Our Purpose
Dear Friends,
There is an ancient Midrash, Pirkei de-Rebbi Eliezer, dating back to the period between the MIshnah and the Talmud Yerushalmi, the third century, era of the Tosefta and theBaraytot. The Midrash is divided into three perakim (chapters). As you know, the Midrashim, build on and expand pesukim (biblical verses) containing elusive references to persons and events left unclear in the Biblical text. The third chapter of this Midrash describes the moment when Moshe Rabbenu stands before the sneh ha-boer ve-ennenu ukkal, "the bush burning and not consumed". It sets forth a bush burning with a white hot center and sparks spiraling outward into branches without leaves.
The mepharshim (rabbincal commentators) in the following generations further elucidate this Midrash in numerous perushim (commentaries). The persistent theme in theseperushim is that the white hot center represents the intense intellectual energy expended in Talmud Torah (Torah studies) in the great yeshivot. The sparks represent the individual souls of the Jewish people dispersed among the nations to be the Or la-Goyim, the "light for the nations". The branches without leaves represent the nations of the world.
Regardless of how far out a spark might be among branches, even to the point of extinction, it is still giving light to the world around it. At any given moment a spark may turn around and return towards the white hot center, and in so doing, become rekindled to continue its task of bringing light to the nations.
Seven generations of brilliant and spiritually gifted leaders over-brimming with lovingkindness for their Jewish people led the Chabad pietistic movement. These spiritually beautiful rebbes gave of themselves without regard for their own well-being. The seventh rebbe, Menahem Mendel Schneurson, z"l, understood and developed the powerful world-wide mission of Chabad to rebuild the spiritual strength of the Jewish people following the Holocaust. More than any other single human being he succeeded against all odds in carrying out this mission and his disciples, his Hasidim, continue with unparalled devotion to advancing this sacred calling.
In order to do this, given the enormity of the work, Chabad must conserve its energies and center their attention on the assimilated Jews and Jewesses, not allowing themselves to become distracted with other pressing Jewish interests.
Nevertheless, the last Lyubavitcher rebbe did on a number of occasions teach his Hasidim that "now is the time to teach the non-Jews". Today, internationally, wherever one finds an organized movement of Benei Noah, just beneath the surface one will find Chabad.
If we place the profile of Chabad upon the MIdrash of Pirkei de-Rebbi Eliezer, we find that Chabad is active among the outer circles of assimilated Jewish souls. They have justly been named "the lamplighters".
K.K.Beth ha-Midrash Benamozegh, the Institute of Jewish Studies of Greater San Antonio, has taken upon itself the mission of outreach to those elements attached to the Great Destiny of the Jewish people and who wholeheartedly do seek the L-rd G-d of Israel, but find themselves shut out from meaningful interaction and involvement, indeed even of a sense of belonging.
Rabbi Marc Angel, rabbi emeritus of Shearith Israel, the Synagogue of Spanish and Portuguese Jews in the City of New York, and co-founder of the Institute of Jewish Ideas and Ideals, has delineated three fields of great need which must be addressed:
1. Mixed Marriages;
2. The descendants of those Jews converted under duress.
These two elements may be justly seen as the outcasts of the Jewish people. These two elements must become the central focus of the work of K.K. Beth ha-Midrash Benamozegh.
Within the voice of enlightenment of R. Elie Benamozegh,z"l, great rabbi of the Portuguese Community of Livorno, Italy, and author of the French-language masterpiece, ISRAEL ET L'HUMANITE, we do not envisage a mission of conversion to Judaism, but rather of dissemination of the wisdom and life-way of the Jewish people to all who desire to integrate these divine gifts to humanity into their own lives. Should conversion be sought, we will direct the proselyte to competent rabbinic authorities and dedicate ourselves to their intensified Jewish education.
Much patience and understanding will be required of all concerned with this sacred assignment. Within the framework of Modern Orthodoxy - K.K. Beth ha-Midrash Benamozegh is institutionally affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) - we must build a bridge back their Jewish people for all those lost in the historical dynamics of our 2,000 year old Diaspora. We will dedicate ourselves to assisting them in their return to Torah.
Shalom Rav
Charles Barouh Abraham
K.K.Beth ha-Midrash Benamozegh