www.chabadcentrepointe.com | Blogs | NewsFlash

A Chassidic Beginning

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 12:21:00 AM

In the Chassidic calendar, this week is an extremely busy and exciting one. On the 14th of Kislev was the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn's wedding to Rebbitzin Chaya Mushka, the daughter of the previous Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn. The Rebbe said "On this day I became connected with the Chassidim and the Chassidim to me" . This was the beginning of an amazing relationship of the Rebbe and the Jewish people. It was the date, as the Rebbe said, that he devoted his life, his heart and soul to care for each Jew, even Jews he had never met, in far-off places across the globe, to awaken and unite the Jewish world.

The second date, is the 19th of Kislev, the date the Alter Rebbe (The Frist chabad Rebbe) Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was released from prison. The Rebbe (Rabbi M. Schneersohn) explains that at times, when a great light, of extremely powerful & spiritual levels is about to descend to earth, there are spiritual evil forces fighting against them. When the greatness and light wins the spiritual battle of good over evil, Torah & G-dliness can then be elevated in this world to great heights. That was the case with all the imprisonements of the Chabad Rebbe's in Soviet Russia. 19 Kislev is therefore considered the birth of Chassidism, the point at which Chassidic Teachings were allowed to grow and develop as an integral part of Torah and Jewish life. In other words, 19 Kislev, is the birth & beginning of every Chabad house you see across the globe. It was also the start of the warmth, love & acceptance of the Chabad Movement today.

May today be the start of a year of happiness, health, & much growth in our learning & in our commitment as a Jewish community!

Think "Outside The Box"

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 1:38:00 PM

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom, a wonderful & meaningful Shabbos. Thank you to all those who attended the moving & inspiring evening on Sunday with Rabbi Mendy Kaplan. If you did not get a chance to fill out the Mitzvah Pledge Book in honour of Rabbi Gabi & Rivky Holtzberg ob'm you can email any mitzvah at all, any good deed, or any positive change of goodness & kindness in your life, and we will gladly add in to the Pledge Book that is being mailed out to the families of all the Mumbai victims. Please take a moment, and bring more light & peace into the world!

As we get ready for Chanukah, which is around the corner, we can continue to apply the beautiful message from Sunday. As this year marks 5,770 years from creation, and "770" is the numeric equivalent of the Hebrew word "Poratzta (or u'Foratzta)" which means to gather strength and spread forth without limits; to break out of normative framework and vastly exceed typical expectation.
This means tapping into our soul's inner rhythm, and "going beyond" in our efforts to spread Yiddishkeit and in celebrating our Jewishness. It means thinking and acting "outside the box" to make a difference.
This Chanukah: let us not only light our own private menorahs, let's make sure every Jewish friend and neighbour have a menorah too. Invite a friend over for Chanukah dinner, share the warmth & light of Chanukah & the joy of playing a game of dreidel with friends of all ages!

Rabbi Spends Shabbat in Mumbai

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 1:28:00 PM

Welcome back Rabbi Mendelsohn from Mumbai! Thank you for representing the Jewish community on a visit to the Chabad Center in Mumbai with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Life in Mumbai, in the home of Gabi & Rivky, the Oasis of love, joy and warmth, the Chabad Center, completely froze on that terrible day, last year, Nov. 28, 2008. As we marked the yartzeit this week, it is still so hard to comprehend the ways of G-d.

Moishe's grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg from Afula, Israel, said in an interview that when Moishe asked where his parents are, his grandfather answered, "They are in heaven."

"Why?" Moishe asked.

"Because they are righteous."

"I also want to go to heaven," was Moishe's response.

His grandfather said, "No, Moishe'le. Your place is here."

Moishe's cry will have to be answered by G-d, for only He can bring his parents back with the coming of Moshiach.

But let us do our part, continue the selfless work of Gabi & Rivky ob'm, let us reach out to our friends with complete love and devotion. Let us light the Shabbat candle in memory of Rivky ob'm. Let us replace that lost light, with a hundred more shining shabbat candles. Gabi & Rivky ob'm would go through so much effort to help another Jew do a mitzvah. Do another mitzvah. Take 10 minutes every morning to say the shema as your wrap the tefillin. Make a little change in your kitchen so the food will not only be delicious, but good for your soul too.

A woman once visited Rivky before departing from India, and Rivky had 20 sandwhiches wrapped and ready for her and her family for their long trip, all baked, and mixed from scratch. That women decided; if you could keep Kosher in India, you could keep Kosher anywhere.

Let us try to emulate the shining example they left, and become better people, more devoted to each other and more devoted to our creator.

Remembering a Special Couple

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:35:00 AM

I write to you, and wish you a shabbat shalom, as my husband spends Shabbat in Mumbai, India. He had the honour of being chosen, among a handful of people to attend a memorial that will be taking place in Mumbai on Monday, with a few World Leaders who will be making the Nariman House (Past Chabad House) a main stop in their visit.

As I spoke to my husband early this morning, minutes before Shabbat was being ushered in, in Mumbai, he described to me the powerful emotions of this humbling visit. The Chabad House is still covered in bullet holes, items are left exactly how they were one year ago, before the terrorrists entered. Moisele's bedroom (the 3 year old orphan, saved by his heroic nanny, Sandra Samuel), is still the same, lovingly decorated by his mother, Rivky, of blessed memory, with hand-painted alef bet on the wall, and small measurements of little Moishy's height as he reached every new stage of his young life. To enter a home, that was so tragically destroyed, and so many lives were lost, brings an emptiness and opens a sea of tears that are almost too much to bear.

To many people, Nov. 28- Roch Chodesh Kislev (This coming Wed.) brings back a feeling of sadness, as 3,500 Chabad emissaries across the globe lost 2 siblings, 4 other Jewish families were orphaned and the world lost many innocent sould, one year ago, on this day. It is a pain that reaches deep into our soul, as a Chabad House is a meeting place for all Jews, of all stripes, a place to love, share, learn & grow not a place of terrorism and hate.

Rabbi Gabi & Rivky ob'm, left all the comforts of the western world, and gave up life around friends, family, kosher food and Jewish schools, to open the Chabad of Mumbai- to reach out to every Jew who needs them. Expatriates, backpackers and local Indian Jews came to them for Shabbat meals, a warm embrace, or a word of Torah. Their loss is our loss, as the world has lost a beacon of holiness in a city filled with poverty and starvation.
They gave with a full heart, regardless of any personal challenges. May we each add another good deed in their memory, to make this world a brighter and happier place.

Women; light the Shabbat candles 18 minutes before sunset. Continue Rivky's legacy of warmth, kindness, and peace to others, & illuminate the world with peace and tranquility through your Shabbat candles. http://fridaylight.com/

Or add another good deed- buy Kosher meat, take a few minutes to wrap the tefillin daily (if you don't have a pair, you can stop by and gladly use a pair of ours), give extra charity, put up a mezuza on every door, come join a Torah class, sign your children up for Hebrew School or learn about the laws of family purity. Let us fight the darkness with light & good deeds!

May we only share happy occasions together, and celebrate the ultimate simcha the ultimate time of happiness & goodness, NOW!