Rabbi Leib Kramer, who died six years ago, was a legendary figure in the Montreal Jewish community. He escaped from Poland and made his way with nine of his students to Shanghai, China, and then to Japan.
They caught one of the last ships to North America before the attack on Pearl Harbor and landed in Montreal in October 1941. Here Rabbi Kramer established the Rabbinical College of Canada, or Lubavitcher Yeshiva, with his nine students. He remained its director for decades, overseeing its growth to hundreds of students from religious and non-religious families.
The refugees’ arrival also marked the beginning of the Lubavitch community in this city.
Rabbi Kramer was recently memorialized in Israel with the dedication of the Chabad centre in Tiberias in his name. One of his sons, Rabbi Yosef Kramer, founded the centre in 1987 and it recently moved into its own building after previously renting facilities.
Chabad’s work in Tiberias has received significant support from Montrealers, and the Tree of Life honouring donors has maple leaves to emphasize the Canadian connection, said Rabbi Yosef Kramer, who was in Montreal recently for his father’s yahrzeit.
“My father’s philosophy was that the yeshiva should be open to Jews of all backgrounds and that secular studies should be included. He was also a trusted adviser and confidante of many people in the community,” he said.
“He had a warm heart and helped every Jew who needed a problem solved, a word of comfort or encouragement. He had the ability to simplify the biggest problem and see it in its proper perspective.”
The newly purchased and renovated building in Tiberias houses a synagogue, a library and a 30-bed youth hostel. Elsewhere, Chabad also runs a kindergarten with extended hours that serves a daily lunch, as well as a tourist centre. Situated on the Sea of Galilee, the city of 40,000 received about a million tourists a year in good times, Rabbi Kramer said.
The local economy relies heavily on tourism, and with the downturn in the past few years, many residents have suffered. Chabad provides food to a growing number of people, he said.
After graduating from the Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Kramer went first to Australia and then to Israel in 1976 as an emissary of the late Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
The dedication ceremony was attended by Clara Kramer, widow of Rabbi Leib Kramer, her other children who all live in Montreal, and grandchildren.
They caught one of the last ships to North America before the attack on Pearl Harbor and landed in Montreal in October 1941. Here Rabbi Kramer established the Rabbinical College of Canada, or Lubavitcher Yeshiva, with his nine students. He remained its director for decades, overseeing its growth to hundreds of students from religious and non-religious families.
The refugees’ arrival also marked the beginning of the Lubavitch community in this city.
Rabbi Kramer was recently memorialized in Israel with the dedication of the Chabad centre in Tiberias in his name. One of his sons, Rabbi Yosef Kramer, founded the centre in 1987 and it recently moved into its own building after previously renting facilities.
Chabad’s work in Tiberias has received significant support from Montrealers, and the Tree of Life honouring donors has maple leaves to emphasize the Canadian connection, said Rabbi Yosef Kramer, who was in Montreal recently for his father’s yahrzeit.
“My father’s philosophy was that the yeshiva should be open to Jews of all backgrounds and that secular studies should be included. He was also a trusted adviser and confidante of many people in the community,” he said.
“He had a warm heart and helped every Jew who needed a problem solved, a word of comfort or encouragement. He had the ability to simplify the biggest problem and see it in its proper perspective.”
The newly purchased and renovated building in Tiberias houses a synagogue, a library and a 30-bed youth hostel. Elsewhere, Chabad also runs a kindergarten with extended hours that serves a daily lunch, as well as a tourist centre. Situated on the Sea of Galilee, the city of 40,000 received about a million tourists a year in good times, Rabbi Kramer said.
The local economy relies heavily on tourism, and with the downturn in the past few years, many residents have suffered. Chabad provides food to a growing number of people, he said.
After graduating from the Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Kramer went first to Australia and then to Israel in 1976 as an emissary of the late Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
The dedication ceremony was attended by Clara Kramer, widow of Rabbi Leib Kramer, her other children who all live in Montreal, and grandchildren.
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