comfort.

No one is threatening us for being Jewish. Instead, we face busy schedules, endless distractions, competing priorities, and the quiet pressure to blend in. Jewish life doesn’t disappear overnight—it slowly fades when we stop making it a priority.

Building a meaningful Jewish home doesn’t happen by accident. Raising children with a strong Jewish identity takes intention. It takes time. It takes choices. Sometimes it even requires giving up convenience for something more meaningful.

That’s why the timing of this week feels so fitting.

As we celebrate another successful beginning to Camp Gan Israel, we’re reminded that investing in our children’s Jewish future remains one of the greatest privileges we have. Every Jewish experience we give them today helps build the adults they will become tomorrow.

And perhaps that’s the greatest tribute we can offer to those who sacrificed so much before us—not only remembering what they endured, but continuing what they lived for.

As we approach this special Shabbat, I invite each of us to ask ourselves one simple question:

What is one small step I can take to strengthen Jewish life in my home, for myself or for my children?

Sometimes the smallest commitments create the deepest impact.

Wishing you and your family a peaceful, meaningful Shabbat, a wonderful summer, and much nachas—true Jewish pride and joy—from your children and grandchildren.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yossi & Rivky Friedman
Chabad of Anthem and the North Valley

06/07/2026

I recently saw a video of a man, he must have been in his 70s, singing a song he had learned at Camp Gan Israel as a child.

It struck me that camp experiences stay with us for a lifetime.

Here was someone remembering and singing a camp song more than 60 years later!

Rivky and I hear stories like this all the time. People share memories of friendships they made, values they learned, and Jewish pride they discovered at camp. Decades later, those experiences are still part of who they are.

As the Arizona summer settles in, it means Camp Gan Israel is just around the corner.

For the past nineteen years, Rivky and I have had the privilege of running Camp Gan Israel of Phoenix. Children learn best when learning is fun, hands-on, and exciting and that's exactly what camp is all about.

For six weeks, children enjoy sports, trips, activities, and friendships, while also connecting with their Jewish heritage in a warm and positive environment. They don't just learn about being Jewish, they experience it!

We truly believe that every Jewish child deserves the opportunity to attend camp. The impact cannot always be measured in the moment, but years later it often becomes clear just how meaningful those experiences were.

If you know a Jewish child who might enjoy an unforgettable summer, please help us spread the word and share our camp information at cgiofphoenix.com.

And if you would like to help make camp possible for a child whose family needs assistance, please reach out to me directly or consider making a scholarship donation
Www.cgiofphoenix.com/scholarship

Or consider purchasing something on Camp Gan Israel’s wishlist! Check out this Gift List I just created. https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/11WFH8OGQAUWT?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_ERKGK8J35WA0NG6GQ6X4&language=en-US

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable summer!
Warmly,

Rabbi Yossi & Rivky Friedman
Chabad of Anthem and the North Valley

Gan Israel campers are imbued with a deep sense of pride in their Jewish heritage and a love for the land of Israel, in a safe and fun environment.

04/21/2026

A new JLI class will be starting soon!

This class will be given in Anthem and in Phoenix.

Anthem:
4 Mondays starting 4/27 7:00-8:30pm jewishanthem.com/JLI

Phoenix:
4 Wednesdays starting 4/29 7:30-9:00 chabadaz.com/JLI