Hi –

Hope you’re having a great day.

… A friend of mine told me an amazing story.

He was part of a group of American Jews visiting the formerSoviet Union.

One of the places they visited was a summer camp for Russian Jewish teenagers.

To no fault of their own, these kids are totally disconnected from their heritage.

Also visiting the camp that day?

The legendary former Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky.

(Sharansky was jailed by the KGB for nine years but they were not able to break his spirit.

He was eventually allowed to emigrate toIsraeland became a member of the Knesset.)

My friend was shocked that the Russian teenagers didn’t even know who Sharansky was.

And when he had a chance to talk to him, he mentioned it to him.

“Natan.  After all you did to defy the KGB?  After so many people were inspired by you?

How does it feel to know that these Jewish kids don’t even know who you are?

Natan Sharansky did not hesitate for a second.  And said something very powerful.

And very true.

“It doesn’t matter if they know who I am.

You know what the tragedy is?

They don’t know who they are!”

… We have such a rich heritage.

It has so much to teach us about life.

And we should be thankful that, unlike those Russian kids?

We were not torn away from our heritage.

And we have total freedom to learn about Judaism.

But even though we have the freedom to be proud knowledgeable Jews?

We haven’t always had the opportunity.

And even if we have?

There’s so much more we can learn!

… ”They don’t know who they are!”

Natan Sharansky’s words really moved me.

And if they moved you?

Then I invite you to give yourself a Chanukah present.  Three thousand years of Jewish wisdom and inspiration.  In just three hours!

Join us this Sunday at the CTN Fundamentals Seminar.

Complete info and registration at www.torahnetwork.org/fundamentals.htm

I hope you will join me.

All the best,