Photos: Tamas Kalman & Nechama Wolf
Chabad of Baka, Jerusalem, celebrated its 12th anniversary with a beautiful dinner, music, and distinguished guests on motzei Shabbos, February 22nd.
Rabbi Yakov Halperin, one of the Mayor’s advisors, and Deputy Mayor Fleur Nahoum joined to share their blessings. Rabbi David Eliezrie, noted shliach and author from California who serves as a board member of the Jewish Agency for Israel, was the charismatic guest speaker.
The focus of this year’s dinner was the building campaign, which is now underway. Talented architect, David Abergel, has designed a magnificent synagogue and center to be built on the spacious plot of land on Derech Beit Lechem that Chabad of Baka gratefully received from the Jerusalem City Hall. Three generous couples in the community were honored for being pioneer builders and helping to jump-start the campaign: Andrew and Diana Reinhard, Dr. Charlotte and Gil Goller, and Tehila and Michael Rose. The event also paid tribute to Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein z’l and Walter Drimer z’l, who were beloved community activists.
Alex Traiman was a phenomenal MC, Rabbi David Eliezrie was entertaining and empowering, and the honorees inspired the crowd with their generosity and kindness. One of the honoree couples, Dr. Charlotte and Gil Goller, presented a painting of the Rebbe that Gil had been working on for months as a gift to Chabad. Pinny Shachar helped create an enjoyable atmosphere with his wonderful music, and the dinner spread from Holy Bagel was delicious.
As Dafna, an occupational therapist who has volunteered with Friendship Circle, wrote after the dinner, “I wanted to say thank you again for a very entertaining, enjoyable, uplifting community dinner celebrating Chabad and all of the wonderful projects you are involved with consistently. You truly feel and make others feel that we are all connected and part of a greater whole.”
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Chabad of Baka is a warm English-speaking community in the heart of Jerusalem, directed by Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel. They offer a Shabbos and daily minyan, daily Torah classes for men and women, a Women’s Circle, children’s programming, Shabbos and holiday meals, and holiday outreach. They also direct the Friendship Circle of South Jerusalem, which provides friendship and inclusion for children with special needs through weekly home visits and engaging events.
To be a part of the exciting building campaign and help build Chabad in Jerusalem, visit http://chabadbakabuilding.website/
Looks like a beautiful dinner – and the Chabad center building is magnificent ! The Hendels are extraordinary shluchim, role models to everyone- may this building project- and all their holy activities- be with tremendous Hatzlacha!