| So much has transpired over the past week that it is difficult to fully absorb it all. We celebrated Sukkot and Simchat Torah and began anew the yearly cycle of Torah reading—the Book of Genesis. Yet at the same time, the world's attention was riveted on the hostages returning home. We have been reading, watching, and hearing their stories—stories of unimaginable suffering met with extraordinary courage. From those who refused repeated demands to convert to Islam, to those who courageously requested (and received!) tefillin, they have revealed to us the indomitable strength of the Jewish soul—the eternal power that lies within the choice to remain masters of our own destiny. For those of us living in the Diaspora, we are witnessing something profoundly unsettling. The war may be over, yet tens of thousands are still demonstrating across Europe against Israel and against Jews. Anti-Zionist movements continue to call openly for the destruction of Israel. The question arises: How do we respond to this? There is a powerful and timeless message in the opening chapters of Bereishis that speaks directly to this moment. After Cain faced unbearable guilt and loss, he could have withdrawn from the world in despair. Instead, the Torah tells us that he "built a city and named it after his son, Chanoch." In that simple yet profound act, Cain chose life—he chose to rebuild rather than retreat. Remarkably, the name Chanoch shares its root with chinuch, meaning education. Building a city creates a safer world; educating a generation ensures its endurance. True rebuilding happens not only with bricks, but with values—teaching our children to stand for light instead of darkness, compassion instead of cruelty, and hope instead of despair. It is becoming abundantly clear that raising our children in a strong Jewish day school environment produces a generation of proud, knowledgeable Jews—young men and women ready to be a light unto the nations. At Cheder Lubavitch, the Chabad Day School of Chicago, serving children from Nursery through 8th Grade, we take this mission to heart. We are nurturing the next generation of Chabad leaders—young people who will one day teach, inspire, and uplift Jewish communities throughout the Midwest, the West, and beyond. In a world where our college campuses are being poisoned by the venom of antisemitism, our Cheder Lubavitch classrooms have become sanctuaries of light, faith, and moral clarity. Today we declare: We will continue to build. We will continue to teach. We will bring more light into the world. Because Am Yisrael Chai—the Jewish people live. Please help us at Cheder Lubavitch to provide scholarships to students whose families cannot afford the rising costs of education. Click here to donate | 
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