Chabad Follower Skates Through Tel Aviv Offering Tefillin and Hugs to Bridge Divides

Shmuel Darshan, a 23-year-old former yeshiva student from a Chabad background, has transformed his life from drug addiction and street living to becoming a unique social media influencer in Tel Aviv. After enduring a traumatic experience at age 14 that led him away from religious life and into substance abuse, Darshan spent years struggling before entering an intensive rehabilitation program at the "Returno" community about a year and a half ago. Following his recovery and return to yeshiva in Jerusalem, he launched a TikTok channel where he combines fast rollerblading videos with Torah teachings and Hasidic stories, aiming to "drip spirituality through the ear."

Darshan's approach is unconventional: he offers warm hugs to those who refuse to put on tefillin, seeking to dissolve the perceived divisions within the Jewish community. He explains his mission as removing the "imaginary separation" between people and emphasizes love and unity. His videos have received overwhelmingly positive responses, with nearly 99% supportive comments, and he actively engages with followers to foster a collective spirit rather than focusing on himself.

Despite the challenges of maintaining authenticity on camera, Darshan credits his success to the spiritual guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and hopes to use his growing platform to promote meetings and joint Torah study sessions. His ultimate goal is to build a movement based on unconditional love for all Jews, transcending differences and encouraging unity across the spectrum.