Daily Archives: March 31, 2007

Mansfield Rabbi Reaches Out

Mansfield, MA — As a kid in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, young Yossi Kivman heard two sirens call.

“I wanted to be the first rabbi fireman,” Kivman says.

You’ll never see Kivman, 29, pull up to a burning building on a Mansfield fire engine and run inside to rescue the occupants.

However, more and more area residents seek his help in fanning their interest in their Jewish heritage.

The Angell Street home from which Kivman and his wife, Tzivi, may not have sirens and ladder trucks, but Rabbi Kivman has no regrets. “I’ll stick to my job. I think there’s enough work on my side to do,” Kivman says

Preparing for Passover

Portland, ME — At one time, Ellie Miller didn’t mind staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning cleaning the oven or lining cupboards in preparation for Passover, only to get up for work the next day.

Today, that’s not as feasible, and she tries to find other ways to finish the cleaning and cooking in preparation for the Passover holiday, beginning April 2 this year.

In the days and weeks prior to Passover, Jews are asked to clean their homes of any chametz, or leavened food, which also symbolizes “getting rid of things that are weighing you down in life,” said Avis Smith, education director at Temple Beth El, a conservative congregation in Portland.

Chabad Seders Worldwide Explore The Freedom to Do Something

On Monday night, April 2nd, more than 10,000 students will attend Chabad-led Pesach seders on more than 100 campuses in the United States, Canada, England, Australia and Israel.

From the West Coast to the East Coast, and in many places in between, collegians at schools such as New York University, Columbia University, the University of Southern California, the University of Maryland and the University of Florida will be asking the four questions, and telling the story of the Jewish people’s birth and deliverance from slavery.