Chabad’s 25 Years in Orlando

By Heritage Florida Jewish News

This year, Chabad of Greater Orlando will celebrate 25 years of service in Orlando. Since its inception in 1985, Chabad has reached out the Jewish community by bringing “a greater awareness, and increased Jewish pride throughout the area,” say Rabbi Sholom Ber Dubov and his wife, Devorah Leah Dubov.

They were chosen as ambassadors from Chabad’s international headquarters to direct and operate the Chabad center and its activities shortly after they wed in September 1984.

Rabbi and Mrs. Dubov, who consider themselves co-directors and partners in their work, were given the responsibility of bringing Judaism to Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler, Brevard and Polk Counties. The Dubovs made connections and reached out to hundreds of community members from all the region.

As the need arose and it became apparent that each respective area could support its own Chabad ambassador in its immediate area, the Dubovs hired a rabbi and rebbetzin to accommodate each district.

To date, they have established Chabad of the Space Coast and the Brevard area under the directorship of Rabbi Chaim Zvi Konikov and his wife Shulamit; Chabad of Greater Daytona and the Volusia County area under the directorship of Rabbi Pinchas Ezagui and his wife Chani; and in 1998, they hired Rabbi Yosef Konikov and his wife Chani to serve Chabad of South Orlando. Three years ago, they hired Rabbi Chaim Boruch Lipsker and his wife Rivky to direct and operate Chabad of UCF.

Rabbi Sholom and Devorah Leah Dubov recently announced that they have hired their son-in-law, Rabbi Yanky Majesky and their daughter Chanshy Majesky to direct Chabad of North Orlando, serving Lake Mary, Sanford and the Longwood areas.

“That’s pushing three generations of Chabad ambassador work in our personal family,” says Devorah Leah Dubov. “My father and mother were ambassadors of Chabad in Worcester, Massachusetts, where I was born and bred. That’s where I got much of my experience.”

“Now my husband and I can derive pleasure from seeing the next generation continue this vital work of loving and caring for each and every Jew,” she says, “no matter their affiliation status or background and reach out to them in a non-judgmental way to give them whatever we can to make their lives better physically and spiritually.”

A grand banquet and gala evening is scheduled for Jan. 10 at the Lake Mary Marriot. Cocktails, hors d’ouevres and a full-course dinner will be served, accompanied by music, entertainment, and a keynote address.

Chabad will honor three individuals at the event. All have “made such a big difference for the Chabad of Orlando community or the community at large, or both,” says Rabbi Dubov.

The guest of honor will be Robert A. Mandell, the lifetime achievement award will be given to Thomas L. Werner, and a memorial tribute will be given to the late Ernest D. Rapp. “These three men exemplify the true meaning of being a mensch and caring for another’s needs,” says Rabbi Dubov. “Their kind-hearted deeds leave a lasting impact throughout Central Florida.”

Chabad of Greater Orlando began in a small storefront that was located under the Greater Construction company. It grew to the point where it was necessary to build a permanent center, which was built under Rapp’s and his son-in-law Robert Hara’s direction. The building and all of its programs and activities, including a full-service traditional synagogue and Hebrew school, is located at 708 Lake Howell Road in Maitland.

Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Orlando is part of the large world-wide Chabad organization, which has thousands of branches spanning the globe. “Chabad embraces a philosophy of study, meditation, and social outreach that combines rigorous academics with proactive community involvement,” say event organizers. “The rapidly growing array of educational and social service programs has made it one of the most dynamic forces in modern Jewish life.”

“Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge,” and Lubavitch is the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. Today 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250 year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the worldwide welfare of the Jewish people and humanity.

Chabad of Greater Orlando is a non-profit social service outreach center serving the Greater Orlando community with services that include hospital and prison chaplaincy and visitation; adult and family education; holiday awareness programs; crisis intervention; an emergency and food fund for the needy; counseling, child development and a preschool readiness program; senior citizen care; a full-service traditional synagogue; Hebrew school for ages 5-13.

Chabad’s youth and teen programs include a full-week recreation and after-school learning center for teens under the direction of Rabbi Ed Leibowitz, assistant rabbi to Chabad of Greater Orlando since 2004. The entire Orlando Jewish community is invited to attend the anniversary celebration.

Invitations are available by calling the office at 407-644-2500 or visiting www.chabad25years.com.