A Jewish Community Grows on Nun's Island

(Published at www.Lubavitch.com)

In December 2010, Rabbi Levi and Mushkie Itkin arrived to Nun’s Island in Verdun, QC, where Jewish religious infrastructure was non-existent.

Otherwise known as Île des Sœurs, it is a small island at the foot of the Champlain Bridge, famous for its beautiful scenery and parks overlooking the Saint Laurence River.

Founded as Île S. Paul in 1899, the island was primarily used for farming until the 1960’s but today boasts mostly upscale apartments and luxury condos. There are few commercial offerings and business ventures found on the less-than one-and-a-half square-mile island.

Major development began on Nun’s Island in the 1960’s, and today, its population consists largely of retirees, developers and people in the real-estate industry. There has never been any Jewish community on record.

“We figured we’d take the leap,” says Rabbi Itkin, who had learned about the growing population on the Island and in Verdun. Himself a son of Chabad representatives, Rabbi Itkin and his wife have slowly begun introducing Jewish social and educational programs to the Island’s small, but now vibrant Jewish community.

Shabbos dinners convene at the Itkins’ rented townhouse along the Eastern shore of the Island and weekly Torah classes take place across the Island. The Rabbi and his wife each conduct one-on-one study sessions and religious coaching on an almost daily basis.

Drawing a minyan, a quorum of ten for formal prayer services, was a challenge the Itkins chose to tackle this past Shavuot with commitments from several men who walked to the Island from Montreal proper.

And so the first Minyan on Nun’s Island came together for the reading of the Ten Commandments, giving many of the participants a reason to celebrate.

Mr. Michael Trossman, a resident of the Island was elated. “Thank you so much for inviting me! This is the first aliya I’ve had in years.”

While the guests were nibbling on Mrs. Itkin’s home-made cheesecakes and blintzes, the Rabbi offered a toast.

“Mazel tov. Lchaim! You were all part of the beginning of something big!”

Chabad will kick-off some new programs during the summer.

“Its very exciting to see the Jews of Nun’s Island and Verdun slowly climb out of the woodwork,” Rabbi Itkin told Lubavitch.com. “The first response of every Jew is ‘I am the only one here,’ and then, sure enough, they discover they are not alone.”

Jewish Sisterhood Grows in TMR

(Published at www.Lubavitch.com)

When Dina Krasnianski, co-director of Chabad of the Town in the Town-of-Mount-Royal launched Loaves of Love in her home’s kitchen, she had just a few participants. It has since morphed into a strong following of devoted women.

“For some of the women, this is their way of making a statement,” said Krasnianski. “They are displaying their pride as Jewish women. It’s very important to them.”

The women attending the program enjoy the closeness of the group with Krasnianski as their crew chief. “It’s a time for them to come together as Jewish women and reflect,” Krasnianski offered. “They bond with others and spend quality time in a Jewish surrounding.”

Myrla Azuelos attended the launch of Loaves of Love more than five years ago. Today, Challah baking has become a deeply purposeful activity for her and her husband, Dr. Alain Azuelos: Every week, Krasnianski and crew dedicate their Challah to the recovery of their infant son, Aramis.

According to Jewish tradition, Sarah, Rebbecca, Leah and Rachel baked Challah, and Jewish women have been doing so ever since. Thousands of years later, Challah still graces the Shabbat table and baking Challah in honor of Shabbos is said to bring blessing. In that spirit that Krasnianski chose to dedicate Loaves of Love to little Aramiz Azuelos.

When visiting Montreal from Ottawa, Yvonne Azuelos, Aramis’ grandmother, looks forward to baking Challah with Mrs. Krasnianski. “In fact, we’re baking Challah tomorrow. I’ll be there with Myrla’s mother, Beti Losic from Sao Paolo,” she told Lubavitch.com. “Dina’s help and commitment means the world to us!”

Krasnianski said that she and her friends campaign for 43 challah bakers in Aramis’ merit every week. Forty three, she explained is the numerical value of the word Challah. She credits Facebook as her greatest outlet for the campaign.

From the time her first post goes up until she finds 43, Krasnianski continues to update. “27 more bakers needed,” she’ll write, or, “just 3 more bakers needed for Aryeh Dov ben Myrla. Who’s in?”

After going to a few Challah baking sessions I started doing it every week” said Mrs. Liliane Levy. “Now, like Dina does, I give some Challah to a few friends each week.

Levy credits Chabad’s exclusive-to-women events for empowering TMR’s Jewish women to live more openly Jewish lives. “Chabad of TMR has a big impact on every woman” she noted. “They have contributed to the increased level of Judaism amongst the Jewish women and their families.”

Loaves of Love is one of a number of lively activities engaging women at Chabad in Town-of-Mount-Royal, more commonly referred to as TMR. The Center, directed by the Krasnianskis with the assistance of Rabbi Zalmy and Esther Rader, hosts weekly prayer discussion groups exclusively for women, as well as a monthly Rosh Chodesh gathering, hosted by a rotation of women from the community.

Spa for the Soul, another event that attracted upwards of 200 women last year, presents a full day of wisdom and inspiration featuring contemporary personalities, and hands-on health and wellness activities.

Jewish life in TMR was not always so vibrant. “It was only sixty-years ago when TMR didn’t allow Jews to live here,” reflects Rabbi Krasinianski. “Once the doors opened, the community to began to grow.”

Rabbi Krasnianksi speculates that Jewish people moved to TMR to get away. Ironically, he points out, these were the people who were instrumental in creating a Jewish community of their very own.

“Since we founded Chabad TMR in 2004 as a small gathering of people looking for that tenth man for the minyan, we have grown into a full-service Jewish Community Center,” Rabbi Krasnianski said.

“We are no longer looking for that tenth man in the Minyan. He’s already arrived and brought dozens more with him.”

Early Purim at Panthers Game

(Published at www.Lubavitch.com)

At the NHL’s Florida Panthers hockey game this past Sunday, all 15,685 fans learned something Jewish.

Fans celebrated at a pre-game pre-Purim bash hosted by South Florida Chabad Centers at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, with free video games, pony rides, face painting, a giant inflatable slide and an obstacle course. Jewish music filled the air, jugglers and clowns entertained, around Purim themes.

Free t-shirts sporting the team mascot and the words Happy Purim across the front were distributed free to fans. Seeing people on the concourse wearing the shirts, Rabbi Andrusier engaged them in conversation. “I met several people who were unaware that Purim was approaching. In fact, I met folks who had never even heard of the holiday altogether,” he said.

Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, co-director of Chabad of Southwest Broward County was invited on the ice to take the ceremonial “slapshot.”

The traditional hockey-broom-ball game, played pregame, sported teams of clowns vs. rabbis. Neither team scored, but the roaring applause signaled the crowd’s approval.

Rabbi Levi Chanowitz, director of Chabad of Sunrise said the event was successful if “people leave here and choose to observe Purim.”

Local singing sensation, Yisroel Amar, delivered his rendition of G-d Bless America followed by the stadium’s first ever Purim masquerade. Twelve costume-clad finalists were aired on the big screen and the crowd’s applause and cheering served as the judge.

During the intermission Cypress Bay High School junior, Josh Appel excitedly posted on Twitter, “Chabad Rabbis vs. the Purim clowns during intermission. Panther hockey!” Appel, 16, is a season ticket holder and attends many games. He was surprised to see Chabad rabbison the ice.”

“It was a nice gesture by the Panthers organization to recognize Purim and people of the Jewish faith” said Appel who admitted that the event was his first encounter with Chabad. “It's too bad that the team couldn't pull through with a win to cap off the night,” he joked.

Mackie Feierstein, Director of Group Sales and Youth Hockey for the Panthers said he reached out to Rabbi Andrusier after seeing the success of the Rabbi’s Chanukah event with the Miami Heat.

“I believe this was just the start of a long lasting relationship between not only Chabad, but the entire Jewish community and the Florida Panthers hockey club,” Feierstein said. He looks forward to working together more often in the future.

“These events and programs will only grow in the upcoming years.”

Light in the Face of Dark!

Monday, April 16th 2007, will long be remembered as a dark day, a day that G-d was murdered 32 times over. Our sages have taught that man is created in the image of G-d, and that murdering a human being is likened to banishing G-d from our world.

In the most violent gun attack in U.S. history, 32 people were murdered on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Cho Seung-Hui, the lone gunman and an undergrad student at the University began his shooting spree by killing two people in a dormitory before making his way to Norris Hall, shooting 30 more people and finally turning the gun on himself.

The victims were students in the midst of their noble pursuit of education and teachers wanting nothing more than to help them achieve their goals. In our minds none of these beautiful lives we lost deserved their fate.

While a shocked world watched coverage of the events on television screens across the globe, the question “Why, why do bad things happen to good people?” was being asked by all. The answer to this, we may never know, but we do know that we must not let evil win. To pursue goodness in time of tragedy is something that Judaism has long taught.

Surely adding light to a dark story was a man who lost his life giving the ultimate gift to others – the gift of life. Romanian born Holocaust survivor, Professor Liviu Librescu, shielded the door to his classroom, allowing his students time to escape.

Professor Librescu gave his students life, and paid with his own.

This act earned Professor Librescu well deserved national attention and the title “True Hero”. Librescu’s death came on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day throughout the world, and this - in my opinion - sends a very powerful message.

After surviving the Holocaust I’m sure Professor Librescu understood the value of life more than most of us which is why without thinking twice he threw himself in the path of a gunman to give younger lives a chance at the world. We now know one reason Professor Liviu Librescu survived the Holocaust.

At 7:00 AM on Tuesday, April 17th, Rabbi Danny Cohen from Chabad of Chevron, a close friend of Professor Librescu’s family called the Rabbi of Chabad at UVA, Rabbi Shlomo Mayer. Cohen told Mayer of the professor’s death and asked if there was a Rabbi that could arrange the proper Jewish treatment of the Professor’s remains. Ensuring him that it would be taken care of, Mayer called Rabbi Yossel Kranz of Chabad in Richmond, and together they traveled directly to the coroner’s office in Roanoke, VA.

Professor Librescu’s remains were released in a timely manner - as prescribed by Jewish law - after many telephone conversations with Congressman Eric Kantor and with Governor Tim Kaine’s office. Funeral services, attended by hundreds of Jewish people were held in New York on Wednesday before the professor was flown to Israel for burial in Ra’nana on Friday morning.

In response to the tragedies, the Chabad on Campus International Foundation instituted “Hearts to Hokies - Week of Goodness and Kindness”. The organization’s 100 plus locations across the globe began handing out ‘pledge-cards’ to students, faculty and friends to write a good deed they would do to honor the entire Virginia Tech Family. At the end of the week these cards will be presented to Virginia Tech.

In addition, Chabad on Campus also held “Shabbat Candle Lightings” in memory of Professor Librescu. Rabbi Shlomo Mayer – who is also Romanian born - noted that in one conversation he

had with the professor’s widow, Mrs. Marlena Librescu, she told of how much Liviu loved the Shabbat Candles tradition. Marlena relayed how her husband would lovingly remind her every Friday to light the candles and would watch intently as she did.

Marlena asked Rabbi Mayer if he could arrange for women and girls to light Shabbat Candles that week in Liviu’s memory. Rabbi Mayer assured her that this would be done, as it was, at

many College Campuses around the world.

The Jewish response to these tragedies was seen in all facets of the Jewish community. Most congregational Rabbis spoke of the atrocities in their sermons, encouraging congregants to add to their acts of goodness and kindness. Jewish Schools instituted mitzvah campaigns, including “The Wall of Good” at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater.

On the internet, social networking websites such as, www.facebook.com, were used to create groups for members to join and share their memories of lost friends, thoughts of hope and words condolence. I created one of these groups, which I titled “Hebrews for the Hokies” describing it as a group for Jewish people wishing to show support for Virginia Tech and to honor the victims of the Massacre.

Within the groups first 10 hours of existence 247 Jewish people under the age of thirty had

joined. Messages were posted in the group, and a Mitzvah campaign launched as well. Posts included condolence messages, words of hope and well wishes, and words of encouragement from the Torah. The group currently hosts 387 members.

On a closing note, The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that the most important thing to do in the face of darkness and tragedy is to turn around and show the world acts of light and joy – the need to turn tears into action.

A Chassidic Master, Rabbi Shalom Dovber taught exactly one hundred years ago from last week, that personal actions can change the routine of the world. Rabbi Shalom Dovber urged his followers to strive to rise to higher levels of goodness and to be sure that their personal choices and actions were those that would change the world for the better for many years to come.

Professor Librescu’s heroic and brave actions have certainly accomplished that, as did the acts

of Chabad on Campus and Chabad in Virginia. On that same note, in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, I would strongly encourage everyone here in the Tidewater area to increase in acts of goodness and kindness and share in our joint responsibility of making this world a better place.

It’s our World, we live in it, and together we can – AND WILL - change it. Yasher Koach, and we should only report good tidings.

(www.chabad.org, www.chabad.edu, and www.lubavitch.com contributed to this report.)

YES WE CAN!

(Note: No matter what your political views may be or how you feel about the results, as the great Chassidic Master, Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov taught, " We must always learn from every event in the world ". Here are a few thoughts.)

History was made last night in the United States of America. The glass ceiling hovering over the country has finally been shattered. A man from a group once so oppressed and once denied the privilege to vote has seen one of its sons elected to highest office in the land. Barriers have been broken and the United States has its 44th president lined up.

This crushing defeat of bigotry and racism has lifted the world to a new level. Chassidus speaks often about the breaking of barriers. We are taught that simcha – joy – defies all natural boundaries and delivers people to a new height. Barack Obama inspired many with the happiness that is the country and rallied many millions behind “Change We Can Believe In” and “Yes We Can”.

Yes we can what you may ask?

Yes we can smash the border around us and make history. The same is true in Judaism. If we stand together as a nation, proud to be what we are, not ashamed to live the way we do, we will lift ourselves to a new level – a change in essence. A change we can believe in - and yes, we can!

I am sure you have many reflections about this epic campaign, yet if I had to characterize two words that led this Illinois Senator to victory it was his ENERGY and the PASSION he inspired in millions.

I am sure many young people (myself included) cannot define all of the nuanced differences and ideas Obama portrayed, yet they latched on to the excitement he offered - the excitement he attached to living and the excitement of making a world of change - and that precisely swept the hearts of so many millions.

Perhaps while the campaign is now over we can still capture some of that renewed energy into the way we go about our own lives.

What Judaism desperately needs at this point in history is not new ideas, rather renewed passion into the already existing.

The first words of creation are, Yehi Oir – Let there be light – bring energy into life!

In Judaism - A Jew cannot say a prayer, only sing a prayer.

You cannot read the Torah, the Bible; you can only sing the Torah.

Like the new-born baby that says to her mother "If you want to communicate with me, the only language that I know is the song. Sing to me!"

We should all hear G-d reaching out to us as if to say "display to me the energy, the passion and the excitement of life that is dramatized through living with Judaism and that truly will capture my heart!"

Ultimate Sacrifice

Last week parents lost a son. Parents lost a daughter. Two children lost Abba and Ima. The Jewish People lost two precious gems of kindness and devotion. The Mumbai Jewish Community lost loving leaders and mentors. The Lubavitch Community lost two of its finest. The Shluchim (Chabad Emissaries) network worldwide lost faithful colleagues and dear friends.

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I write these words. Fear and anger filled my heart as news of a terrorist attack came in from India. Tears filled my eyes, and I was struck with grief and pain when the newsreel delivered word that two of our own had joined the ranks of the slain innocent in Mumbai. Indeed, every life lost in the attacks is a great tragedy, and they all deserve our thoughts and prayers. I feel compelled, however, to write of a loss that hit close to home, that of two colleagues in Mumbai.

Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29 and his wife Rivkah, 28, co-directors and founders of the Chabad Center in Mumbai were murdered in cold blood by the brutal creatures that seized the Chabad House, taking them and others hostage inside. Their son, Moshe Tzvi, "Moshele," who turned two on Shabbat, was whisked from the building to safety by a courageous nanny escapingthe hell on earth. (Their other child was and is in Israel.)

It is difficult to imagine Moshele not being able to embrace his parents and call out "Abba, Imma." It's unfathomable why G-d would take two loyal servants from this world. Together, they sacrificed the cozy confines of family, friends and religion. Together they devoted their lives to sharing a spark of the religion they loved with others in a foreign land. Together they made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in the line of duty, may G-d avenge their blood.

They cooked for dozens – sometimes hundreds- for Shabbat and Holidays. They provided kosher food for locals and travelers including chickens that were slaughtered weekly in a kosher manner by Rabbi Holtzberg. They taught men, women and children. They performed weddings, brit milahs, holiday events and Passover Seders for hundreds of Jewish people living in and visiting Mumbai.

They made connections with thousands of young men and women leaving an impact for a lifetime. They were very involved in the Mumbai Jewish community, actively pursuing its betterment and growth. They helped prevent a local synagogue’s Minyan from fading away, bringing people there almost weekly. Together, they led the community, with kindness, compassion, devotion and love.

We cannot explain why something like this happens. We cannot even pretend to understand the ways of G-d. It seems senseless to us. We are angry. We are sad. We are shocked. We simply do not understand. We are mourning and grieving. We wonder: Did G-d fail us? Did he ignore us? Emotions will flood the streams, and the questions will choke our thought. We are human. It is natural.

But after the grieving and mourning settle, and perhaps even before, we must take action. Chassidic masters have long taught the importance of looking evil in the eye and acting against it. We must fill the darkness with light, battle the evil with goodness and the hatred with love.

We must resolve to do an extra mitzvah. We must resolve to memorialize the victims with what was important to them – taking the time to do Mitzvot like lighting Shabbat Candles and wearing Teffilin, observing Jewish Holidays, studying Torah and more.

We must not allow ourselves to be overcome with doubt and depression. We must immediately take steps to make this world the fountain of goodness and kindness that it could and should be.

We must do it for Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg.

We must do it to show Moshele how special his parents were.

We must do it for the other innocent Chabad House victims.

We must do it for the over 150 victims of the attacks.

We must do it for the sake of G-d and ourselves – to improve our world!

May we never have to report on events like this again.

May we, very soon, experience the coming of Moshiach!

Am Yisroel Chai!

“Am Yisroel Chai” – “The Nation of Israel Lives” is arguably the most popular of Jewish phrases. The words, a testament to our existence through the ages holds true everyday – perhaps today more than ever.

One year ago, the world was horror-struck at the news of the siege of Mumbai. Among the 173

innocent victims of the attacks were the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissaries to Mumbai, India, Rabbi Gavriel Noach “Gabi” Holtzberg , 29 and his wife Rivky, 28. The four Jewish guests they hosted at the Chabad House of Mumbai also perished. Their beautiful two-year-old son, Moishele was miraculously pulled from the bloodbath by his heroic nanny.

Then, we cried. We mourned. We questioned. But today – exactly one year later - you will find a very different world! The ripple effect was not that desired by the terrorists. Acts of goodness and kindness were in place of retreat and fear.

Last Thursday the completion of a brand new Torah Scroll written in memory of the Holtzbergs

was celebrated. The completion came just one week prior to their first Yahrtzeit. As the Torah was completed, it was escorted down one of Brooklyn’s busiest streets to its home at Lubavitch World Headquarters. Children sported torches and flags as the participants danced and rejoiced with the Torah down the road to the Shul.

The Torah Celebration also coincided with the commencement of the Kinus Hashluchim Haolami - the International Conference of Chabad Emissaries. The conference hosted more Shluchim than ever before. The Shluchim family was hit hard by the Mumbai Massacre, but they fought on. Shuls, Schools and Mikvaot were named for the Holztbergs.

As the first anniversary of the horrific attacks approach, we can indeed sing “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When Moishele’s miraculous rescue was covered on international television networks, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”.

As thousands of Jewish people pledged mitzvot in memory of the slain, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When more than 6,000 Jewish people of every background came out to celebrate the Holtzberg Torah, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When Hakafot were held in the most public of places - with proud Jewish people celebrating in the face of tragedy, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When hundreds of Shuls, Schools, Mikvaot, classes, programs and events were created to remember the Holtzbergs, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When more than 500 newborn babies were named for the holy Rabbi or Rebbetzin, we cried out “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When more than 4,000 Chabad emissaries and their supporters gathered at the concluding Gala

Banquet at the International Conference of Chabad Emisarries, we sang “Am Yisroel Chai!”

When Jewish pride prevailed over cowardly acts we shouted, “AM YISROEL CHAI!”

Everyday before the morning service we recite, “Ashreinu, Ma Tov Chelkeinu, U'ma Noim Goroleinu, U'ma Yofo Y'rushoseinu.” – Fortunate are we! How good is our portion, how pleasant our lot and how beautiful our heritage.” What a nation we are! Throughout oppression and cruelty, we always rise to the top.

When our enemy wages war on us, we will always prevail. We fight back - but not with bomb straps or semi-automatics. Our return fire is instilling goodness and kindness around the world. This thwarts the enemy’s mission more than any act of violence can ever hope to! We answer six acts of darkness with tens of thousands of acts light. Truly, U’ma Yofo Y’rushoseinu – How beautiful is our heritage!

As we continue to add Mitzvot, acts of goodness and kindness to the world we march closer a time when righteousness will reign and evil will expire – and that is the ultimate goal! This is the coming of Moshiach, when we will all sing together in true happiness as we march to Jerusalem.

“Am Yisroel Chai! Am Yisroel Chai!”