The grand shtibel

I was recently in Los Angeles for a family simcha.  We went to a number of different Shuls while we were there.  Boruch Hashem there was many to choose from – about two on each block.  One of our stops was at the ‘regular’ Chabad Shul, where most of the Lubavitchers daven.  I say ‘regular’ because although there were other Chabad shuls, they were Chabad Houses – for people that are new to Chassidus or Yiddishkeit – not stam a Shul. 
 

Everything seemed fine, the coffee was great and the Kiddush was very lavish.  I felt very welcome.  As I was enjoying one of the speeches, someone said to me: “you know it’s such a shame that this Shul is like a lcoh in vant (a whole in the wall) – implying that it wasn’t too fancy.  It was a bit too heimish.  I had to agree with him, it was far cry from some of the grander Shulin you often see. 

Yet after a little thought, it occurred to me that this might not be so bad after all.  In the state of California alone there are over 140 Chabad houses!  Our money is being poured into providing a place of worship for Micheal and Mickey.  Our ‘grand’ place of worship in California stretches over the whole state.  I’m sure Hashem is very satisfied with our little shtibel!