DESPITE ECONOMY, CHABAD SAYS NO CUTBACKS IN HOLIDAY OUTREACH
BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- (lubavitch.com) Some 570 rabbinical students will be leaving Sunday, April 5, to any of 285 locations worldwide where they will conduct communal seders this Passover, April 8 and 9th. New on the list of exotic locations slated for Chabad's seders is Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
At Lubavitch World Headquarters, itineraries for the rabbinical students are being coordinated with regional Chabad representatives, reflecting numbers that surpass last year's.
The comprehensive list of locations means that Jews--even those in remote points of Vietnam, China, Chile, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Peru and Spain, as well as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, among many other locations in Africa, South America, Europe and North America--will have the benefit of a traditional Passover seder with Chabad.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos, the Chabad-Lubavitch educational division, says that despite the dire economic climate, "The Rebbe insisted that every Jew be given the opportunity to participate at a Seder, and we will do everything possible to make sure that happens on the largest scale yet."
Funding for the seders comes from several philanthropists including Mr. George Rohr, a long time supporter of Chabad activities, and a gift of $500,000 from Florida energy magnate, Guma Aguiar. This is the second consecutive year that Aguiar, 31, has been a major sponsor of Chabad's global Passover campaign.
Aguiar became excited about this project last year and contributed towards Chabad's worldwide Passover seders--collectively, the largest seder in the world. As a result, he said, "Chabad leaders and I have realized what a truly sacred honor it is to partner together with each other on this project."
With seders hosting anywhere from 20-2000 (Nepal), accurate figures for the total number of participants at Chabad seders are hard to come by, but upwards of 500,000 people would be a safe estimate, say coordinators.
Conducting seders in some of the backwaters of the Far East and Africa involves often complicated logistics and requires the cooperation of local authorities. Getting vast quantities of matzah, wine, meat and other Passover staples, entails considerable preliminary work to ensure timely deliveries.
These seders are in addition to those hosted by Chabad representatives in their respective communities worldwide.
To search for the Chabad-Lubavitch center closest to you, click here (http://www.lubavitch.com/centers/)
SOURCE Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters
Showing posts with label donation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label donation. Show all posts
Friday, April 03, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Family donates Torah to Chabad
When Greenwich resident Leon Gandelman grew up in Lvov in the Soviet Union in the 1940s and '50s, he was not allowed to practice his religion in public.
His parents gave him as traditional a Jewish upbringing as they could, but it was not until after 1991 that he could openly worship, said his daughter Anya Gandelman.
So yesterday, when he donated a historic torah scroll, the holiest book in Judaism, to the Chabad of Greenwich during a ceremony, it had a special significance to him, she said,
"It's really heartwarming for my father," she said.
More than 30 family and friends gathered as Gandelman, along with Rabbi Yossi Deren, dedicated the scroll to his parents.
"This is a very special and important occasion," said Deren.
A new torah scroll is a big celebration within the Jewish community. It takes an expert scribe more than a year to complete since it is done just as Moses had done more than 3,000 years ago - handwritten in a calligraphy on parchment paper, sewn together with sinews to form one long scroll, according to Deren.
It is approximately 52 pages and has 600,000 words, and if even one word is misshapen or a letter missing, the document is not considered kosher and is not used, according to Deren.
"This is a very important thing for the Jewish people," said Gandelman, a businessman.
Anya Gandelman brought the document from Tel Aviv to Greenwich for the dedication. A new torah scroll can cost approximately $30,000.
Gandelman wanted to donate the scroll, after learning that the Chabad of Greenwich only had two scrolls. It is customary to have three at every synagogue, according to Deren.
"It's a big occasion not just for his family, but for the community," said his friend Michael Chernomordin, who attended the festivities.
Following the dedication, friends and each member of the family, which included Gandelman's brothers and wife, Olivia, gathered around the table to fill in the last few lines of the text with the help of the scribe, Rabbi Moshe Klein.
Klein, a fourth-generation scribe, held the feathered quill as each person filled the letter that his or her first name started with. Then the document, which weighed more than 15 pounds, was rolled up and placed in a special protective cover.
At the end of the ceremony, attendees danced, sang and feasted on a four-course meal.
"It's a been a wonderful celebration," said Valentine Tropp, Greenwich resident and member of Temple Sholom, "It's an honor for us to be here."
Every Shabbat, the synagogue will read a portion of torah scroll, Deren said.
His parents gave him as traditional a Jewish upbringing as they could, but it was not until after 1991 that he could openly worship, said his daughter Anya Gandelman.
So yesterday, when he donated a historic torah scroll, the holiest book in Judaism, to the Chabad of Greenwich during a ceremony, it had a special significance to him, she said,
"It's really heartwarming for my father," she said.
More than 30 family and friends gathered as Gandelman, along with Rabbi Yossi Deren, dedicated the scroll to his parents.
"This is a very special and important occasion," said Deren.
A new torah scroll is a big celebration within the Jewish community. It takes an expert scribe more than a year to complete since it is done just as Moses had done more than 3,000 years ago - handwritten in a calligraphy on parchment paper, sewn together with sinews to form one long scroll, according to Deren.
It is approximately 52 pages and has 600,000 words, and if even one word is misshapen or a letter missing, the document is not considered kosher and is not used, according to Deren.
"This is a very important thing for the Jewish people," said Gandelman, a businessman.
Anya Gandelman brought the document from Tel Aviv to Greenwich for the dedication. A new torah scroll can cost approximately $30,000.
Gandelman wanted to donate the scroll, after learning that the Chabad of Greenwich only had two scrolls. It is customary to have three at every synagogue, according to Deren.
"It's a big occasion not just for his family, but for the community," said his friend Michael Chernomordin, who attended the festivities.
Following the dedication, friends and each member of the family, which included Gandelman's brothers and wife, Olivia, gathered around the table to fill in the last few lines of the text with the help of the scribe, Rabbi Moshe Klein.
Klein, a fourth-generation scribe, held the feathered quill as each person filled the letter that his or her first name started with. Then the document, which weighed more than 15 pounds, was rolled up and placed in a special protective cover.
At the end of the ceremony, attendees danced, sang and feasted on a four-course meal.
"It's a been a wonderful celebration," said Valentine Tropp, Greenwich resident and member of Temple Sholom, "It's an honor for us to be here."
Every Shabbat, the synagogue will read a portion of torah scroll, Deren said.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Giant ‘Cannorah’ to be kindled
SHARON - The construction of the first ever “Cannorah” in Sharon is going to be the highlight of the annual Chanukah celebration at Chabad of Sharon. You CAN light up a life. The Can Food Menorah is being organized, built and donated by Chabad of Sharon. You can participate by sponsoring some canned food which will be used to assemble the Menorah. The cans will be donated to local food pantries for families in need.
Chanukah is about bringing light into this world. A menorah built with food cans is sure to add more light into our world. After assembling the menorah candles will be placed on top and the Menorah will be kindled. In addition to the “Cannorah”, this year’s program will also feature Chanukah arts & crafts, holiday music, olive press demonstration, delicious Chanukah treats, and a Feature Circus Show.
The program will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21, from 2 – 5 p.m. at Chabad of Sharon, 162 North Main St. There is no fee. For more information please call the Chabad Center at (781) 784-4269.
Chanukah is about bringing light into this world. A menorah built with food cans is sure to add more light into our world. After assembling the menorah candles will be placed on top and the Menorah will be kindled. In addition to the “Cannorah”, this year’s program will also feature Chanukah arts & crafts, holiday music, olive press demonstration, delicious Chanukah treats, and a Feature Circus Show.
The program will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21, from 2 – 5 p.m. at Chabad of Sharon, 162 North Main St. There is no fee. For more information please call the Chabad Center at (781) 784-4269.
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