Making Our Divine Sparks Shine in College

Charlottesville, VA — Last week’s Torah portion states: “When you shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food. … For three years it shall be ‘orlah’ unto you: it shall not be eaten. On the fourth year, all its fruit shall be holy for praise-giving to G-d. And in the fifth year shall you eat of its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase.”

I find it interesting how the verse breaks up these periods: For the first three years, it is forbidden to partake of any fruit. Only in the fourth year is the fruit made holy, and finally in the fifth year the fruit is ready for consumption. In a way, this description patterns our undergraduate college experience, or at least my experience at the University of Virginia.

Dedication of New Torah in Honor of Daniel Wultz

Weston, FL — Daniel Cantor Wultz, a 16-year-old Weston, Florida teenager, died on Mother’s Day 2006 after being critically wounded in a suicide attack on a Tel Aviv restaurant. In his memory, family, friends, neighbors and congregants of the Weston Chabad synagogue where he worshipped will gather Sunday to celebrate the arrival of a Torah created in his honor. The Torah was handwritten in Israel over the past year and is being flown to the United States by members of Daniel’s family. The dedication will include a parade from Indian Trace Elementary School in Weston to the community’s Chabad Synagogue, where the final 50 letters of the holy scripture will be written by Daniel’s family, friends and honored members of the local community.

Jewish Outreach: A Lifelong Calling

Voronezh, Russia — It happens often. A young Chabad couple packs their bags and moves out to begin a new life in a new city. Sometimes, the change is extreme. Here, a young couple opted to leave Melbourne, Australia, for an unheard of city in Russia.

New Shluchim to North Carolina

Rabbi Sholom Ber and Elie Estrin will IYH be moving on Shlichus to Raleigh, NC, where they will be directing the youth programs and the Pre-School at the established Jewish Community.

The Estrins will be working under Rabbi Pinny and Helena Herman, were appointed under the auspices of Rabbi Yossi Groner and the Chabad of the Carolinas Regional Headquarters.

May they have much success in all their endeavors!