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Wisconsin Rabbi Rallies Jewish Support for Victims of Parade Massacre

Following an interfaith vigil the day after the attack, Rabbi Levi Brook knew the people of Waukesha needed more support. So less than 48 hours after the shocking event, he organized another gathering to call for acts of random kindness in their town.
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December 9, 2021
From left: Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow , Waukesha City Mayor Shawn Reilly and Rabbi Levi Brook holding ARK Tzedakah boxes. (Photo courtesy of Rabbi Levi Brook)

A Chabad rabbi in Waukesha, Wisconsin called for healing a community still reeling from the aftermath of the Christmas parade massacre that killed six and wounded over 60. The horror of an SUV intentionally ramming innocent parade marchers on Sunday, Nov. 21 stunned the town just 20 miles west of Milwaukee. 

Following an interfaith vigil the day after the attack, Rabbi Levi Brook knew the people of Waukesha needed more support. So less than 48 hours after the shocking event, he organized another gathering to call for acts of random kindness in their town.

“You want to do something? Let’s meet like we’re doing now. Let’s meet to comfort and encourage one another,” Brook said in his speech to hundreds of mourners in the town square.

He called the gathering “One Community, One Heart,” describing it as a celebration of light over darkness. It involved the lighting of the official town menorah next to a shimmering Christmas tree. 

Chabad of Waukesha-Brookfield was founded only nine years ago. The city of Waukesha itself does not have a sizable Jewish population—the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University estimates that Waukesha County and two other small counties bordering Milwaukee have a combined population of 5,800 Jews. Although Milwaukee County has an estimated Jewish population of 17,000, the number of shuls in neighboring Waukesha County can be counted on one hand.

“We’re encouraging people to combat this darkness with acts of random kindness, so Waukesha’s lights shine brightly.” — Rabbi Levi Brook

“We’re heartbroken with the rest of the community,” Brook told the Journal. “Now is the time that we all need each other. Everyone has a natural response, ‘What can we do?’ We’re encouraging people to combat this darkness with acts of random kindness, so Waukesha’s lights shine brightly.”

Acts of Random Kindness (ARK), is also the name of a community project that Chabads around the country encourage. At the One Community, One Heart event, everyone received a yellow charity box in the shape of Noah’s Ark so they could collect tzedakah in their offices, homes, businesses and places of worship. Brook said that the purpose of the ARK is to remind people that the response to senseless violence is always kindness.

“The message of the menorah is that every day we increase light—what’s good for today is not good for tomorrow, so tomorrow we have to increase, we have to add more light,” Brook said. “And the more we share the message that the Chanukah candles teach us, and one by one as we educate our friends, our community, our neighbors [and] our children, hopefully such a [tragedy] doesn’t happen again. And that’s our prayer.”

Among the many attendees, Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow and Waukesha City Mayor Shawn Reilly took charity boxes to spread the message of kindness and support. 

Brook didn’t always live in Wisconsin. He grew up in Brooklyn in a large family and began his rabbinical studies in Los Angeles in 2006. He spent many Fridays at Chabad of Sherman Oaks, or as he told the Journal, “his old stomping ground.” 

Now residing in Waukesha with his family of eight, he leads the small but strong Jewish community and is helping his town continue to heal from sorrow.

“I wanted the Jewish community to show support behind any tragedy that happens in our community,” he said. “We’re all in this together.”

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