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MINEOLA, NY [CHI] — An informative and exciting presentation on the art of kosher wine tasting was recently led by Rabbi Shmuel Lewis, the Chabad director of Sparta NJ at Cong Beth Sholom Chabad of Mineola NY.

“We enjoyed how to taste a wine but more importantly what makes wine kosher and the many fascinating deeper meanings on the lessons in Jewish life to be learnt from grapes,” noted Barry Wohl.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Rabbi Stomps Wine, L’Chayim!

MINEOLA, NY [CHI] — An informative and exciting presentation on the art of kosher wine tasting was recently led by Rabbi Shmuel Lewis, the Chabad director of Sparta NJ at Cong Beth Sholom Chabad of Mineola NY.

“We enjoyed how to taste a wine but more importantly what makes wine kosher and the many fascinating deeper meanings on the lessons in Jewish life to be learnt from grapes,” noted Barry Wohl.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Rabbi Anchelle Perl explained that he was inspired to educate the community in this subject by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who in a direct communiqué to him wrote, that when having an event with wine printed in the invitation, always write, with emphasis, that you are serving kosher wine.

Wine brings Joy. Joy is revelation. A person ignited by joy has the same basic traits he possesses in a non-joyous state—the same knowledge and intelligence, the same loves, hates, wants and desires.

But in a state of joy, everything is more pronounced: the mind keener, the loves deeper, the hates more vivid, the desires more aggressive. Emotions that ordinarily show only a faint intimation of their true extent now come out into the open. In the words of the Talmud, “When wine enters, the concealed emerges.”

A joyless life might be complete in every way, yet it is a shallow life: everything is there, but only the barests surface is showing. “Grapes” represents the element of joy in our lives—the joy that unleashes these potentials and adds depth, color and intensity to everything we do.

The bare foot wine stomping by the Rabbi brought the house down. “This is one time when I didn’t mind putting my foot in it!” added Perl.

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17 Comments

  • Where-s the Beef?

    Can someone please explain what there is to be gained hafotzah-wise by having a grape stomping session?

    Not very sustantive IMO.

    To explain what makes wine kosher and to explain the “many fascinating deeper meanings on the lessons in Jewish life to be learnt from grapes” should not take all of 5 minutes to accomplish.

  • Stop WINEing

    Wheres the Beef?

    Let me answer to you …
    1) It brings people into your Chabad House who would never show up.. and may come again!

    2) Learning Kosher by you is not Hafatzo?

    3) If making wine is nothing … then what about making Matzah?

    4) Get of your (*&%) and stop complaining what Shluchim do …. and send him a check!

  • Suzy Q

    If you had grown up with “I Love Lucy” you would understand why the foot stomping on the grapes was funny and endearing.

  • to Where-s the beef

    What exactly is your beef with this program?

    As for the value of such an event “hafatza-wise”, perhaps you have forgotten that Kosher is one of the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim.

    Is there something wrong with using creative and fun methods to teach people about kosher?

    Do you have the same negative thougts about programs such as the popular olive oil workshop or shofar factory?

  • goes to show

    it’s ok that you don’t understand the value and what is to be learned. we understand, after all you weren’t there. just please, next time there is an event like this – please attend. you may suprise yourself!

  • ayl

    Rabbi Lewis is the man.
    I think if this website charged 10 cents for evry derogatory comment people will think before they post.
    going forward i’d like to put a dollar up in advance :)

  • HAVING AWESOME LIFE

    STOPPPPP COMPLAINING AND LEARN HOW TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW ITS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KREW HOW TO DO!!!!!!!!

  • Student and admirer

    Rabbi Lewis, hope you go from strength to strength.

    When I was in Yeshiva 9-10 years ago, you were one of the few teachers I truly enjoyed and helped make me become a shtikel mentch. You were always able to take abstract ideas and bring them down to earth.

    I have no doubt that people walked away from your presentation inspired.

    I hope I too get to see it one day, I heard you do an amazing job, I am not surprised. Maybe you can make a you tube video of it.

    Much Hatzlach in your Shlichus

  • Bochur

    Rabbi Perl! You’re at it again! You gotta love him (and those who don;t know his (a Shliach for over 30 years btw), you are the ones missing out!