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The Charlotte Jewish News - May, 1997 - Page 16 Lubavitch of North. Carolina One Body—One People By Rabbi Yossi Gmner A controversy is brewing across the country as some rabbis issued a statement which implies that not all Jews are legitimate members of the Jewish people. Subsequent media reports have further fanned the flames by implicating all or most of Jewish Orthodoxy in this denouncement of their fellow Jews. Theological differences have existed in Judaism throughout the centuries. The very fact that we have different Synagogues is indicative of our differences. What makes this controversy different, is the implied exclusion of an entire segment of Jews in this country. As a religious man, I know that theological arguments cannot be resolved by statements and proclamations. I believe that actions speak louder than words, and my hope is that people will come to love my beliefs in Judaism through their positive experiences. Even though I may disagree, theologically or religiously, with my Conservative or Reform friends, the notion that they are not Jewish is absolutely repulsive and foreign to the basic principles of Judaism. I would like to state the position of Lubavitch on this issue: Every single Jew, regardless of his or her affiliation or level of observance, is a full-fledged member of the Jewish people, possessing all the privileges and obligations prescribed in the Torah, which is the birthright of each and every Jew. Chabad Lubavitch literature expounds at great length on the inherent unity of all Jewish people, and the immutability of the Jewish essence. A recurring theme in the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, is that "all Jews are limbs of the same body," each one an integral component of the whole Jewish people. The Rebbe made emphatic his aversion to placing "labels" upon Jews; such categorization, he insisted, is artificial and divisive. This truth continues to be the driving force behind the Chabad Lubavitch movement's outreach activities in it's more than 2,000 institutions around the world. We embrace all of our Jewish brothers and sisters as one people, one family. All of us should strive to cement our inherent bond, by helping to reveal the latent beauty and holiness within the essence of every Jewish soul. B"H 10 Day Overnight Caxiip Brand New Facility near Grandfather Mountain Sun., June 15th - Wed., June 25th 2 Divisions; Juniors - Rising 4th & 5th Grades Seniors - Rising 6th G 7th Grades Air Conditionod- Beauidul Camp Grounds • Hiking • Fishing Swimming’ BouHtig^ Kumzilz Sing a-Jjong- Aii AclivHios Tzivos Bashoni Worksdiops Kosher moaJs in a kosher environment!! $600.00 .HEAP) for the 10 days For more information and application, call 366-3984. • •PURIM* • Photo at left: “King” Sanrniy Brown munches on the last hamentashen at the Purim feast. Photo below: Four-year-olds and their teachers dress up for a Purim celebration at The Jewish Preschool on Sardis. Photo at left: “Queen” Lara Schewitz, “Tiger” Rachel Maskin, and “Queen” Chaya Groner use their creativity to prepare a Purim art project. My Hero — Rabbi Binyomin Weiss By Zack DeFilipp Zack DeFilipp is a 7th grader at Charlotte Latin School. The following essay was written as an assignment to write about an everyday hero. Rabbi Binyomin Weiss of Charlotte, is someone whom I look up to in many ways. Rabbi Weiss has lots of knowledge and what he knows he teaches me. Sometimes to the point where I don't have enough room in my head to hold it. I would like to share with you an example of true caring which Rabbi Weiss demonstrates each and every Friday night. In Charlotte, there lives an elderly blind man who has become an Orthodox Jew. He does not use electricity or carry out of his house on the Shabbat. His name is Louis Doctor, but we call him by his Yiddish name "Leibish." Rabbi Weiss has "Leibish" over every Shabbat he is in town. He does this kindness to "Leibish" in order to bring happiness to "Leibish" and share the spirit of the Shabbat with him. "Leibish" isn't Zack DeFilipp sharing a light moment with Rabbi Weiss immobile. He has a long rod with a small wheel at the bottom. With the wheel he can detect if he is on the sidewalk or not. Every Friday evening before candle lighting time. Rabbi Weiss picks up "Leibish" and brings him to the Chabad House. After services they walk home together. The entire Shabbat, "Leibish" spends with the Weiss family, eating dinner and entertaining the Weiss children. "Leibish" sleeps at the Weiss' home and walks with them Shabbat morning back to the Chabad House for prayer. They walk close to two miles and begin to pray at ten. Services will last till twelve thirty or one. They join the others for the weekly delicious "Kiddush" and then walk home together as one family. "Leibish" again joins the Weiss' for Shabbat lunch. He will then nap or relax or kibbitz with the children. They retum again to the Chabad House in the late afternoon for the Mincha service which is followed by a Torah class and the evening service and Havdalah. This weekly act of kindness is repeated by Rabbi Weiss each and every week. Although it may seem to be a big deal. Rabbi Weiss makes nothing of it. He does not see it as an imposition on him or his family. He sees "Leibish" as a member of his family. I see it as a very heroic act for someone who does not view himself as a hero. 0 Candk UgfiimTmes Winners of the Grand Purim Raffle ‘‘Chapel in the Oaks CELEBRATING OUR 114th Lubavitch of North Carolina is proud to announce the lucky winners of the Grand Purim Raffle. Congratulations to Mr. Michael Ferry of Charlotte, our grand prize winner. He will be receiving five hundred dollars! Mr. Arthur and Mrs. Esther Frank are our second prize winners. They will be receiving a limited edition litho^ph called Absolut L'Chaim. This beautiful work of art was created by Chassidic painter Michel Schwartz for the Absolut Vodka Company. It features an Absolut bottle filled with the Hebrew wwds L'Chaim. For more on their unique advertising campaign, look for the Absolute book in your local book stores. The raffle was a great success! Proceeds of the raffle will benefit the educational programs provided by Lubavitch of NC. For information on future raffles, please contact Rabbi Shlomo Cohen at 366-3984. Thanks to everyone who participated in this project! o DIRECTORS 0 ' ^00 Providence Road Telephone; 332-7133 Wanted: Golfers The 3rd annual Spring Golf Outing benefiting the Jewish Day School of Charlotte is scheduled for Sunday, June 1 at Charlotte Golf Links. In addition to the annual hole-in- one golf challenge for a 1997 Lexus GS 300, this year's outing will provide a full 18- hole Captain's Choice tournament. A donation of $130 per golfer or $520 for a foursome, provides a fiin-filled day on the course, a bo lunch, and more. Prizes will be awarded for the shortest drive, longest drive, closest to the hole, and the lowest team gross. Please contact Michael Raus at 544-4659 to register for the event. O
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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