Lubavitch.com

A new Chabad House to be opened at Virginia Tech, will be named for slain Professor Liviu Librescu

Lubavitch of the Virginias, headed by Rabbi Yossel Kranz, will be opening a new Chabad House at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va, to serve the university’s Jewish students, announced Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky of Lubavitch World Headquarters today.

New Chabad House To Open At Virginia Tech

Lubavitch.com

A new Chabad House to be opened at Virginia Tech, will be named for slain Professor Liviu Librescu

Lubavitch of the Virginias, headed by Rabbi Yossel Kranz, will be opening a new Chabad House at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va, to serve the university’s Jewish students, announced Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky of Lubavitch World Headquarters today.

The Chabad House will be named The Levi Librescu Chabad House, for the slain professor who is to be interred Friday, in Israel.

In the hours after the massacre, Rabbi Kranz worked closely with Mrs. Marilena Librescu, the professor’s widow, and her sons, Ari and Joe. The decision to name the new Chabad House for their beloved husband and father was received with their warmest blessings and wishes that it serve as a home of healing, joy and spiritual fulfillment to Virginia Tech’s Jewish students

Professor Librescu devoted the last 20 years of his life to teaching at Virginia Tech. According to the testimony of his students, Professor Librescu, himself a Holocaust survivor, gave his life so that they would escape with their own during the recent shootings at the university.

“Professor Librescu’s final act of heroism will be eternally memorialized in the life-affirming activities of the new center,” said Rabbi Kranz.

The Librescu Chabad House will join some 100 campus Chabad centers in the United States, with their trademark programs and services for the benefit of Jewish students.

Contributions towards the opening of the new Levi Librescu Chabad House can be made through the Chabad of Virginia website at: www.chabadofva.org

Contact: Rabbi Yossel Kranz

Phone: 804-740-2000 ext.5

Source: Lubavitch World Headquarters

http://www.lubavitch.com/top.html?ixobject=2018042

27 Comments

  • a yid

    A holy yid, you can see it. May his memory be a blessing, and may he truly plead for klal yisrael successfully. May his family, and all families be comforted with the true comfort of Moshiach immediately. May we look at each other with ahavas yisrael, and speak only kindness and truth.

  • Gershon Wachtel

    I never fully understood how it was possible to acquire Olam Habah in one second.

    This man truly acquired Olam Haba in one second.

    I am truly humbled by his actions.

  • good choice!

    It’s good that amidst the pain we can channel everything for the good and reveal huge greatness and light even in the saddest moments!

  • A secret admirer

    Rabbi Krinsky,

    Thank you for your good work in enhancing prestigue to the Rebbe and Lubavitch.

    Once again, Yasher Koach!

  • mishichist104

    Thank you Rabbi Kranz, Rabbi Krinsky and all those involved in making this happen; what a great kiddush Hashem and kiddush shem Lubavitch!

  • BACHUR

    Thank You Rabbi krinsky, for unabashedly using this and other tragedies (AKA natural disasters, suicide bombings) to somehow create in aura of actual caring.

    If virginia tech needed and needs a shliach, I don’t think a shooting is the maake bipatish for finally sending one. It is disgusting and disingenuous.

    I hate to be a party crasher, but this new version of chabad as a sort of cheezy help the world, Jews – non Jews, no difference, so long as it makes the news organization, is just so wrong.

  • Larry Cohen

    BACHUR,

    Why are you such a sad little boy…?

    Can you think of the Rebbe’s response being any different?

    If Beit Sefer LaMelochoh needed a printing school did they have to wait until the masacre to build one?

    The only thing that’s cheezy here is the cute new cynical pseudo-intellectualism that every depressed individual uses to project their enlightedness…

    The world isn’t that bad, there are lot’s of good things and good people, don;t let your bad hair day throw it all down…

  • Chana

    BACHUR- You couldn’t be more wrong. The best possible thing that we can do as Chabad, and esp. Chabad on Campus is to open a new facility in this courageous man’s memory.

    In Chevron, whenever there is an act of violence from the Arabs, the Jews immediately all gather in the place of the incident, giving eachother strength and showing that we will NOT let evil win.

    Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Krinsky and anyone else who was involved in making the decision to open a new Chabad House. That is EXACTLY the right thing to do.

  • Shliach-s mom

    To Bachur…

    I hope YOU aren’t going to represent ME as a Shliach!! You’re not the kind of Shliach Lubavitch needs…I’m not sure what kind of Lubavitcher you are.

    Stop being so cynical, try getting your head out of wherever, & face reality…Lubavitch is there for everyone, Shluchim give their all for their people, and we meet a need, whenever, wherever, & for any reason, even tragic reasons.

    Student Chabad houses are wonderful…just look at the men & women brought closer to Yiddishkeit as a result.

    Better get a “real” job.

  • Shmuli

    to Bachur:

    You’re making a valid point but I think you’re very wrong!

    There are many places that need Shluchim but don’t have yet, for whatever reason. This incident may have been an inspiration for Krinsky, Kranz or even the students at the University to start Chabad there.

    Besides, this is a time when the whole campus is shaken up and people are looking for change and meening. What better opportunity would there be to open a Chabad House?! right now is the best time to assist these students!!

    and even if you’re thinking it’s about money, maybe until now there were not sufficiant funds for a campus Chabad at VT. This incident would get people to donate, to support a Chabad House!! Perhaps his family is giving money, who knows?!

    And yes, I can tell you are not yet on Shlichus; for any shliach would tell you that: “this new version of chabad as a sort of cheezy help the world, Jews – non Jews, no difference, so long as it makes the news organization” is definitly a way of bringing people closer.

    Whether that is our shlichus is debatable, but every shliach would tell you that it definitly helps us do our Shlichus better.

  • fgfg

    rabbi Kranz has said that opening in Blacksburg was in already in the plan. But he made the announcement now, because of the trgedy.

  • lubavitcher

    rabbi krinsky thinking about the $
    shluchim think and do what will bring more money for the chabad house not for the average frum lubavitcher

  • BACHUR

    Call it psuedo intellectualism or blindness doesn’t change reality. All of your arguments are in the same vain, this is what the would rebbe have done, tell me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a little high minded of all of you to decide what the Rebbe would have done.

    Beit seifer limlacha witnessed the murder of innocent JEWS. The murderer here even if he killed a Jew was not guning for one, I apologize in advance if that sounds cold or cynical, but its fact.

    I’m not against building something from tragedy, I’m against building something from a tragedy that is still so raw and open. There is a time and place for reflection, for now let people mourn in peace.
    You don’t discuss with a person sitting shiva the opening of a library in their relatives name it insensitive and disgusting, I found this case no different.

    To you, dearest Mommy shliach thank you for your wonderful work. Don’t judge someone you know nothing about. I would think that is the A of the ABC of being a succesful human-being forget about shlichus.

  • Chana-s father

    To BACHUR and others:
    Let us not forget that it was the Holocaust that caused the Fredecher Rebbe to leave Europe and the Rebbe to come here as well. Look at the actions of those tzaddikim on this day, the birthday of the 4th Rebbe, and learn. Let’s not fight about it and just do the Rebbe’s work. There are 1200 Yidden at VA Tech, and thousands around the world who want to honor Dr. Librescu, obm. They need answers and comfort that only a shliach can provide.

  • HIS NESHOMO SHOULD HAVE AN ALIYAH

    DONT LOSE TRACK OF THE POINT, THIS JEW HAKODOSH PROFFESER LEVI LEBRESCU MADE A KIDUSH HASHEM SHEYN KAMAOYHU, HE SAW THE FACE OF THE DEVIL 60 YEARS AGO AND RECOGNIZED AGAIN, HE STOPPED IT IN HIS TRACKS, MAY HE BE A MEYLITZ YOISHER FOR HIS FAMILY AND KLAL YISROEL, MAY HIS MESIRAS NEFESH AND KIDUSH HASHEM BE A LESSON FOR ALL…
    ABOUT THE CHABAD HOUSE THING, ITS REPORTED ON FOX NEWS THAT IT WAS MRS. LEBRESUC IDEA TO MAKE THE NEW CENTER AND SHABBAT CANDLES I’M SURE SHE HAD GUIDANCE, BUT AS THE SHLUCHIM OF KLAL YISOREL IT IS OUR JOB AND DUTY TO RESPOND AT EVERY POSSIBLE OCCASION TO MAKE A KIDUSH SHEM HAREBBE AND KIDUSH HASHEM, YASHER KOACH TO THE SHLUCHIM WORLD WIDE FOR CONTINUING the exponential growth of CHABAD!!!

  • Chana

    BACHUR-

    Thank you for clarifying your point. My first reaction to the news of the new Chabad House was pure pride. I still feel that. I still think it’s imperative to open a Chabad House there. ANY campus without a shliach should get one.

    I understand where you’re coming from… the need to give some time and THEN take action… but in today’s world, everything happens so fast. You HAVE to act quickly. I can just imagine the criticism Chabad would receive if we DIDN’T do something right away. It doesn’t matter how other people view us – how the world views us. Public opinion should not direct our actions.

    The fact is that there are Jewish souls in NEED of a shliach at Virginia Tech. They were needed before the shooting, and in need now, after. This horrific event just brought that need to light. Not a second should be lost in getting to those precious neshamos.

    So although I respect your opinion, I still beg to differ – it’s a very good time.

  • BACHUR

    To: shliach mommy

    Your just reinforcing the point I made.

    TO: chana

    I agree to disagree. We must change as the world does, but not lose our soul in the process.

    “discussion isn’t fighting, its actually the key to preventing it”

  • BACHUR

    B”H
    After much deliberation and alot of farbrenging over shabboss i have changed my view and yew i do agree that it is a very special move that WE are doing
    G-D Bless the shluchim with lots of success over with this new project
    MOshiach NOW!

  • Shmuli

    to BACHUR:

    when I read you’re original comment I thought you were either a snag or just insaine!!

    Now, after your Motzai Shabbos comment I see that you are from the greatest Chassidim around today!! It would be below the dignity of any Berel, Mendel or Mushky to go ahead, after a debate like this and give in to the opposing party. Kol Hakavod!!!

    People are permitted to disagree… But this action is the action of a true Chossid!!!

  • Gershon Wachtel

    To Bachur:

    Yashar Koach for being man enough to admit you were wrong.

    Honesty goes a long way!

  • shliach

    While I applaud the creation of any new Chabad House that will facilitate bringing Jews closer to Yiddishkeit, this is a very clever move and altruism is not necessarily behind this fantastic new endeavour.

    As a shliach, I was reluctant to announce this move in shul on Shabbos – for I was not sure it would necessarily inspire my people, and might even be seen as brilliant PR move from increasingly obsessed PR driven agenda that is emerging.
    Having said that, ultimately this is a tremendous opportunity to turn tragedy into growth: more power to Chabad of Virginia and may this bring kovod to the Rebbe’s name and help bring Moshiach now!

  • and this is what i

    i was innocently scrolling through crownheights.info and came across this article i was shocked to see the way the comments had gone and decided i would respond i then read the last comment and saw that “bachur” has realized his mistake

    i do want to make a few things clear
    1}when my grandfather passed away my family started a Gmach this was all arranged and set before shiva was over and was in full swing by the shoshim what i am saying is that in the face of tragedy and disaster you must keep your wits move on grow heal and strengthen
    2}as you well know chabad is one of the biggest non-profit organizatios world wide non profit dosent always but it many cases means broke i know there are many shluchim doing well but there are more that are in the red what we do costs money and alot of it when we do something and it looks like its just for the money your lookng at it from a messed up perspective do you have any idea how much it costs to run a chabad on campus for one year and do you know that all that money has to be raised by one guy that can barly speak english what iam tring to say is thaat almost any opertunity to make money is a good one
    3}when rabbi kranz went to VT it wasn’t for the camera light a jew was in need and he made the difference
    4}i know for a fact that a meeting was setup for Tuesday April 17th for an interview for a shliach to go to VT it only became public knowledge because people wanted to know what chabad was doing about the situation {people namely the professors wife}
    4}didn’t your mother ever tell you if you have nothing nice to say than keep your mouth shut.
    gut voch

  • a proud mother but not his

    the beauty of lubavitch comes through in bachurs motzei shabbos comment.
    the power of a farbrengen, the ability to grow – the flexibility to change,
    oy vee gut tzu zein ah chosid!!

  • ahvat yisroale

    I rember r. yankel kranz obm . from detroit. may he share much naces from yossi and all his chieldren , may they live a long and healty life and continue to do the rebbas work .“kera velt hyient ”
    and bring moshiac now !!!!!