Meet the Mom – Chana Vigler
Name: Chana Vigler
Where did you grow up:
I grew up in Brooklyn New York, but spent a great deal of my childhood in Italy. In the late 1950s some Holocaust survivors in Milan asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe to send them a Rabbi and he sent my maternal grandparents. They opened a school and revived the Jewish community and reside there until this very day.
Town you live in now:
Today, I live with my husband and our eight children in Palm Beach Gardens.
Why you love living there:
We call Palm Beach Gardens the ‘crown jewel of creation’ because it truly is an exquisite city. Sure, they don’t call it gardens for nothing, but what truly makes it so is the beautiful people in it. We have met the most wonderful people that have become more like family and we couldn’t be more blessed.
Tell me about your kids:
We have five daughters and three sons. They range in age from thirteen years old to two. When people raise their eyebrows upon hearing how many children we have I always say, wait til you meet them and then you’ll know why! They really are the most delightful, beautiful children. Sure, we have some more chaotic days and some calmer ones, but in the end of the day family is everything. Children are treasures and we cherish them every day.
Favorite things to do with the kids locally:
How fortunate are we that we can bike ride down the street any day after school?! Especially now in the days of lockdown, I keep reminding my children what a blessing it is to have such a large backyard and beautiful weather year round so they’re not actually locked inside like so many children around the world currently are. One of our favorite spots is the Palm Beach Gardens Library! It is so beautiful and well stocked and the people there are so kind and helpful. It’s one of our favorite Sunday outings! We are also members at the Palm Beach Science Museum and the Palm Beach Zoo that we always enjoy going to and our membership also helps us get into museums around the country!
What’s your ‘day job’? How did you get started with it?
My husband and I direct the Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens. He is the Rabbi and we work together to ensure that every single Jewish person could connect and feel at home in whichever way they feel most comfortable. We offer many classes, events and programming for people of all backgrounds to better understand their Jewish heritage. For us, it is a family affair and we try to involve our children as much as possible. Our ultimate goal is to fulfill the dream of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to flood this world with acts of goodness and kindness and prepare the world for a better tomorrow. This year I’ve been passionate about helping people celebrate at home. So while we may be socially distant, we are always soulfully connected.
What is your best parenting advice. Lay it on us.
It’s always a good time for a hug. No matter the challenge at hand, be it a tantrum, a fight or anything in between, usually, all a child needs (and adults too) is a hug. There are few things that a good hug can’t fix. Give them freely and generously. Love is not earned. Every single person (adult and child) deserves to be loved simply by virtue of being on G-d’s earth.
What do you do for self care?
I love setting my table and treating my family to wonderful meals. I enjoy playing with the different colors and the challenge of using whatever I have on hand to create beautiful things! Family time is so important to us and I love to take advantage of dinner time to turn it into something special! The children always get a kick at seeing what I prepared this time and I love feeling like we live in a palace!
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Chana Vigler
6100 PGA Blvd,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-624-2223
www.Jewishgardens.com