By Deirdre Cox Baker
Rabbi Shneur Cadaner dresses in a traditional Orthodox Jewish manner and seems not to notice any extra attention he receives while moving about the Quad-Cities. He is a man on a mission.
The rabbi, his wife Chana and their infant son moved to a north Davenport home six months ago as part of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement. “Our outreach is to enrich the Jewish lifestyle,” he said, noting that the couple has sponsored several events and has “Chanukah on Ice” planned for Dec. 27 at the Quad-City Sports Center in Davenport.
“We give Jews reasons to explore Judaism,” Chana Cadaner said, noting that a good deal of reaction has come from older persons who remember the more traditional practices the couple supports.
“When a person feels obligated at what they do, that’s one thing. But when they enjoy what they do, that’s what we’re all about,” Rabbi Cadaner said of Jewish religious practices.
“It doesn’t have to be a chore,” his wife agreed.
Chabad Lubavitch is a branch of Hasidism, according to the Web site www.chabadquadcities.org. The word “chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “wisdom,” “comprehension” and “knowledge.” Lubavitch is a Russian town where it was founded.
The Cadaners are among 4,000 full-time emissary families working in 70 countries. They “apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy … dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide,” the Web site states.
Chabad emissaries such as the Cadaners are “couples who radiate kindness and devotion,” according to a newspaper account headlined, “Chabad, a success story,” which was published in Haaretz of Tel Aviv, Israel. They begin their mission with financial help from the organizational headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., but gradually grow autonomous. Haaretz reports that many are sustained by donations from Jews who want their contributions to fund what they believe is an authentic form of the religion.
Rabbi Cadaner is a Brooklyn native and his wife is from St. Paul, Minn.
Jews were among the first residents in what is know the Quad-City area during the 19th century and had established five synagogues at one point. Today, there are two: Temple Emanuel in Davenport and the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Island.
The last fully Orthodox synagogue closed about 40 years ago in Rock Island, said Chuck Rubovits, a former lay leader at the Tri-City Jewish Center. Some area Jews consider themselves very traditional, or Orthodox, in their beliefs, he added.
Chabad Lubavitch practitioners such as the Cadaners do not necessarily start synagogues, but undertake activities such as operating schools, running drug rehabilitation clinics, sponsoring Passover seders and visiting Jewish prison inmates. In this region, Chabad centers also have been established in Iowa City and Peoria, Ill.
Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.
Rabbi Shneur Cadaner dresses in a traditional Orthodox Jewish manner and seems not to notice any extra attention he receives while moving about the Quad-Cities. He is a man on a mission.
The rabbi, his wife Chana and their infant son moved to a north Davenport home six months ago as part of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement. “Our outreach is to enrich the Jewish lifestyle,” he said, noting that the couple has sponsored several events and has “Chanukah on Ice” planned for Dec. 27 at the Quad-City Sports Center in Davenport.
“We give Jews reasons to explore Judaism,” Chana Cadaner said, noting that a good deal of reaction has come from older persons who remember the more traditional practices the couple supports.
“When a person feels obligated at what they do, that’s one thing. But when they enjoy what they do, that’s what we’re all about,” Rabbi Cadaner said of Jewish religious practices.
“It doesn’t have to be a chore,” his wife agreed.
Chabad Lubavitch is a branch of Hasidism, according to the Web site www.chabadquadcities.org. The word “chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “wisdom,” “comprehension” and “knowledge.” Lubavitch is a Russian town where it was founded.
The Cadaners are among 4,000 full-time emissary families working in 70 countries. They “apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy … dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide,” the Web site states.
Chabad emissaries such as the Cadaners are “couples who radiate kindness and devotion,” according to a newspaper account headlined, “Chabad, a success story,” which was published in Haaretz of Tel Aviv, Israel. They begin their mission with financial help from the organizational headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., but gradually grow autonomous. Haaretz reports that many are sustained by donations from Jews who want their contributions to fund what they believe is an authentic form of the religion.
Rabbi Cadaner is a Brooklyn native and his wife is from St. Paul, Minn.
Jews were among the first residents in what is know the Quad-City area during the 19th century and had established five synagogues at one point. Today, there are two: Temple Emanuel in Davenport and the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Island.
The last fully Orthodox synagogue closed about 40 years ago in Rock Island, said Chuck Rubovits, a former lay leader at the Tri-City Jewish Center. Some area Jews consider themselves very traditional, or Orthodox, in their beliefs, he added.
Chabad Lubavitch practitioners such as the Cadaners do not necessarily start synagogues, but undertake activities such as operating schools, running drug rehabilitation clinics, sponsoring Passover seders and visiting Jewish prison inmates. In this region, Chabad centers also have been established in Iowa City and Peoria, Ill.
Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment