Chabad of Southern Oregon proudly announces the opening of its new Jewish Center in Ashland across from Southern Oregon University at 420 Bridge Street. Rabbi Avi Zwiebel, director of the Center, invites the community this evening to a housewarming at the Center and to a celebration of the joyous Jewish holidays. There will be a buffet dinner, toasts and singing and dancing.
Simchat Torah, the most joyous Jewish holiday, falls on this Saturday night, Oct 14. It is a day when Jews around the world dance with the Torah celebrating the completion of the year-round public reading of the Torah scroll and beginning anew. Simchat Torah has always been traditionally associated with ecstatic, joyous dancing. It is customary to celebrate with the torah as well on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret that falls out this year on Friday night, Oct 13.
"The source for this happiness is the Torah. Yet throughout the entire dancing, the Torah is not opened; we dance holding it wrapped in its covering. Though the Torah is usually associated with disciplined study, on Simchat Torah we approach it differently, singing and dancing in a manner that bears no apparent relationship to understanding," explained Rabbi Avi Zwiebel. "These celebrations reveal that our bond with G-d and the Torah is unconfined by the limits of intellect."
"All reserve disappears in the exuberant dancing of Simchat Torah. Every Jew, learned and unsophisticated, feels a natural desire to take a Torah in his arms and dance. It taps a point in the soul that defies the differences that exist between one Jew and another," continues Rabbi Avi Zwiebel.
The new location is a significant milestone for Chabad. "It is amazing how fast we have grown in our first three years, and we anticipate many more Jewish people being attracted to our celebration of Judaism. Our study classes and programs are expanding and become even more vibrant as more people find our community" said Rabbi Avi Zwiebel.
"We could not have found a more auspicious time to have our housewarming than on Simchat Torah. It's perfectly inline with Chabad's general message that Judaism is full of joy, depth and meaning and our goal is to help others experience that joy and depth that has not been made available to many of them. "
Chabad invites the public for these special evenings of celebratory dancing, eating and socializing. Rabbi Zwiebel's father, Rabbi Elimelech Zwiebel, the spiritual mentor of the Rabbinical College of America, will also be there celebrating with the community.
The event will be held this Friday and Saturday night, Oct. 13 & 14 at 7:00pm at 420 Bridge St. (corner of Siskiyou) in Ashland. Children are welcomed and will receive special Simchat Torah flags and Torah scrolls to dance with.
For more information or for directions please call Chabad at (541) 482-2778 or email chabadofashland@yahoo.com.
Simchat Torah, the most joyous Jewish holiday, falls on this Saturday night, Oct 14. It is a day when Jews around the world dance with the Torah celebrating the completion of the year-round public reading of the Torah scroll and beginning anew. Simchat Torah has always been traditionally associated with ecstatic, joyous dancing. It is customary to celebrate with the torah as well on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret that falls out this year on Friday night, Oct 13.
"The source for this happiness is the Torah. Yet throughout the entire dancing, the Torah is not opened; we dance holding it wrapped in its covering. Though the Torah is usually associated with disciplined study, on Simchat Torah we approach it differently, singing and dancing in a manner that bears no apparent relationship to understanding," explained Rabbi Avi Zwiebel. "These celebrations reveal that our bond with G-d and the Torah is unconfined by the limits of intellect."
"All reserve disappears in the exuberant dancing of Simchat Torah. Every Jew, learned and unsophisticated, feels a natural desire to take a Torah in his arms and dance. It taps a point in the soul that defies the differences that exist between one Jew and another," continues Rabbi Avi Zwiebel.
The new location is a significant milestone for Chabad. "It is amazing how fast we have grown in our first three years, and we anticipate many more Jewish people being attracted to our celebration of Judaism. Our study classes and programs are expanding and become even more vibrant as more people find our community" said Rabbi Avi Zwiebel.
"We could not have found a more auspicious time to have our housewarming than on Simchat Torah. It's perfectly inline with Chabad's general message that Judaism is full of joy, depth and meaning and our goal is to help others experience that joy and depth that has not been made available to many of them. "
Chabad invites the public for these special evenings of celebratory dancing, eating and socializing. Rabbi Zwiebel's father, Rabbi Elimelech Zwiebel, the spiritual mentor of the Rabbinical College of America, will also be there celebrating with the community.
The event will be held this Friday and Saturday night, Oct. 13 & 14 at 7:00pm at 420 Bridge St. (corner of Siskiyou) in Ashland. Children are welcomed and will receive special Simchat Torah flags and Torah scrolls to dance with.
For more information or for directions please call Chabad at (541) 482-2778 or email chabadofashland@yahoo.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment