500 Salute the Schochets

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Ben Katan Photography

More than 500 people from all parts of Canada and the US turned out last Sunday night for a memorable evening of tribute to Rabbi Immanual Schochet and his Rebbetzin, Jette Schochet.

The evening celebrated fifty years of tireless dedication by the Schochets to both the Toronto community and beyond.

Rabbi Immanual Schochet served as the Rabbi of the Keilcer congregation for 35 years and the last fifteen as the Rabbi of the Beth Joseph Lubavitch Shul in North York.

Rebbetzin Schochet has been coordinator of the Toronto ladies chevra kaddisha for over thirty years, as well as a founder of the Maginai Chana kallah teaching program.

The evening included divrei bracha from Rabbi Dovid Schochet, a brother and Rov of Lubavitch in Ontario, Rabbi Mordechai Ochs of the Va’ad Harabanim of Toronto and special tributes by leading politicians from the Canadian government.

A special address was delivered by Rabbi Ben Zion Kravitz of Jews for Judaism who shadowed Rabbi Schochet for years. He regaled the audience with first hand accounts of Rabbi Schochet’s legendary work in anti-missionary and cult busting including a priest who converted as a result of a lecture and a chance encounter with a young woman who sat on the floor of an airplane for three hours listening and finding her way back.

Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, rabbi of The Shul in Bal Harbour in Florida, reminisced of his time growing up in Toronto, in particular at the BJL shul where his father, Rabbi Eli Lipskar OBM davened for many years.

He dedicated his speech to the theme of Moshiach and the inspirational work that both Rabbi and Rebbetzin Schochet do with a genuine commitment to making that a reality.

Tim Hudak, leader of the PC Party of Ontario, told the Schochets: “Truly there is no greater testament to the work you both have done than seeing so many people come out to show their appreciation for the important contributions you have made to Ontario.”

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, rabbi of the Mill Hill Synagogue in Edgware, England, delivered the keynote on the theme of the evening, “tracht gut vet zein gut” and paid special tribute to his parents.

The MC for the evening was Mr. Zale Newman (formerly one of Uncle Moshe’s mitzvah men and who MC’d many of the HASC concerts and other international events). Mr. Newman said he stopped doing such work 6 months ago but couldn’t refuse such a moment for a man who has been such a personal inspiration to him.

A special journal with more than sixty pages of tributes from friends, admirers and shluchim all around the world was also distributed.

Music was provided by Nafshenu Orchestra and Shlomo Simcha (Sufrin) entertained with his beautiful singing, prompting much singing and dancing at the end.

In the words of one attendee and long time friend of the Schochets, “The evening was moving and inspirational. There was a lot of love and admiration in the room and everyone walked out feeling uplifted. It was magical.”