The Rebbe – Kindling the Jewish Soul in Calgary Travel by Donkey to the Var- Calgary, Shliach Rabbi That Lit a Light and the Loving Rejoice in the Mitzvoth
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JEWISH Rebbe Pom & UJA p. 13-15 June 27, 2014 / 29 Sivan 5774 Vol 23 No 17 Subscriptions: $18/year p. 7 - 10 The Rebbe – kindling the Jewish soul in Calgary travel by donkey to the var- Calgary, Shliach Rabbi that lit a light and the loving rejoice in the Mitzvoth. two weeks of bone chill- By Shael Gelfand For the Jewish Free Press ious yeshivas making sure Matusof had been inspired offer to do Mitzvoth was These Mitzvoth were oppor- ing Arctic weather. Rabbi that Jewish children got a by the Rebbe to proclaim accepted with gratitude. tunities for us, further in the Matusof and Community More than sixty years proper education. Among darkness than we might have Menorah Lighting co-found- ago, the Rebbe, Menachem the thousands of his grateful known, to come closer to the er Harold Finkleman both Mendel Schneerson was and successful students is light. Closer to the light of credit the Rebbe. inspired to send Shluchim Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Former Yiddishkeit. The giant Menorah at (emissaries) around the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Rather than live in dark- Heritage Park has become world to be lamplighters, for Israel. ness, the Rebbe instructed a landmark of Jewish pride as he often quoted from our The Matusofs were the us to proclaim ourselves and in southwest Calgary even sages; ‘one person’s candle first of what has become our Yiddishkeit. though the Community is a light for many.’ The thousands of lamplighters. In 1989, Rabbi Menachem Menorah Lighting Rebbe send out his emissar- Calgarians reached out and Rebetezen Rochel Ceremony moved indoors ies to help spread the light of to the Rebbe more than 60 Matusof were determined to to the Municipal Building Yiddishkeit to every Jew, no years ago. In 1952, Yale host a Community Menorah many years ago. In the past matter where they lived and Shapiro OBM was corre- Lighting Ceremony. They 25 plus years, hundreds of to offer the opportunity to sponding with the Rebbe on were inspired by success- Jewish students have per- do mitzvoth. Dr. Jonathan matters of faith, Torah and ful ceremonies all around formed, many citizens have Sacks, former United understanding. They are the world. The Rebbe had been honoured, dozens of Kingdom Chief Rabbi said, included in the Rebbe’s pub- made Community Menorah politicians from prime min- “The Lubavitcher Rebbe lished letters. Lighting a priority in isters to premiers to mayors undertook the most daring In 1960 Calgarian Mayer reaching out to the great- have danced with the Rabbi spiritual initiative ever…to Blitt OBM corresponded er community because the and thousands of people search out every Jew in love, with the Rebbe on business Chanukah message of free- have enjoyed kosher latkes, as they were once hunted important to him. Based on dom has such a universal each one hand made in the down in hate.” the Rebbe’s counsel, Blitt theme. Chabad House kitchen. The Rebbe’s very first decided to stay and prosper “It was just five weeks Our proclamation of Shluchim were the parents in Calgary. before Chanukah and we had Yiddishkeit has become a of our own Rabbi Menachem Fast forward to the early no contacts or experience staple of the broader com- Matusof of Calgary. In 1951 1990s. From a donkey in with City Hall,” says Rabbi munity, and through today’s Rabbi Shlomo and Rebetzen Africa to a menorah-mobile The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Matusof. “Still, we some- technology our community Pessia OBM were sent to in the Americas. Calgarian Schneerson, presides over a Hassidic gathering how managed to cut through expression has been seen all Morocco. Despite their Harvey Cohen remembers, at Lubavitch World Headquarters, 1972. Photo: six departments of red tape, over the world. initial lack of French and “My then fiancé, Linda Lubavitch Archives. construct and power our Calgarian Markham limited knowledge of the Kitchin and I didn’t know large Menorah near Heritage Silver remembers vividly local culture, the Matusofs which Rabbi we wanted to his Yiddishkeit and he had ‘Keep bright the light Park, and plan a community the Rebbe’s ability to com- were intent on building a perform our wedding cere- attached an electric Menorah of Yiddishkeit. Make it celebration.” municate. As a teen-ager in Jewish education system and mony. I remembered seeing to the roof of his car. approachable’ Whether one Many friends of Chabad the mid 1970s, he attend- to support and strengthen a picture in the newspaper Just a few months later is orthodox, conservative, joined in the Mitzvah of ed a Rebbe’s Fabrengen at Morocco’s Sephardic Jewish of a car with a Menorah on Harvey and Linda were reform…a Jew is a Jew and making it all come together, Chabad World Headquarters community. top. A Menorahmobile! And under the Chuppah with the message of the Rebbe especially former Mayor Al in Brooklyn New York. “He During the early 1950’s, I figured anybody that rode Rabbi Matusof perform- was to reach out and light a Duerr.” Just hours before was a very engaging man Rabbi Matusof established around with a Menorah on ing the ceremony. It was a spark and make available the Calgary’s first Community and even though I didn’t a network of 70 institutions the top of their car that was kosher wedding held in their opportunity to do Mitzvoth. Menorah Lighting speak much Yiddish and throughout Morocco. With the Rabbi I wanted.” home. Once again, a spark It was not just a message, Ceremony a chinook wind he only spoke in Yiddish, few paved roads, he would Newly stationed in from the Rebbe lit a light, the Rebbe himself would blew in ending almost continued on page 13 Publications Mail Registration Number 40051950. Negev Gala facilitates rehabilitation Postage Paid Calgary, AB and sports centre Facility at the Meir Children’s Included in the facility will By Richard Bronstein The Jewish Free Press Hospital in Kfar Saba. be running tracks, a sports “I always believed that field and a sophisticated fit- There will be many more we must inspire children to ness facility designed to pro- healthy, happy children in achieve their potential,” she mote beneficial workouts to Israel as a result of this year’s told the audience. “This reha- improve core physical func- JNF Negev Gala held at Beth bilitation and sports facility is tions such as balance, flexibili- Tzedec Congregation on vital to help children develop ty and agility that contribute to June 18. And that is exactly skills and the ability to be the well being among children. All the way this year’s honouree, best they can be despite their this will be set in a landscaped Marilyn Libin, would have it. illnesses and injuries.” park with numerous amenities A devoted mother and bub- The project at Meir for family members. bie, and a dedicated educa- Hospital is specially Another key component tor, Marilyn Libin cares pas- designed to promote phys- is that the Marilyn Libin sionately about the welfare ical activity programs for Rehabilitation & Sports of children. In her honour children with chronic pedi- (l. to r.) Aaron Bickman, president JNF Calgary, Facility is part of a broader the JNF Negev Gala is com- atric diseases. It will also Marilyn Libin, the 2014 Negev Gala honouree, research project at the Kfar missioning a special project provide rehabilitation oppor- Josh Cooper, CEO of JNF Canada, and Sandra Saba hospital to investigate tunities for children follow- physical activity among in Israel, the Marilyn Libin Fayerman, executive director of JNF Calgary. Rehabilitation & Sports ing major surgery or injury. continued on page 2 GIZELLA DAVIS – Member M.L.S. Million Dollar Club BUS: 249-4322 RES: 259-2289 www.gizelladavis.com Foothills Real Estate Services tradition June 27, 2014 / 29 Sivan, 5774 13 The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in conversation. The third day of Tammuz marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe. This article and further reading on pages 13 to 15 provide additional information on this important figure in modern Judaism and his impact on the world and the Calgary Jewish community. This 1991 photo is courtesy of Lubavitch Archives. The Rebbe – continued from page 1 it wasn’t the words he was Glukowsky OBM, he told who had no knowledge and Avriel and Rivkah Rabbi Daniel Faber, who Matusof immediately went speaking, it was the ideas her that if she ever needed of their Jewishness, who Gafney. In Edmonton there grew up in SW Calgary to Edmonton to help the he was communicating to anything to call him. So knew nothing about being are three Schluchim fami- and with the help of the woman and her son with me and everyone else in the she did. Jewish and awakened the lies; Rabbi Ari and Rifkie Matusofs became Baal both their physical and room. He touched all of us, “He thanked me for Jewish spirit in them and Drelich, Rabbi Dovid Teshuva. He is the first spiritual needs. A short personally.” the opportunity to do a when you talk about light- and Devorah Pinson and Calgary born Jew to become time later, in an Edmonton Alex Stein, the former Mitzvah,” says Tova and ing a candle I think he Rabbi Mendy and Chaiya an ordained Orthodox Rabbi hotel suite, the boy cele- Cantor at Beth Tzedec and recalls how he drove all the was lighting the Yiddishe Blachman. Together they and is now the Principal at brated his first Shabbos now living in Toronto says way downtown, picked up Neshama in so many peo- work to spread the Rebbe’s N’emot Moshe, a yeshiva in with challah and a fes- the Rebbe was a critical to her son at the doctor’s office, ple who didn't even know message of goodness Bet Shemesh Israel for Baal tive meal prepared by the his Jewish upbringing.