Folsom, CA — For Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum, who was recently appointed to launch Chabad of Folsom, the Northern California town is only the latest stop on a journey that began half a world away. Grossbaum was born and raised in Australia, studied in both Brooklyn and Toronto, and has performed outreach activities in countless small communities in between.
New Shluchim to California
Folsom, CA — For Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum, who was recently appointed to launch Chabad of Folsom, the Northern California town is only the latest stop on a journey that began half a world away. Grossbaum was born and raised in Australia, studied in both Brooklyn and Toronto, and has performed outreach activities in countless small communities in between.
Now, to provide for the spiritual needs of Folsom’s Jewish community, the rabbi will lead religious services host Shabbat dinners, and offer counseling whenever the need arises. He also hopes to provide an early education program for the city’s youngest members.
“One of our first big goals for Chabad of Folsom is to organize and open a preschool,” said Rabbi Grossbaum. “There are many Israeli families in the area, and they have spoken out for the need for a Jewish early learning facility.”
The Rabbi’s most valuable asset in establishing the preschool will be his wife, Goldie, who has extensive experience in children’s programming and education. A native of Brooklyn, she attended Beth Rivkah, the flagship Lubavitch girls’ school, and received her diploma in Judaic Studies from their Teachers Seminary.
In this and other projects, Rabbi Grossbaum hopes to bring the same enthusiasm and spirit that helped his parents and other relatives serve as Chabad emissaries in “the land down under.” Growing up in the warm and vibrant Jewish community of Melbourne, and witnessing Chabad outreach efforts firsthand, profoundly affected his life goals and his vision of the future.
Grossbaum graduated from Yeshiva College before migrating to the United States to continue his studies at the Educational Institute Oholei Torah in Brooklyn. In 2001, he was chosen as a Yeshiva exchange student and spent two years in Toronto. There, he was the founding director of the successful Student Outreach Organization of the Yeshiva Lubavitch in Toronto. After completing his studies in 2004, he received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva in New York.
More recently, Rabbi Grossbaum helped establish Chabad’s acclaimed JNET Chavrusa Program. People across America and as far away as England have taken advantage of the innovative service, which lets them connect with trained Torah instructors from the convenience of their home or office.
“This program is unique in that it provides people in areas without a large Jewish population the opportunity for weekly Torah study sessions over the phone,” he said. “The goal is to create a virtual community via telephone and Internet.” More information on Chabad’s JNET Chavrusa program is available online at www.jnet.org.
Drawing on the experience and motivation that he shares with his wife, Rabbi Grossbaum hopes to offer a range of services to the community of Folsom. Their plan for an outstanding preschool program is likely just the beginning of many great things to come.
Reuven & Eli
Hey Yossi,
Mazel Tov, hope you have much haztlocha in your work over there!
rivky
and what do you say goldie?! good to see you and much luck!
rivky goldfarb – remember me?!
Naftoli B
Enjoy sunny California! Haztlocho Rabbo.
an 8th grader
hey so r u finishing ur year at ot 8th grade?
happy4u
fantastic – you guys will be great ! much hatzlacha
The Borenstein cousins, Poughkeepsie
Hatzlacha rabbah in your new shlichus and may you give the Rebbe much nachas1hatzlach in
The Indiana Grossbaums
Mazal tov, and much Hatzlacha in preparing Folsum for Moshiach
chabadsb.com
Wishing you success in all your peulos!! We always wanted to have some cousins on the west coast…
a native
welcome to northern california!its always great to see announcements of the new shluchim to our area. much hatzlacha!
ruach hakoidesh
told you…
OTDDS
Rebbi! whats with us OTnicks?
John
Great!!
Hatzlacha indeed! To both of you with your lovely family!
I love these kind of pictures!
your student
I’m so happy that you’re being a shlucha.