By COLlive reporter
The biggest event on the social calendar of Chevra Ahavas Yisroel in Crown Heights, the annual Purim party, is being toned down this year.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Rabbi Chezzi Denebeim abruptly canceled the March 15 bash after he said he experienced an “awakening” during a recent trip to Israel.
Instead of cramming up to 600 “hip congregants” into the congregation’s Albany Avenue synagogue, the celebration this Sunday ought to be a “meaningful, Torah-infused” affair, Denebeim wrote to members in a Feb. 14 email, according to the Journal.
The decision to hold a small, sit-down meal is being offered instead and “has divided Rabbi Denebeim’s followers,” reporter Sonja Sharp writes. “The synagogue has been credited with pulling many other disaffected young people back toward prayer, even as memoirs of the formerly faithful crowd best-seller lists.”
Denebeim was quoted as saying: “My whole attitude had become about making this big party and having an extremely active Facebook page and making great events and mixing the pot. In a certain way I lost sight of the real, like what are we really trying to achieve over here?”
The Journal reported that some embrace the rabbi’s more sober vision of Purim, while others said the cancellation scuttles a community might be mistaken for garden-variety Brooklyn hipsters.
“The community wants a more authentic experience,” said Yocheved Sidof, an educator and mother of four who has been involved with the shul since its inception. “For some people, Purim is a time to let loose and let your guard down, but that’s not really what Purim is about.”
Read the full article on WSJ.com
I am sober for 8 years now, and spent 2 years in CH. I always felt so sorry for all the drunks around the holidays and at Farbrenghens who were not able to experience the true meaning of these holidays. It always seemed common sense to me. Anyway, what a big scary step for you to take Rabbi. Yasher Koach!
Yaakov Mark
of our generation
Don’t judge someone just because they sin differently than you.
I rarely comment here, but the last sentence in your comment turned me off. The Yiddin that Daven there are holy Yiddin. They have strengths and weaknesses, just as anyone else. They have struggles, just as anyone else. I would venture to say that some in the community can use the “kosher spiritual awakening” you mention in regard to the way they perceive fellow Jews. No one is more or less Jewish. We all have matters we need to work on, and we can all use awakening and Teshuva.
Who are you to Decide that they aren’t frum?!
Shame on you!!!
I hope this isn’t a joke. It will be the first time I’m proud of anything associated with CAY. A major change, but if they keep at it, 1 step at a time, they will eventually win the support of the frum community. May all the CAY family also experience a kosher spiritual awakening, and return to the Torah. Amen, kein y’hi ratzon.
BH
Sorry, i forgot to mention what time tonight, it is at 10:30 PM tonight, Thursday corner Empire and Kingston
These parties should have never happened in crown heights. The fact that it happened till now is terrifying. It is time we all woke up and started leading our lives according to the way the Rebbe begged us to. To bad if it’s uncomfortable. We are in a bitter terrible golus and we need to collectively make it end!!!!
WONDERFUL THIS IS MORE OF WHAT WE NEED.
So happy
COL should interview the Rabbi and share the ‘awakening’ story with its audience.
Surely it could prove to be a source of inspiration for many.
Thank you.
tio
Days of moshiach
BH
The best time to move in is when thete is a Vacume, this is my chance.
I am opening a new club, and all the disappointed “Chvrah” from “Chevra Ahavat Israel” are welcome to join, all are welcome to join, we have our first meeting tonight, Thursday evening, we meet at the corner of Kingston and Empire, ones we got enough of a group we march to our location, to be announced at that time
Back when Beis Shmuel was the “young” shul, Yossi Jacobson worked hard to make deep, positive changes there. He had an amazing effect on many people; I hope R’ Denebeim achieves much the same and even more.
purim should not be toned down.the shulchan oruch tells how to act on purim and every day. is dependent on the shulchan oruch. yiddishkeit is not about following somones gut feelings,which can change from year to year. purim was not meant to be subdued and somber. this is not a personal opinion.
kol hakovod for someone to admit he wants change. that is the biggest deal here-this deserves the greatest respect. m’chayil lchayil
thank you so much for your contribution to the community. i truly admire how you have ahava yisroel to all yidden. i truly adore how you humbly decide to make a drastic change. tou are the man! Kol hakavod! u give the rebbe nachas!!!! Good luck in all that u r doing!!
CAY has been discussing this for a while…
Yay
He’s got his balance straight!! Bh!
As someone who was involved in this process, I can attest that at least one part of this (and the source WSJ) article is incorrect. The “party” was not canceled, let alone abruptly. A deliberate decision was made after significant debate to change to type, tone, and focus of the party to one that is more on our membership then the community as a whole. There will be a sit down seuda which is expected to draw a large crowd, details are available on CAY’s facebook page.
I hope more will follow. Many many times I have been to events where the were lots of people really dressed in the worst way and no one told them to tone it down or cover up. As a balesteshuva myself and my husband notice that even people who hang around chabad for years still dress with everything showing and don’t care either. In the uk shauls, there are signs up for women to cover themselves. I guess if the people dressing not right give money??? then it’s ok?
Good for you Rabbi, you have your head screwed on properly.
And good for your community. Thank you so much for drawing the line at this point. Down the line you won’t regret your decision.
A happy Purim to all, full of good, clean fun!
It really wasn’t a good environment. I know several people who stopped attending the shul after last year’s party.
This sound like a really wise move in the right direction. Mimenu yiruh v’chein yaasu!
Funny purr shpil. We will never give up our party!
Baruch hashem