By COLlive staff
On Sunday Daled Tammuz, The Shluchim Office unveiled its latest in service and support to Shluchim visiting Crown Heights: a brand new hotel for visiting shluchim, the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim.
Mr. Avraham Banda, owner of the well-known Pomegranate Supermarket in Flatbush, was present together with his extended family for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. He and several other special guests were given an exclusive tour of the new suites even as staff and designers put the finishing touches on the furnishings before the event.
In the case of the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim, Mr. Banda had taken a step rarely seen among donors and contributed the entire construction and furnishing cost of the Pomegranate Suites – including the elegant buffet, direct from his own supermarket, for the ribbon-cutting event.
Calling this, “the Pomegranate way” of going about business, Mr. Banda thanked Rabbi Gedalya Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Pinson and Mr. David Farkash for bringing him the opportunity to return the hospitality that Shluchim offer to travelers throughout the world.
Rabbi Shemtov and Rabbi Pinson presented Mr. Banda with an exquisite art rendition of the new hotel’s logo and engraved glass awards to his brother, Yaakov Yoel Banda, and Farkash “for their contribution in bringing this effort to full fruition.”
Immediately following the awards, the three of the Banda brothers cut the ribbon together with their father, officially opening the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim. Mr. Banda was also the first of five special guests to affix one of the mezuzos.
Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, head of the O-K Kashrus Laboratory and long-time contributor to the Shluchim Camp in Arizona, affixed the second mezuzah.
Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff and Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin from The Shluchim Office committee each affixed one mezuzah, and Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, affixed the fifth mezuzah.
The new hotel was then opened to the public for a grand open house tour.
Other honored guests attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch; members of The Shluchim Office advisory committee Rabbi Yossi Groner, regional shliach of the Carolinas, Rabbi Yossi Kessler, shliach in Montreal, and Rabbi Hershel Spalter, regional shliach of Costa Rica; as well as Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov whose father, Reb Mendel Shemtov A”H built the first Shluchim House at 715 Eastern Parkway and opened the way for this concept.
The Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim is intended to serve visiting shluchim and their younger children for short stays of 2 or 3 nights. Reservations will be opening on the July 16 – Tammuz 26.
to all non shluchim complaining:
you all walk down the street to go to a frum & lubavitch school. I walk down the stairs to go to online school. You go to empire kosher and get kosher food. We get our meat shipped and hardly any kosher food. Maybe its time to do something for shluchim?
we need 2 learn from banda and satmar. this is what real giving is.
amazing …the positive and negitive sentiments from this very important building…i am on shlichus and cannot find a place to stay every time i come to crown heights. ps there are many rental options…this is not being done to ‘tell off’ non shluchim…. for ppl commenting that they cannot find a place to stay- try anash accomodations 718 778 5656…. have had a good experience with them. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!! and thank you shluchim office for your tireless work to help shluchim in so many ways. and to pomegranate for your sponsorship!!!!!!!!! may everyone have hatzlocha and bracha….shluchim and anash accross… Read more »
I have been reading these comments with interest, sadness and frustration. I see both sides. Everyone loves and appreciates the shluchim. Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of the shluchim. But just like the old saying goes, behind every great shliach are his great supporters. We all see the amazing work being done by the shluchim and we see the great mesiras nefesh of many of them, too. We share our lives with our shluchim. We work right beside them to help with their events and schools and chabad houses. We, the non (official)… Read more »
I feel sorry for your plight (and all the other haters here) but nobody OWES you a place to stay in CH. There’s a Motel 6 on Utica Ave and there are suites and rentals in CH. Do some networking and soon enough you’ll find a place to stay.
This story is about someone who was sweet and kind enough to build something for shluchim out of the goodness of his heart. THAT’S IT! Thank him and thank all those who do good this and don’t just complain.
plz play the yiddish radio only. everything else is shutus
wow mr. banda has incredible generiousity! thank u so much!!
You Guys dont stop for almost 30 years.
The Rebbes Brochos to your speacial mosad should be Mekuyam.
Hazlocho rabo
Mr. Banda,
Mitzvas is being done in many ways.
Now when you do tzeduka the way you do business like you see here 5 star, that’s real tzeduka, May hasam help you in every expect of your life.
Just for the record !!
Interior Design was done by Aaron Bornstein and Associates.
Tzivia Leher should be credited for assembling all the Props. Well done.
Who was the Designer for this project ?
Does not look like a local Firm.
looks amazing!
thank you 38.
why is it so bad to do something nice for shluchim that work really hard and are not the richest people?
I SO AGREE WITH 53!
Tzivia, yet again you did a beautiful and amazing job. May you go from strength to strength!
hi i’m # 20.
listen OK.all that fathers in ch do is teach their little gemara classes.I’m not saying its a stupid job but seriously shluchim fund raise for hours some even go to bed at 4:30!!! so either you are super dumb, or you’re just jealous of shluchim.
Tzivia Lehrer, you don’t cease to amaze me with your creativity and good taste
I am a BT almost 20 years. I am only jealous of the shluchim and their title. I send my kids to the same school as their kids, yet the shluchim kids (which make up about half the school) get special privileges and special access to things my kids only hear about. We have just as much difficulty getting kosher food as the shluchim. EXcept that they have connections and they get discounts whereas the rest of us don’t. Yes, thank G-d, I do get a regular pay check. And I spend plenty on it helping the shluchim, believe me.… Read more »
Now that Lubavitch and Satmar have learned to respect each other, I hope Pomogranate will soon open a branch in CH
!
people in CH should first pay FULL tuition for their kids before giving a penny to any other org or shliach.
then the schools would have enough money
there is such a place much bigger and much nicer right across 770 called Eishel.
CH Needs a hotel but not expensive……… My friend has a family wantsto come to go to Ohel & 770 but has NO where to stay…..!!!
at 40 u need to grow up
Are they jealous of you when you send your kid to school down the block when they send their kids across the country for a Jewish education? Are they jealous of you that your kids hve all their friends living on their block whom share similar life styles while their kids have 2 friends and have to make sure that their child is keeping kosher? You get a paycheck very month and sorry if it’s small but at least u get one! A shliach doesn’t alwas know where his money will come from. So for be jealous, be happy for… Read more »
I work much harder than most of the shluchim in my town. When someone needs something done, they call me. And I already have a full-time 40+ hour a week job, thank G-d. When I come to NY from the West Coast, I want to stay in CH. I don’t want to stay in Boro Park. And I’m not looking for fancy. The basement rentals are not very convenient. Why can’t there be a place like this new beautiful “hotel” for everyone? It’s people like me who will keep the place in business. We, the regular joe shmo’s are the… Read more »
You obviously don’t understand the plight of the BT’s and converts who have no one in CH to stay with when visiting town. Parkway Suites, the only really convenient place to stay, is no longer available. I came in for a friend’s wedding awhile back and stayed in one of the many rental places. They had just had a sheitel showing in that room and the place was covered in hair. There was what seemed to be a beautiful kitchen, but no appliances. No clocks in any rooms. I don’t care that there wasn’t a tv, but not even a… Read more »
Can other Lubavitch out of towners, use it if they pay ?
If no, what about when Shluchim sre not using it and oterwise it will be empty for that period ?
If they are happy to make money then, whom would we contact ?
Hashem is shepping nachas , the rebbe is kevelling will the wingers stop winging.
I am so proud to be a Jew
What a hachana to tisha b’av we are doing away with sinas chinom Some of you may not be ready yet but please don’t rain on my party
A friend of mine from yeshiva rents a house on the water, nicer than my apt… but thats his kehilla and he works VERY VERY hard and we give to him. We give to 10-15 shluchim on a regular basis and these guys work very hard!! I know a shliach in Miami that has a part time job to support his family as he works full time as a shliach… This isnt mesiras nefesh? CH people I feel for you, pleae move to North Miami Beach FLORIDA.. nice 2 bedroom apartments 850$ a month includes utility’s.. no heat and use… Read more »
Shluchim will have to pay to stay,it’s just like any other hotel
Also let’s not get all overly excited here ….the whole ‘hotel’ is all of like 2 suites…
So start lining up for your turn…maybe in Tof Shin Kuf….
Good luck anyway…so classy ;love the monogrammed hand towels
I do not have family I can stay with when I am in CH, and it is often hard to find somewhere to stay especially with a few kids. We do BH live a decent size house, however to travel costs a fortune and when you add on top of it car rentals and accommodation, it becomes really very expensive. Thank you to those at Pomegranate and to the staff of Shluchim Office for this incredible initiative.
mosh pinson is sold stuff – quiet and dedicated. knockout in the red tie!
Very well said!
I’m a mommy/bubby of a Lubavitch girl who married a Satmar boy with the result of my darling grandson Yosef Yehuda!! Williamsburg is growing and soon Crown Heights and Willy will be one sprawling mass of Yidden who are Yiras Shamayim….Moshiach NOW!!
Mazal Tov and Yasher Koiach May Hashem grant you and your Mishpacha Kol Tuv Hatzlacha Bigu”r Mitoch Brius Nechona Vesimcha Amitis.
Dubrawsky
Dallas, TX
Well said.
its really special to see that satmar respect chabad
I love seeing the good will and generosity between the yidden! The achdus, unity and friendship is refreshing to see 🙂
May the yidden in all communities be blessed with health, wealth, happiness and success!
A Crown Heights Dad I am tired that every time anything is done for the Shluchim someone has to pipe up and compare the Shluchim VS Crown Heights and create an imaginary battle between the two Look at the USA -they treat their Army Vets very differently than their regular citizens giving them health care, paying for student loans etc etc- That doesn’t mean that the vets work harder- they just have dedicated their life to one of sacrifice and we didn’t -Not better or worse the fact The fact is the Rebbe gave unique attention, funds, Kinus Farbrengen to… Read more »
Its nice to see how other chasidim appreciate the work our
Shluchim do. Non shluchim can use a hotel in Crown Heights
and that is why there is Aishel.
0 + 1 does not equal – 1
This is a new project for shluchim only. Someone decided to donate suites for shluchim to stay. Correct, if you’re not a shliach it was not made for you. And if you’re an “average joe shmos” you can stay where you’ve been staying for the past 20 years when you visited Crown heights or at some of the other establishments.
Will now be served in my house. Thank you
grow up!
one helping institution at a time you need to start from somewhere and i think shluchim is a great place to start and the shluchim who you talk about are in every way entitled to these rooms regardless and i hope all shluchim would be the way you speak. moshiach now!!!!!
as a 40 year old, i speak to many shluchim who live in big houses even some with pools that are living the life…
while most on CH are getting by day by day….
its about time people help out CH and their schools!
There are quite a few Satmar Chasidim that contribue to Chabad Houses around the world. They know how to show their appreciation for everything Chabad does for Klal Yisroel.
Hashem must be so proud of His children.
is it for any shliach?
My 3 nephews!!
how many shluchim in the US are on such mesiras nefesh?
the people in CH are on more mesiras nefesh then any of the shluchim
who says? there are hundreds of fathers in crown heights that work 12 hours a day or more to put bread on their table and get discounts for everything they buy or free hotels, while most of the shluchim sit in their ties and collect funds there are both in every area there are rich and poor shluchim and rich and poor residents in CH we came to a point that if you are a “shliach” you get a free pass even if it means you have thousands in the bank and you have a business and if you are… Read more »
can shluchos stay there as well or is it only or men? Can couples stay? t’s not clear.
Is there a charge? or is it pro bono?
wow! beautiful work! so much class!
I very much appreciate the sentiment that they want to reciprocate for what shluchim around the world do for others, satmar travelers included.
Yasher koach.
There’s a lot of Shemtov’s here…
Shluchim go on mesiras nefesh, send their kids away young, some have no kosher food and others don’t have other things.
Also, shluchim give them themselves for their communities and have no life of their own. So yes they deserve some royalty
When you have Satmar Chassidim building the Rebbe’s moisdes in the Rebbe’s community, these are truly Moshiach’s
“tzeiten”. I wish for Mr. Banda that he should see a big return on his “investment” many times over.
Give the shluchim a break. they work much harder than you!!
if you want a nice place to stay go to one of the Borough Park hotels they won’t mind you so you shouldn’t hog the whole hotel and keep it for yourself.
i heard he didn’t even learn english in school. u see all uneed is a jewish brain to make money.
this is sucha beutiful necesity for ch
ver vatz yiddish?
i dont
will yaelli be playind 24/7???
u look great in ur peyos!!
this place is gorgeous! the generosity of pomegranate is amazing….
so if ur not a shliach u cant stay in those suites???? so u need to pay and all that jazz??
Also wane tnx mr’ joel kleinberger mr’ bandau’s right hand he helped him a lot to bring that amazing idea. From: Alter
Satmar has a lot to learn from Lubavitch
Lubavitch has a ;lot to learn from Satmar.
Araivim (sweet) ze la ze!
Where is this home?
its on east new york ave between albany and troy
cant wait to see more updates yasher koach
Mi ke’amcha Yisroel?
great, now average jo-shmo will have no place to stay at all when coming to CH.
did i miss something int he article? where in CH is the actual rooms?
Heartwarming the achdus that does exist among the Jewish people.
Beautiful. A much needed service in CH. Would be nice if nonshluchim could participate in using this new building, too.
so beautiful to see this. May Mr. Banda be bentched with many brochos- this is so amazing to give back to the shluchim.