When a Cousin Turns Out to Be a Brother
Sometimes miracles unfold so naturally that you don’t even have to bend down to pick them up. Such was the surprising discovery at the Tefillin stand in Nof HaGalil. Even Rabbi Avremi Horowitz, Shliach of the Rebbe in the Malibu neighborhood of Nof HaGalil, who has seen much in his life and is intimately familiar with the realities of his community, could not have imagined how astonishing this encounter would be • Full Story
A Daily Mitzvah That Astonished Everyone
The story, shared here for the first time by the person involved, took place a few weeks ago. Rabbi Horowitz recounts:
“On a Thursday afternoon, I went out on my regular Mivtza Tefillin. In one of the stores, I noticed a young man and hesitated, wondering if he was Jewish. In such cases, I follow the rule: ‘When in doubt—there is no doubt.’ I asked him if he wanted to put on Tefillin. The young man replied in an Arabic accent, ‘I already did today…’ I assumed he was joking, but I decided to continue and asked if he was Jewish. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and I put on Tefillin every day.’ Still unsure whether he was serious or joking, I said, ‘Blessed are you,’ and continued on.”
The following week, Rabbi Horowitz returned to the same stores and saw the same young man riding a motorcycle. This time, he asked more directly: “Are you serious, or are you joking?”
The young man answered, “I am completely serious—my mother is Jewish. Don’t you remember me?” When Rabbi Horowitz said he did not, the young man showed a photo on his phone from two years earlier, in which Rabbi Horowitz himself was putting Tefillin on him at another shopping center in Nof HaGalil. “Since then, I’ve put on Tefillin every day,” he concluded. Rabbi Horowitz recalls: “I nearly fainted… the memory of that moment was vivid in my mind.”
A Shlichus to Transform the Neighborhood
To understand the story’s deeper significance, one must look back to the early days when Rabbi Horowitz arrived in Malibu. He quickly realized that his mission was far from ordinary. Here, organizing a Megillah reading or blowing the shofar would not be enough. The task required transforming the reality: halting negative emigration, reversing declining Jewish presence, and ensuring that Malibu would be a place for Jews to live.
The first and most significant step was establishing a large Jewish center, including a Shul, mikvah, and spaces for children and adults. The journey was not without opposition; some neighbors, particularly from the Arab community, resisted preserving the Jewish character of the neighborhood and tried by all means to prevent the center’s construction.
A Surprise at the Tefillin Stand
Fast forward to winter 5783. As Rabbi Horowitz carried out his Mivtza Tefillin, two young men approached. One admitted that his mother was Jewish. A quick check confirmed the young man’s Jewish identity, and he put on Tefillin right there. He even agreed to a photo with Rabbi Horowitz, though it would not be published because he comes from a well-known local family.
A Heavenly Twist
The most remarkable part of the story came when Rabbi Horowitz learned that this young man was the cousin of one of the neighbors who had been the fiercest opponent of the Chabad House, fighting every step of the way against the allocation of land, approvals, and the start of construction. While one family member resisted the Jewish revitalization of Malibu, the young man faithfully put on Tefillin every day, reminiscent of the Anusim in Spain. Inspired by his commitment, he even joined in efforts to support the completion of the Chabad House.
Thanks to these efforts, construction moved forward, reversing years of negative emigration. Today, not only are families staying in the neighborhood, but new families have moved in. Children can be seen walking joyfully to Shabbos parties or celebrating Purim, and adults attend Torah classes—bringing life and color back to the Malibu neighborhood.
The Chabad center now calls on friends, supporters, and the community at large to participate in completing the building. The framework has been completed, and construction is moving forward at full force. As Rabbi Horowitz emphasizes: “In Judaism, there is no static state. We must always advance. When you see Divine Providence in every step in the neighborhood, you understand that we cannot stop. We must continue with full force to ensure Malibu remains Jewish and illuminated!”
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