Child Prodigy Performs at Chabad of South Broward 27th Dinner

HALLANDALE, FL [CHI] — Ethan Bortnick, the recently turned 7 year old child prodigy who lives in Hollywood, Florida, and attends educational programs at Chabad of South Broward, mesmerized the 300 guests in attendance as he performed a live concert at Chabad’s 27th annual Dinner, Sunday, March 30th, at Chabad of South Broward Headquarters in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The young Ethan, who is a pianist,musician and composer, who can play over 200 songs by memory, and has composed twenty songs of his own, will be appearing next week on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He has already appeared twice on Jay Leno, on the Martha Stewart Show, on Good Morning America, and on countless other TV shows and live concerts, including the World’s largest Chanukah Festival this past December at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.

The Dinner was preceded with the groundbreaking for Phase-2 of the expansion and renovation of Chabad of South Broward Headquarters. Phase- 2 includes the building of Mikvas Mei Menachem, three Mikvahs for men, women and Kelim (one of a handful of Mikvahs in the world especially being built for the physically challenged), an expanded state-of-the-art state licensed preschool,run by the very capable and talented Rabbi and Mrs Mendy Tennenhaus, new executive offices, and a stunning, Jerusalem design to the larger western building on campus that will house these facilities.Total cost of the Phase-2 expansion and renovation project is $3,000,000.

Gold shovels were held and hard hats were worn by the Dinner Honorees, by longtime pillars of support Mr Max Rubenstein,Mr David Gates,and Mr Paul Sussman, by the architects and general contractors, by Mr Allen Licht , by the Sheriff and members of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, and by Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, Chabad’s administrator, and Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, Chabad’s executive vice-president.

Following the groundbreaking, the cocktail hour took place in a gorgeous, gigantic tent, with beautiful ice sculptures and other decorations, and sumptuous hors d’ouevres.The dinner followed at Chabad’s main Sanctuary, lavishly set up in a royal banquet setting.

The traditional HaMotzie on a large Challah was said by Mr Rubenstein,and the Rebbe’s letter to an earlier dinner (5752, the last letter actually signed by the Rebbe on 27 Adar 1, after the Rebbe came back from the Mikvah and before going to the Ohel), was read by Chabad’s new and dynamic youth and program director, Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus. Bernie Friedman, a partner in the prestigious law firm Becker and Poliakoff, where Chabad has offered lunch ‘n learns for twenty years, extended greetings to all the guests, and lauded the work of Chabad in South Broward and throughout the world. Chaya Aydel Seminary Principal, Rabbi Yossi Lebovics led in the the recitation of Tehillim chapter 106, followed by chapter 19 for the complete and speedy recovery for Seminary student Elana Leah bas Shaindel Rochel Kasle.Representing the Seminary student body, Chaya Mushka Marrus delivered a beautiful and inspiring Dvar Torah.

The Yossy Bayles Orchestra played sensasionally throughout the dinner, and there were several video clips shown, including a five minute highlight clip of the Chanukah Festival, that featured the Kinderlach, Avraham Fried and Ethan, an introduction to Ethan’s performance by Jay Leno, and several moving and inspiring clips of the Rebbe regarding Chabad of South Broward’s activities, including a video from 1989 where the Rebbe said that he wants to be told “that the new building is too small”.

Man “Mentsch” of the Year Sheriff Al Lamberti was introduced as the band played the theme song of “The Andy Griffith Show” a popular show about a Sheriff from the 1960’s. The crowd gasped and cheered when the Sheriff presented Rabbi Tennenhaus with an $80,000 check to expand Project PRIDE, a leading drug prevention and education program in Broward County. Robin Kerzer, recipient of the Woman of Valor Award, was introduced by her husband Steve, with Rabbi Cantor Lebovics singing Aishes Chayil. Young Leadership Awardees Ricki and Michael Verbitsky were presented with their award by Rabbi and Mrs Mordy Feiner, accompanied by the song Nyet Nyet Nikavoh.Rabbi Feiner is the young and dynamic director of Chabad’s Kollel, which offers sixty hours each week of Torah classes to businessmen and professionals.Tamara and Gedale Fenster, the Mayfitz Torah Awardees, received their award from Rabbi and Mrs Levi Tennenhaus, as the band played “Torah Torah”. Gedale attended Chabad’s Free Hebrew for Juniors in Pembroke Pines in the 1990’s and is also an alumni of the Landow Yeshiva.A number of significant gifts were announced, but alot of hard work and mazal will be needed to quickly complete Phase- 2 .

After Bentching, the dinner guests, which included many Shluchim and prominent community Rabbonim,headed back to the tent for a lavish Viennese Sweet Table. As one dinner guest summed it up, “I’ve been to 15 Dinners this year, and this was absolutely the best.”