By COLlive reporter
Photos: CJ Studios
It has been a busy month for Lubavitch residents of the greater Lakewood area and Ocean County, with numerous activities taking place over the last few weeks.
More than 20 people attended a Tes Kislev melava malka with Rav Nachum Grunwald of Beis Medrash Chabad Lakewood that lasted for hours.
Ten days later, the Toms River community enjoyed a Shabbos with author Rabbi Chaim Dalfin at the home of R’ Yosef Shidler, featuring a festive sit-down Shabbos-day kiddush and a Motzei Shabbos melava malka.
A massive Yud Tes Kislev all-Yidddish melava malka at Lakewood’s Bnos Devorah in Lakewood was led by Rav Chaim Meisels of Hechal Menachem, with approximately 200 people coming to hear from Rav Aaron Ginsberg, Rav Nachum Grunwald, and Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, who recently relocated to Jackson and now gives a weekly Chovos Halevavos shiur in Lakewood.
A Sunday night event had Chabad of Western Monmouth County, Holmdel and Jackson joining together for a Zoom farbrengen featuring Rabbi Shais Taub.
This year’s first-ever menorah parades in Toms River and Jackson on the fourth and fifth nights of Chanukah were truly memorable.
Approximately 15 cars took part in the Jackson lineup under the direction of Rav Shmuel Naparstek of Jackson, which was accompanied by a Jackson Police Department escort as it drove through the township, followed by a car menorah lighting.
VIDEO: Menorah Parade in Jackson, NJ
VIDEO: Menorah lighting in Jackson
More than 30 cars participated in the Toms River car parade headed by Rav Moshe Gourarie of Chabad of Toms River and accompanied by the Toms River Police Department and the Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Department. Chanukah also saw local shluchim lighting menorahs with area mayors at socially distant events that were publicly viewable via Zoom.
VIDEO: Menorah Parade in Toms River
As Kislev gave way to Teves, the event continued, and a Hey Teves farbrengen held Monday night in Toms River had Rav Moshe Gourarie sharing the story of the sefarim.
Special thanks to the many people who made all these events happen, especially the members of law enforcement and the volunteer firefighters who participated in the menorah parades, and the shluchim who lent their menorahs for the parades.
It has been a pleasure to welcome several new Lubavitch families into the greater Lakewood area over the past few months.
For further following or information on Chabad activities in the Lakewood area join the Chabad in Lakewood WhatsApp Group https://chat.whatsapp.com/6QqvyxSkpDX5l86Mvr8hqw
Beautiful the main thing is you all had a good time and that’s the most important thing good job Lakewood
The whatsapp link is NOT working. Can it please be reset?