(Courtesy of Netzach Yisroel) On Thursday, Jan. 30, Netzach Yisroel of Bergen County hosted the Tosher Rebbe of Monsey, Rav Avraham Katz, shlit”a, for a pre-Shabbos farbreng. The Rebbe was brought in to offer words of inspiration during the dark winter days from Parshat Shemot until Parshat Mishpatim, known as Shovavim, a time when one has the opportunity to reconnect and rekindle one’s relationship with Hashem.

Rav Katz is the son-in-law of the well-known “Tosher Rebbe,” zt”l, who established Kiryas Tosh, a Chasidic community, in 1963 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada after surviving a Hungarian Labor Camp during the Holocaust. Rav Katz gives a weekly shiur in English on Tuesday nights in Monsey, referred to as “The Tuesday Night Shiur,” on Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s “Sipurei Maasiyot,” also known as “Legendary Tales.”

Hostingthe Tosher Rebbe of Monsey atNetzach Yisroel uplifted and brought joy to the group of 50+ individuals who came to hear his words of encouragement, and/or meet with him privately to receive personal guidance and blessing. Netzach also had the privilege to hear Mendy Weinreb playing guitar and singing familiar songs. With affirmative words of wisdom and inspirational tunes and songs, the crowd left as changed people, with strong and passionate hearts, ready to serve Hashem in a real way.

Rav Katz shared many inspirational ideas and stories he had heard firsthand about faith and belief. He spoke about the unique opportunity we have as Jewish people to serve God with happiness and with song. In Parshat Beshalach we read “Az Yashir,” the song recounting the story of the sea being split in half so the Jews could escape and exit Egypt into freedom. Having been redeemed from slavery and hardship enables us to remember the times of struggle, and view them as a blessing retroactively and in real-time. We wouldn’t be who we are today without all of our prior experiences. The Rebbe said that America “can be a very dark and confusing place, but we must not get down or give up when things seem like they aren’t working out.” He explained that if we remember Hashem has a master plan, we will see afterwards that it’s all for the good.

He took the idea a step further and related a teaching from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov that says, “If you believe you have the ability to destroy or blemish, you must believe that you have the capability to fix.” We must recognize our strength and power to accomplish great things, even if everything around us seems to be “dark” or “cold.” The Rebbe said that the same way many people would go to another country to have a business meeting for the success of their company and livelihood, we should go out of our way to serve God and make sacrifices for our Judaism in this world with belief, faith and passion.

Netzach Yisroel looks forward to hosting the Rebbe again soon and thanks him and all parties involved for making this wonderful event possible.

For more information on Netzach Yisroel, please visit netzachyisroelbsd.com