By now you have heard that next Thursday night we will be celebrating Chabad of Louisiana – 36 Years. I hope that you will participate in the celebration which will be held at Chabad Metairie on Feb 2 at 7 PM.
Many people view Chabad as a congregation (and an Orthodox one at that) within the New Orleans Jewish community. While we certainly do hold prayer services (at three locations), that by no means defines our role or our mandate. It is hard to place us into any particular box or category usually used to define Jewish institutions. We are not strictly a Synagogue, school or social service agency, though we are involved in all of those areas. Rather our mandate, which comes from the Rebbe, is that we seek to enhance Judaism in New Orleans, the state of Louisiana and the gulf-coast region, in any way that we can and in every area that is needed. More importantly we are here for any and every individual Jew in the community to assist them Jewishly in any way possible.
For some that means discovering the kind of Torah learning that is not accessible elsewhere. For others it is the Shabbat or holiday experience at a Chabad synagogue or home. Others appreciate our email and internet offerings or the literature that is mailed all over from Shreveport to Gulfport. Some enjoy the youth programs available for their kids. For many it is the non-judgmental listening ear that they know they will always find at Chabad. These are just some of the ways that Chabad is there for any Jew.
In addition to our in-house programs, we have also focused on two other areas that serve our goal of enhancing Judaism in any way we can. The first is working with other groups, agencies or entities. Just to name a few examples. Chabad has significantly contributed to the availability of Kosher food in New Orleans. We work with the local Kosher establishments as well as a good number of companies on ensuring the Kashrut of their products. Our Rabbis and members are very involved in the Chevra Kaddisha. We are active at Lambeth House in a number of ways including our monthly Shmoozing with the Rabbi program.
I am extremely proud of the fact that, as of 2011, our Living Legacy Workshops have been presented in every single Jewish school, synagogue and senior’s group from Lafayette to Biloxi. Thousands of children and adults have enjoyed our Shofar Factory, Olive Press, Torah Factory and Matzah Bakery workshops. This year we’re expanding to include the Mezuzah Factory thanks to a grant from the Jewish Federation.
The second area is finding the Jews that are not being reached or are underserved. We have made contact with Jews in small towns all over the region. We have discovered Israelis working in malls all along the coast. We are very committed to Jewish prisoners and Jews in the military. Let me share an anecdote. Some years ago we received word that an Israeli man had been arrested in St. Landry Parish. His brother in Israel called Chabad to see how we could help. My father and I visited him in Opelousas on our way to the Federal Prison in Oakdale, where I am a chaplain. We brought him Tefillin and Jewish literature and gave him a friendly face to look at and a shoulder to cry on. In the course of our visit, Yossi (the inmate) told us that his case was stalled; he was at the mercy of an apathetic public defender. We marched out of the prison/courthouse and walked down the street to the attorney’s office. As soon as he realized that this young man was not a faceless, nameless person without a friend in the world, he got on the case and Yossi was out on his way to Israel within three weeks. I shudder to think what could have been had we not met the lawyer. He may still have been in St. Landry Parish Prison until this day. In the past 36 years there have been countless stories of this nature.
Please know that we value our relationship with the many members of the community with whom we have interacted in varied capacities. We are very appreciative for the support that we have received from so many of you over the years. This celebration is as much about you – the community – as it is about us – the Shluchim families who staff Chabad. Let us rejoice together in all that we have accomplished as partners in this important venture – ensuring a Jewish tomorrow for New Orleans and the entire region. Most importantly let us take the opportunity to recommit to continuing our partnership in seeing this task to its fulfillment.
In New Orleans everything comes with a lagniappe. This celebration is no different. The lagniappe is hearing the great speaker, Rabbi Joshua B. Gordon (see last week’s blog for more). See you next Thursday. Let us know that you are coming! If you would like to help sponsor the evening contact Rabbi Nemes or myself or go to www.chabadneworleans.com/donate.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin