Shabbat Project with Chabad of Brooklyn Heights
by Sheli Man-Steinberg
This past Shabbat was the Shabbat Project all over the world. Millions of Jewish families participated in celebrating Shabbat and bringing light into the world. Congregation B’nai Avraham and Chabad of Brooklyn Heights participated in the project as well and invited many families and women to join this worldwide initiative.
The Shabbat Project in our Beautiful brownstone in Downtown Brooklyn was a busy scene on Thursday, November 14th. CBH and CBA sisterhood organized a Mega Challah Bake. Many women from the community and friends joined the initiative. Rebbetsin Shternie Raskin, Chaya Raskin, and Gan Menachem Kiddie Korner Preschool infant/toddler director, Sheli Man-steinberg, organized the event. Guest speaker, Nechama Dina Avichzer, from Merkaz Doverei Everit in Crown Heights, joined and spoke about the importance of Hafrashat Challah and how it connects to Parshat Vayera. The ladies left with lots of Challah’s to bake, shabbat candles, baking brushes, and reading material.
Friday night candle lighting and Shabbat meal was packed and meaningful. Ellen Kameras, president of the CBA sisterhood gave an opening speech and introduced speakers from the community who spoke about their different Shabbat experiences and gave much meaning to the eventful night. Levannah Lebaz, Penny Rosen, and Sarah Kaye, were among the wonderful speakers. Many invitees reported that this was a very meaningful night for them and would like to join the Chabad and shul for future events. Shternie Raskin reported that she was so proud of the community and is in awe of their spiritual growth. Seeing that the Brooklyn Heights Jewish community members are inspiring others is heart warming and something she and her husband Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin didn’t dare to dream of 30 years ago. Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin gave words of inspiration and concluded the night with kos shel bracha.
Shabbat day was very busy for the children with the Tot Shabbat program that starts every Shabbos at 11am for the different age groups (2-5yrs, 6-11yrs). Children sang Shabbat songs, learned about the Parsha, played games, saw a puppet show with the Brooklyn Heights Up Up and Away Puppeteers, and received many prizes and snacks. The renown fancy Congregation B’nai Avraham kiddush was served after the morning service.
It was a very successful Shabbat for the Chabad of Brooklyn Heights crew consisting of the Raskin family, their children, the Tot Shabbat volunteers all under the guidance of the Chabad spiritual Leaders and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy elementary school, Rabbi Aaron L. and Shternie Raskin and Stephen and Penny Rosen President of Congregation B’nai Avraham.
The Shabbat Project was concluded with a massive Havdalah service and Kumzits by “Kumzits Everywhere”, led by Shlomo Mehlman. Many community members and children joined the signing, which filled the sanctuary hall with nostalgic songs some of us grew up with. The night was concluded with several Chabad nigunim.
This year the Shabbat Project took on a life of it’s own reported one of the CBA members. “I have never seen our Shul so busy and lively”, she added.
To join more of the Chabad of Brooklyn Heights events and lectures please visit, www.heightschabad.org.
