Chico Enterprise Record

Chico , CA — A young couple with an infant moved into Chico last week and rented a house in the avenues.

Nothing too strange about that, but Mendy and Chana Zweibel arrived with a special purpose: to heighten interest in Judaism.

Mendy is an Orthodox rabbi, Chana a teacher. Their daughter, Mushka, is 8 months old.

Hasidic Jewish Center opens in Chico

Chico Enterprise Record

Chico , CA — A young couple with an infant moved into Chico last week and rented a house in the avenues.

Nothing too strange about that, but Mendy and Chana Zweibel arrived with a special purpose: to heighten interest in Judaism.

Mendy is an Orthodox rabbi, Chana a teacher. Their daughter, Mushka, is 8 months old.

They belong to the Chabad-Lubavitch sect, one of Judaism’s Hasidic groups.

Hasidism is a form of Judaism stressing mysticism (Kabbalah). It originated in Poland in the 18th century. Among the ideas it emphasizes is that the divine presence is pervasive. Besides the Bible, Hasidic Jews study the Zohar, writings concerned with understanding the divine world and its relationship to our world, according to the Web site MyJewishLearning.com.

Mendy explained that “Chabad” means “intellect” and refers to using the mind to understand mysticism properly. Lubavitch is a city in Russia where the sect was centered for many years.

While other Hasidic groups tend to isolate themselves, Chabad has reached out to Jews around the world.

That’s why the Zweibel family is in Chico.

They’re starting a Chabad center, which will be mainly an outreach to Jewish students at Chico State University.

There are more than 100 Chabad centers near collegecampuses around the United States, according to the Zweibels. The first one was started at UCLA in the 1960s. In the last decade, the number of centers has surged because the Chabad sect has put more effort into starting them, and students have responded warmly, Mendy said.
For now, the Chico Chabad center will be at the Zweibels’ rented house. The couple hope to offer students a “home away from home,” he said.

On Friday nights, they’ll host shabbat (sabbath) dinners for the students. Such meals are an essential part of observing the Jewish sabbath.

During the week, Mendy said, he and his wife will offer various programs, such as instruction in Torah.

While its focus is students, they said the center will be open to the public. Anyone who wants to come and learn is welcome.

The couple said their aim isn’t to proselytize and they certainly are not out to try to persuade people to follow Hasidic Judaism.

“Rather, we want to offer the area’s Jews a place to explore their own understanding of what it means to be Jewish,” Mendy said.

“Hopefully, we can inspire everyone to learn a little more and to be proud of who they are,” Chana said.

Those who belong to Hasidic sects follow the Orthodox branch of Judaism. They pray three times a day, and during synagogue services, men and women worship in separate areas. The latter practice helps worshipers focus on God, Mendy explained.

Hasidic Jews strive to live wholesome lives, he said. They avoid viewing unsavory sights on television and in films, for example.

Hasidic women dress modestly, Chana said. They wear skirts that cover their knees. But they can wear jewelry and makeup.

“Hasidism puts a special emphasis on prayer. In older times they would pray for hours,” Mendy said. The Hebrew word for “prayer” can also mean “connect.” The aim of prayer is to connect with God. A central tenet of Hasidism is to “serve God with joy,” he added.

Members of Chabad revere the sect’s late leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As a child, Mendy said, he often heard Schneerson speak in Brooklyn, where Chabad has its headquarters.

“He always taught us love for every Jew — to help another Jew in any way, and never to judge anyone by just the surface,” he said.

Both Mendy and Chana, who moved to Chico from Brooklyn, grew up in Hasidic families.

Mendy, who is 25, was raised in New Jersey. He studied at the Rabbinical College of America and also took courses in France, Los Angeles and Brooklyn.

Chana, who is 23, was born in Jerusalem. Her family moved to Michigan when she was 5. After high school, she spent a year at a teacher’s training college in Israel. Then she taught in Alaska, at a girls’ school in Michigan and at a small Jewish day school in Palm Springs.

The Zweibels said people who are interested in Judaism can call them at 313-5511, visit their developing Web site (www.jewishchico.com) or drop in at their home at 526 W. Fourth Ave.

Menorah lighting set

Rabbi Mendy Zweibel plans to light a nine-foot menorah in City Plaza on Dec. 21, the seventh night of Hanukkah.

The lighting will be a feature of a public Hanukkah party in the downtown park that night.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

“Everyone is welcome,” he said.

There will be music, traditional potato latkes (pancakes), chocolate coins for the children and games with Hanukkah tops, called dreidels.

For a number of years, the Hasidic sect Chabad-Lubavitch has sponsored public menorah lightings all over the world during Hanukkah.

The eight-day Hanukkah holiday begins Friday evening.

12 Comments