July 8, 2006
By Ann Butler | Herald Staff Writer
Our area welcomes visitors from all over the world. This week, there were two who were a bit more noticeable than most.
YODIT GIDEY/Herald
Rabbinical candidate Berel Zaklikofsky, left, and Rabbi Yossi Goodman visited the Herald on Thursday during a tour of southern Colorado. On the table are tefillin, which are bound around the arms and draped over the head during morning prayers. The boxes contain sections from the Torah that remind Jews of the unity of the one God. The tefillin direct attention to the head, heart and hand.
For more information
To learn more about Hasidism and the Lubavitch branch, visit:
• www.Chabad.org
• www.Lubavitch.com
For more information about visits to Jewish prisoners, log on to www.Aleph-institute.org.
They hail from the not so exotic Detroit and New Jersey, but Rabbi Yossi Goodman and rabbinical candidate Berel Zaklikofsky are Hasidic Jews who follow the Lubavitch tradition. That means that they wear their kippas (or yarmulkes) at all times, not just when in synagogue, keep kosher and dress modestly.
"We follow the Torah a little over the letter of the law," Goodman said. "But we're no different than a normal Jewish person. Everyone comes from one God. Labels are for soda cans."
The Hebrew word "Hasid" means pious. In general terms, it refers to an Eastern European religious movement that dates back to Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov in the early 18th century. The Lubavitch, or Chad, branch originated in Poland about 250 years ago.
"Lubavitch means 'city of brotherly love,'" Goodman said. "We work to increase in goodness and kindness."
The two men are traveling in southern Colorado to reach out to Jews and help them reconnect to their faith. They're among 280 unmarried rabbis who are volunteering their time all over the world for that purpose. Their services were requested by Rabbi Leiberov, who directs the Chabad-Lubavitch organization for the area.
Leiberov plans to visit locally himself, presenting what he calls interactive experiences.
"The model matzoh factory he ran in Australia welcomed thousands of people," Zaklikofsky said.
Leiberov is also planning to press olives as the early Jews did to resanctify the Temple (which is now celebrated as Hanukkah) and drill a hole in a shofar - ram horn - that is blown for Rosh Hashana.
Goodman and Zaklikofsky met with leaders of Durango's Congregation Har Shalom but also ran into other unaffiliated Jews during their exploration of the Four Corners. In fact, they talked with one while visiting the Four Corners Monument.
"Two rabbis in four states," Zaklikofsky said.
After he finishes in Colorado, he'll be visiting Jews who are in prison through the Aleph Institute. Even though they've sinned, Zaklikofsky said, they can still return to the source.
One of the rabbis' most meaningful moments came with Ben Chazen, a Fort Lewis College student who was working at the Travelodge where they stayed.
"We prayed with the tefillin (prayer cords), and he said that it was the first time he'd done that since he prayed with his grandfather right before he died," Goodman said.
Chazen called the experience both interesting and powerful.
Goodman and Zaklikofsky would like to leave one message about their visit.
"The more we think about doing goodness and kindness," Goodman said, "the more we hasten the coming of the Messiah to benefit all of mankind."
Zaklikofsky agreed, adding, "Our mission is to work hard, but the reward is enormously great."
abutler@durangoherald.com
By Ann Butler | Herald Staff Writer
Our area welcomes visitors from all over the world. This week, there were two who were a bit more noticeable than most.
YODIT GIDEY/Herald
Rabbinical candidate Berel Zaklikofsky, left, and Rabbi Yossi Goodman visited the Herald on Thursday during a tour of southern Colorado. On the table are tefillin, which are bound around the arms and draped over the head during morning prayers. The boxes contain sections from the Torah that remind Jews of the unity of the one God. The tefillin direct attention to the head, heart and hand.
For more information
To learn more about Hasidism and the Lubavitch branch, visit:
• www.Chabad.org
• www.Lubavitch.com
For more information about visits to Jewish prisoners, log on to www.Aleph-institute.org.
They hail from the not so exotic Detroit and New Jersey, but Rabbi Yossi Goodman and rabbinical candidate Berel Zaklikofsky are Hasidic Jews who follow the Lubavitch tradition. That means that they wear their kippas (or yarmulkes) at all times, not just when in synagogue, keep kosher and dress modestly.
"We follow the Torah a little over the letter of the law," Goodman said. "But we're no different than a normal Jewish person. Everyone comes from one God. Labels are for soda cans."
The Hebrew word "Hasid" means pious. In general terms, it refers to an Eastern European religious movement that dates back to Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov in the early 18th century. The Lubavitch, or Chad, branch originated in Poland about 250 years ago.
"Lubavitch means 'city of brotherly love,'" Goodman said. "We work to increase in goodness and kindness."
The two men are traveling in southern Colorado to reach out to Jews and help them reconnect to their faith. They're among 280 unmarried rabbis who are volunteering their time all over the world for that purpose. Their services were requested by Rabbi Leiberov, who directs the Chabad-Lubavitch organization for the area.
Leiberov plans to visit locally himself, presenting what he calls interactive experiences.
"The model matzoh factory he ran in Australia welcomed thousands of people," Zaklikofsky said.
Leiberov is also planning to press olives as the early Jews did to resanctify the Temple (which is now celebrated as Hanukkah) and drill a hole in a shofar - ram horn - that is blown for Rosh Hashana.
Goodman and Zaklikofsky met with leaders of Durango's Congregation Har Shalom but also ran into other unaffiliated Jews during their exploration of the Four Corners. In fact, they talked with one while visiting the Four Corners Monument.
"Two rabbis in four states," Zaklikofsky said.
After he finishes in Colorado, he'll be visiting Jews who are in prison through the Aleph Institute. Even though they've sinned, Zaklikofsky said, they can still return to the source.
One of the rabbis' most meaningful moments came with Ben Chazen, a Fort Lewis College student who was working at the Travelodge where they stayed.
"We prayed with the tefillin (prayer cords), and he said that it was the first time he'd done that since he prayed with his grandfather right before he died," Goodman said.
Chazen called the experience both interesting and powerful.
Goodman and Zaklikofsky would like to leave one message about their visit.
"The more we think about doing goodness and kindness," Goodman said, "the more we hasten the coming of the Messiah to benefit all of mankind."
Zaklikofsky agreed, adding, "Our mission is to work hard, but the reward is enormously great."
abutler@durangoherald.com
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