Calgary Rabbi Surprised for 50th Birthday

Rabbi Menachem Matusof was in for a big surprise recently. A big bash was held in his honour in Calgary to celebrate his 50th birthday.

“I was invited to come and to speak at a friends’ 25th anniversary and when I went, I saw it was not exactly that,” says the founder, senior rabbi and executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta.

Matusof, described as the longest-serving rabbi in the province, grew up with a father who was a rabbi.

His parents were running the same organization in Morocco for 42 years, from 1951 until 1993.

“It was always my life’s dream to serve the community in the spirit of Chabad Lubavitch,” he says.

Matusof came to Calgary to open a branch in the province in 1988.

When he’s asked about the biggest challenges he has faced over the years, his first response is on a personal and family level of giving “appropriate desired education to our children.”

“On a communal level, the early years was the challenge of having the community, and people who are not religious and not Chasidic, embrace an organization run by a Chasidic rabbi and that they should buy into it without judging and realizing that we are non-judgmental. That was a challenge,” says Matusof.

Making ends meet for the organization was a challenge in its early years, he says, but the organization overcame those challenges.

“At the event (his birthday party), to see people from all across the community, Jews and non-Jews, appreciating the work that has been done in Alberta . . . obviously we’re doing something right,” says Matusof. “Twenty-three years ago no one believed that we would create an organization in Alberta that would have a budget of over $1 million between Calgary and Edmonton and it is happening. It is a charitable organization and obviously people like what we’re doing and they donate, otherwise they wouldn’t.

“As much as we have accomplished . . . we still have lots of work to do.”

Matusof and his wife Rochel have nine children, ranging in age from two to 24 years old, and two grandchildren.

He was born in 1962 in Casablanca.

According to its website: “Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta is dedicated to increasing the awareness, knowledge and observance of Judaism in the Province of Alberta. Its purpose is to reach out to all Jews, regardless of age, affiliation or level of observance, and bring them closer to Judaism.”

The surprise birthday party for Matusof was held June 19 at the home of Markham and Lisa Silver. It was also a fundraiser in support of some of the programs that the rabbi is passionate about.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a letter to Matusof, said it comes as no surprise that this special event was raising funds “for community programs that are close to your heart.”

“This is representative of a life devoted to good works,” Harper wrote, adding that the rabbi’s “remarkable leadership, vision and compassion extend beyond the Chabad Lubavitch family and stand as an example for Canadians.”

Alberta Premier Alison Redford wrote: “For many Albertans, the key to a happier and more fulfilling life is found in one’s faith, family and traditions and through offering a helping hand to those in need. Community-focused organizations like Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta are helping to make our province stronger and more vibrant, weaving the rich and diverse threads of Jewish faith and culture into the multicultural cloth of Alberta.”

In a letter of congratulations, Alberta MLA Dave Rodney said Matusof has made invaluable contributions to individuals, families and groups.

“Your loving kindness has made indelible, positive marks on the lives of too many people to count! You have made our world a much better place; in countless ways, and in myriad realms,” Rodney wrote. “As an Albertan leader, I am proud to call you a living icon.”

An in a letter to Matusof, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky of the Lubavitch world headquarters in New York, wrote: “Your strong direction, persistence and hard work have certainly born magnificent fruit. Your annual Calgary Community Menorah Lighting is now televised live on local prime TV and broadcast on the Internet with an attendance of more than six hundred people. Your innovative educational programs address the comprehensive needs of the youth and adults in your community and beyond with remarkable success, enabling Jews to enjoy a richer, more meaningful Jewish life experience.”