As I have lived out in hick towns for a few years, I have been able to observe quite a number of Chabad shlaich families, in action. I have seen both well adjusted families, with well adjusted children, and complete disasters. It all depends on the parents being able to adjust their children to a non Jewish environment, and also themselves. Lubavitch has a strong support system in place, with online schooling for the children. Although intended for shluchim children, it is open to all. There are two different programs at different hours of operation. One in ENGLISH, geared to the US….and one in Hebrew, geared to Israelis, on Israel time. I have come across Israeli children, who do not know much English, but are located in the US, rising at night, to study on Israeli time! They must sleep during the day!
Nevertheless, it might be easier for CHABAD outside of an established Jewish community as there have been programs started to help them, at their location. Some of these programs can and should be used by Chabad outsiders also, especially in rather remote areas. But for adults, maintaining ruchniyos is more difficult. We can keep our children a bit sheltered from outside gashmiyos, but we as adults must face the otherwise rather corrupt non Jewish gashmiyos world often on a daily basis, while still guarding our own ruchniyos in an otherwise hostile setting. The beginnings of the colder seasons in much of the US, can be a real challenge as colors change all over. When all becomes orange and black, there is turmoil everywhere. The entire scene is very much anti Jewish in nature. Sometimes I have a sigh of relief when red and green start replacing those colors. But no for long…as red and green are not silent, and one can hear such all over…in addition to seeing such everywhere. And HERE…I can still in now February, find lights all over, months after the actual seasonal dates. At least the stuff is long gone from stores. I try my best to avoid all stores in gashmiyosville during that time of complete gashmiyos. It is not easy as one must buy as much as they will need before that time sets in. A plain season where there is little or nothing around, is getting very rare. Now there are red, once again all over, in the form of red and pink hearts…..more gashmiyos THEY have one special day a year…..we have a special night period each week, EISHES CHAYIL. AND….we do not make such a fuss over it!
There is much gashmiyos all over.We are the only ones who merit ruchniyos. Without a Jewish atmosphere to provide ruchniyos, gashmiyos will reign supreme…as that is ALL goyim j]have. Goyim have no clue at all of what they are lacking, but we as FRUM YIDDEN cannot let their influences spoil us in any way.
We, as FRUM YIDDEN, must stick together. We need to keep together as a whole. Look at our concept of a minyan. A community, in order to daven correctly, needs a minyan on shul. Otherwise, one may withdraw to ones home, alone. I was once here in a group of men in a shul…..19 men….but no minyan….as 10 or more did not qualify for the minyan. Of course I was a bit embarrassed to be there. WE just breezed through davenning as there was so much we could not do. Of course the Torah sat in the ARON untouched that morning. It was a relief that the unaccountables, had no idea of what we were actually doing and what the group was missing. It was all very strange. But as they were either complete non JEWS or people who could not be included in a minyan for other reasons, they still had no clues to what was missing, nor did they care. I for one was a bit devastated at the whole episode. Nineteen men…..normally much more than needed for a minyan….and still no minyan! No opportunity to read the Torah….a loss for Ruchniyos….and a victory for gashmiyos. But, we as FRUN YIDDEN have strict rules to guide us, halacha, and it must be upheld. No matter the actual numbers of outsiders, true Jews are ONLY a community if there is a minyan or more present. And that community is the only way we are able to have ruchniyos.
We are all at risk away from our own people. Chabad is only strong TOGETHER. If they are in close contact with others, they are stronger. OTHER Jews MUST also be connected to other JEWS. A Jew alone, is very weak and little challenge for the satan. the satan has a much harder time with a minyan or more. The Torah, and all it stands for, is RUCHNIYOS….BUT, gashmiyos and its kind is the satan. BEWARE!