Chabad Celebrates Purim with Spacey Theme

Kansas City, MO — Children dressed as princesses, aliens and lions danced around the room. They carried bags of goodies and nibbled on cookies and candy.

This was no Halloween party, however. It was a Purim celebration, a Jewish tradition that has been passed down for over 2,000 years. On Saturday, dozens of families gathered at the Chabad House Center of Kansas City, 6201 Indian Creek Drive, Overland Park, to celebrate Purim and fulfill their obligation of listening to the story of Esther.

“It’s about celebrating the miracle of triumphing over evil,” said Shoula Horing, an Overland Park resident. “It’s a fun day — fun and holy.”

Children with Disabilities get Social Outlet

Poway, CA — “It’s not just a bracelet,” 12-year-old Sophie announced with great ceremony to the dark-haired girl across the table. “It’s a magic bracelet.”

“Oh,” breathed 6-year-old Ava, “a magic bracelet.”

Perhaps it was magic. The shiny bit of pretend jewelry brought Ava, who is autistic, a friend to share a lazy Saturday afternoon in Rancho Peñasquitos – someone who would play endless rounds of the board game Pretty Pretty Princess.

Zhitomir Welcomes New Torah Scroll

Zhitomir, Ukraine — A restored Torah scroll gave the people of Zhitomir’s Jewish community, a reason to celebrate after Mark Anapolskiy, a descendant of well-known poet Hayyim Nahman Bialik, presented the Jewish community of his hometown with the restored Torah. The ceremony began in the historic home that a hundred years belonged to the influential poet.

New Shluchim To Toronto

Rabbi Moshe and Mrs. Yehudis Steiner have recently moved on Shlichus to Toronto, Onatrio to establish a new Chabad House in the Uptown area serving the Jews of Bathurst Manor.

The Steiners were appointed by were appointed by Ontario’s Head Shliach Rabbi Z. A. Grossbaum.

HATZLOCHA RABBA!

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail at Rabbi@uptownchabad.com

Chabad on the Avenue one of 4 new in Toronto

Toronto, Canada — Rabbi Menachem Gansburg and his wife Chana have brought Chabad to a trendy section of Avenue Road north of Lawrence Avenue, causing some initially confused reactions from people who wonder why they’re not on nearby Bathurst Street, with its many Jewish shops and institutions.

Thirty years ago, large North American cities like Toronto typically had one Chabad institution. Today, “almost every zip code has representation,” said Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, director of Chabad Lubavitch activities for Ontario.

“You have Chabad spilling into every community, every pocket where Jews are situated.”

In Toronto and the surrounding area, there are about 17 Chabad centres, including in Mississauga, Hamilton and Niagara Falls.

Lubavitch Reaches In To Those Reaching Out

They are young children who stand apart as role models. Now, a new program created especially for them, will address their own interests as a unique population of junior Shluchim.