Posted to Merkos Shlichus on

Rabbis share love of Judaism in Salem

Federation Newspaper

Salem, OR – “Reaching every person on his own level—that’s what we have to offer him or her,” said Rabbi Reuven Gitter of his three-week assignment to spread the light of Judaism in Salem and surrounding areas.

Gitter and Boruch Wolf are two of the some 280 senior Lubavicher Rabbinical students who will spend their summer on a mission to reach hundreds of Jewish communities throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, is sponsoring this program for the 62nd consecutive year.

These young rabbis, aged 20 through 24, have volunteered to spend most of their summer vacation to contact thousands of Jews at the grass-roots level, meeting them on the streets and in their homes, in shopping centers and at work.

A second pair of young Chabad rabbis will be visiting Bend and other parts of central Oregon in August.

Gitter and Wolf arrived in Salem July 3 and by the next day they had already met several Jews.

“We met a few young individual guys at Lancaster Mall who were interested in kosher food, so we went to Albertsons this morning and we will bring kosher food to them,” said Gitter two days after arriving in Oregon.

“People in Salem—Jews and Gentiles—have been very welcoming, very kind and very helpful,” he said.

Gitter said they will share whatever resources or information they have to meet the needs of those they encounter during their visit. The pair will be in the Salem area through July 22.

The rabbis bring Tefillin and other religious articles, and disseminate the Jewish educational and reading material published by the Lubavitcher publishing house for schools, libraries and homes. The program prohibits solicitation of funds.

“I see it as my goal in the future to bring the light to all Jews wherever I end up serving,” said Gitter. “This is a very good experience to get my feet wet in this field of spreading Judaism.”

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15 Comments

  • sn . smicha 06

    go ruven go borush sholom . together forever . capture the world .

  • Shmuly Z/G - Del Mar, CA

    Reuven, we re very proud of you!
    May you keep on having much Hatzlacha in your Shlichus.

  • middlegit

    goo rubby!!!! ( oy yah, rabbi) makin the rebbe proud! twins rock!
    yasher koach

  • BALABOS

    you guys are way OVERDRESSED.. YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE BOCHRIM NOT BALABATIM..

  • SHMULI

    They arent overdressed they are on the Rebbes shlichus and they are representing the Rebbe and by the way,Chodakov said that bochurim who go on merkos shlichus should wear a tie and polish their shoes and there are those who say that he said it in the name of the Rebbe.

  • tny

    to
    BALABOS.

    whats the propblem they don’t have pin’s

    by the way one of these guys ties is way to long.

  • a shliach

    dear bocrim, RESPECT.. what you guys and all other bochurim on the rebbe’s shlichus is unbelivible.
    but ye i agree with this balabos, i think for bochrim your way OVER dressed.. i wish you good luck!!! make the rebbe proud

  • your G friend

    your making me really proud..
    keep it up, and be in touch. enjoy

  • mendy giter

    I can’t wait to grow up and go on Shlichus just like you! Keep it up! – Mendy