Page 8-THE NEWS-August, 1987
mmm
LUBAVITCH OF N. C.
IM
Thoughts From The
Lubavitcher Rebbe
20 of Av - A Day of Self Sacrifice
By Rabbi Yossi Groner
During the Hebrew month
of Menachem-Av, on the 20th
of the month we commemo
rate the important Yahrzeit —
anniversary of Rabbi Levi
Yitzchock Scneerson of bless
ed memory, father of the pre
sent Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rab
bi Menachem M. Schneerson.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchock was
chief Rabbi of Yekatrinislov,
White Russia. He served his
beloved community during a
very trying time. It was at the
beginning of the communist
persecution of Jews that he
demonstrated the ultimate of
self sacrifice in protecting and
defending his flock.
He was eventually arrested
by the Soviet Secret Police
and was sentenced to live the
rest of his life in exile. Many
amazing tales were told of his
life under communist rule,
which still serve as an inspira
tion not only to Lubavitchers
but to Jews in general.
During his time as chief
Rabbi, a decree was issued by
local authorities in his region
against the use of proper flour
for Matzah on Pesach. The
government wanted to force
Jews to use flour from State
owned mills, which were not
suitable for Passover use. In
fact anyone caught using their
own flour would be arrested
for trying to undermine the
Soviet economy.
Jews in Yekatrinislov were
in a state of depression, since
they would not have Kosher
for Pesach Matzah at the
Seder table. Rabbi Levi Yitz
chock took a stand which
nearly cost him his life. He an
nounced to the authorities
that he was not accepting
their ruling and was appealing
930 ON YOUR AM RADIO DIAL
LISTEN TO THE JEWISH SOUND
ON CHARLOHE RADIO
WSOC - AM 93
EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 9:00
Enjoy Jewish music at its best,
with lots of Jewish information.
The Jewish Sound is produced
by
Lubavitch of North Carolina
Gan Israel Day Camp Was Very Successful
to the highest authority in the
land.
This act was unheard of in
those days and sent shock
waves throughout the entire
community. Rabbi Schneerson
stood firm with his decision
even after being threatened,
and to everyone’s surprise a
ruling came from the then
President to allow the Rabbi
to use his own supervised mills
for Passover.
This episode gave immeasur
able courage to Jews in the
Soviet Union to continue to
fight for their rights in
religious matters. It taught
that when one is firm in the
ways of Torah he will even
tually succeed.
Even during his years in ex
ile he continued to write his
Torah thoughts on the mar
gins of the few books he had.
His noble wife Rebbetzin
Chanah Schneerson would col
lect herbs and grind them in
to an ink mixture so that her
scholarly husband could write
his extraordinary innovations
in Kabbalah.
Many years later, these
manuscripts found their way
to his illustrious son, the
Lubavitcher Rebbe Shlita who
published the writings in
many volumes for all to learn.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchock was a
world renowned scholar, es
pecially in the study of Kab
balah. He passed away on the
20th day of Av in 1944 in the
exile town of Alma-Ata in
Northern Russia.
On this day, many around
the world reflect on his self
sacrifice for Judaism and
study his works. It is a day
when one becomes inspired to
increase his own level of obser
vance and involvement in
Judaism.
Canp Gan Israel caapere aad coHnselon.
What do you do when you
have sixty-five screaming
children: We want more! We
want more! And you run out
of days emd energy? You start
a year-round camp club. This
is how the staff at Lubavitch
of North Carolina solved the
problem they faced on June
29, the final day of Camp Gan
Israel.
The camp population grew
from forty-five last year to
sixty-five this year. Not only
did camp grow in numbers but
it grew in programs as well.
This year as in previous years,
talented counselors were
brought in from the Beth
Rivkah — Lubavitch teachers
seminary to staff the camp.
Campers and counselors
were always full of enthusiasm
and joy, and put to use their
creative energy to enhance the
spirit of Gan Israel. Bus rides
were used to teach children
new £md exciting songs, or to
tell them Jewish stories.
Each day began with lineup
and song, followed by a twen
ty minute learning session on
Jewish subject matters. Each
day the campers were treated
to field trips; these included
Carowinds and the North
Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
The campers also visited Ar
nold Bakeries in Gastonia, and
learned about the process of
baking bread in mass produc
tion. An added excitement to
the trip was the fact that the
bread is kosher and is under
Rabbinical supervision. Each
child received a free loaf of
fresh bread, compliments of
Arnold Bakers.
An educational feature in
-c
. ...
Enioyinf the day
at Carowinds
Rabbi Binyomin Weiss instructing campers about wildlife at NC Zoo,
Asheboro.
camp was the kosher label con
test. Each camper could col
lect kosher symbols of the
labels of packaged food and
receive a prize for identifying
the symbols correctly.
The campers also baked
their own challah — bread to
be used on the Shabbat. This
was just part of the very
enriching arts and crafts pro
ject prepared by Mariashi
Groner who is camp director.
The overall theme of camp
was to give the children a
positive and good feeling
about being Jewish and ex
pressing it in a proud and
joyful way.
®S151S151S151SIS1SISISIS1513151S13151S15151S1S151SIS\5151S®SIS15151S15151SISIS1S1SISIS1SI^
Imperial printing products
Specialists In Raised Printing
Stationery — Business Cards
Wedding — Bar Mitzvah Invitations
Business & Social Announcements
4731 Sweden Road
Chariot f, N. C. 28210 Stuart Cojac
(704f SS4-1188 Prosidont
3l5T5lS101SI3lSl5lSlP)151010®Sig@igigigigtgt5ig®SlSlSlStSlSl5l5lSlS1515u
Tiny tots enjoying a good
moment.
A special thanks is due to
Elizabeth and Walter Klein
and Mary and Simon Wojno-
wich for sharing their
beautiful swimming pools with
the campers.
As a result of the successful
camp program, and in order to
satisfy the demand for more,
a special camp club has been
formed. It is currently being
organized by Rabbi Binyomin
Weiss who is program dkwtor
at Chabad House. This will
give campers a chance to meet
more frequently throughout
the year with entertaining
events being planned now.
Swimmer Insurance Agency, Inc.
725 Providence Road Charlotte, N. C. 28207 704/333-6694