R. C. Berman - Lubavitch.com


HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, Canada — Nova Scotia’s most populated city with a Jewish community 1800 strong is far, far away from major centers of Jewish life. It’s an eighteen-hour drive from Halifax to Toronto. Twelve from Montreal. There’s no kosher butcher shop, not enough young children for a Jewish day school, and it’ll take an eleven-hour drive to Boston, for a slice of kosher pizza.

In Remote Halifax, A Jewish Community Comes Into Its Own

R. C. Berman – Lubavitch.com

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, Canada — Nova Scotia’s most populated city with a Jewish community 1800 strong is far, far away from major centers of Jewish life. It’s an eighteen-hour drive from Halifax to Toronto. Twelve from Montreal. There’s no kosher butcher shop, not enough young children for a Jewish day school, and it’ll take an eleven-hour drive to Boston, for a slice of kosher pizza.

After years of seeing young rabbis and their families leave when their own kids turned school age and needed a day school, Marcia Yampolsky of Halifax became reluctant to bond with her local synagogue leaders. “When you live in a place that rabbis come and go, you stop investing in relationships with them. It’s a natural defense.”

Thirteen years ago, Chabad representatives Rabbi Mendel and Bassie Feldman and one month old Zevi moved to Halifax to stay. Chabad representatives who establish new centers are not on a career ladder; their adoptive hometowns are never a stepping stone to someplace bigger, or more glamorous, but a place they’ll call home for life.

“Halifax has truly become our home,” Mrs. Feldman told a crowd of 250 Haligonian friends at son Zevi’s bar mitzvah last week, “and yes, we are here to stay. In fact, most of you even believe us now with the building of our magnificent new Chabad house, which will be completed any day.”

Standing three stories tall, Chabad’s new center, funded significantly by the Rohr Family Foundation, is an outgrowth of the Feldmans’ expanding role in Halifax. Secure in the knowledge that the spiritual leaders in town wouldn’t fly the coop, steady crowds of Haligonians attend Chabad programs.

“Before Mendy and Bassie, we didn’t have a Jewish day camp. We didn’t have women’s programming,” said Mrs. Yampolsky.

Article continued (Lubavitch.com)

8 Comments

  • yudi

    my wife was Bassie’s classmate in toronto – comes from a great family – grossbaum. Mendy is a very charismatic fellow a well. We wish them a sach hatzlochoh

  • relative

    Kol Hakovod to Bassie and Mendy the Bar Mitzvah was beautiful! May you continue giving the Rebbe and your family lots of Nachas!!

  • KC

    Mazal Tov Mendy and Bassie,
    I remember when the bar Mitzvah Bochur was just a toddler, at your first couple of Tishreis in Halifax… wow how time flies…

    Much Hatzlacha in the Shlichus and may Halifax continue to be a beacon of light etc…

    Koppel Cohen

  • ray

    Mazal Tov Zevi.
    It is so nice to read about family/shluchim on their capabilities and achievments. May you continue to be a success in your shluchos…
    Sorry we couln’d make it to the Bar Mitzvah. Next one…

    Sufrin Family