By COLlive reporter
Queen Elizabeth II is including her Canadian subjects in the celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee as Head of the Commonwealth and head of 16 sovereign states.
And she has decided to laud one Canadian citizen in particular.
At a ceremony Tuesday in Mont Royal City Hall in Montreal, Chabad Shliach Rabbi Yisroel Sirota was given a Diamond Jubilee Medal.
“In granting you this honor, I thank you for your dedicated service to your peers, to your community and to Canada,” read the special message that was sent from Great Britain.
“The contributions you have made to our nation are most commendable and deserve our praise and admiration,” it says about Sirota, Director of the Jewish Russian Community Center of Montreal.
The medal was presented to the rabbi by Irwin Cutler, Member of the Canadian Parliament on behalf of Governor General of Canada.
Sirota’s 40 years of service and dedication to his community of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union was also awarded a unique Citation for Citizenship by the Minister of Immigration.
He recently inaugurated a new home for his community, the David and Eda Schottenstein Chabad Community Centre which opened its doors last summer and marked a new chapter in the history of the Jewish Russian Community of Montreal.
The inauguration ceremony attracted an enormous crowd of many hundreds of people who enthusiastically participated in the parade with the new Torah scroll followed by a most joyful celebration in the center.
In addition to educating Russian-speaking Jews in Judaism and trying to kindle a spirituality that had been suppressed under Communism, the center provides material aid to newcomers.
Adding to the existing programs of Bar Mitzvas, Bas Mitzvas, Chuppahs and Brises, several new programs were launched in the new building: Hebrew Sunday School for Russian-speaking children attending public schools, Institute of Jewish Learning, Rosh Chodesh women’s programs and more.
Certainly worthy activities for a nod from the Queen.
We are very happy to see that Rabbi Sirota is honored at such a level. Mazel Tov to Chana and Rabbi Sirota! You are amazing people.
Sincerely, Levkovsky family
Dear Rabbi Sirota and Your Family,
May your special day be memorable and blessed for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Krassov V. and Lara
Please, add our congratulation to Rabbi Sirota – Finkel family
veri deservt !!!!!!!!! Josif and Nona Zilberberg
MAZEL TOV AND HATZLOCHA RABBOH FRO THE BERKOWITZ FAMILY.
wow mazel tov rabbi sirota :):):):):):):)
What an amazing gesture, in the world of hate and antisemitism. She is my Hero.
Award Rabbi Sirota – high estimate of his years of work for the benefit of the community. This is a prime example of a worthy person to all Russian-speaking Jews of Montreal.
A lot of thanks to Rabbi Sirota.
Mark Groysberg
Mazal Tov all the way from Toronto!
Yasher Koach. Michail El Chail!
MAZEL TOV!!! Helth and prosperity to you and to your family! Lili
It’s nice when a good deeds are acknowledged and rewarded. We are very proud that our Rabbi received such an honor and we are grateful to Rabbi Sirota for his dedication and devotion to a Russian Jewish Community. IMT
Rabbi Yisroel and Chana Sirota are one of the great unsung heroes.
I am delighted that they have received this honour from the Queen. Their self-sacrifice, humility, dedication are inspiring. They work without fanfare and without wanting or needing accolades, yet everyone in Montreal can agree that this special couple is one of the Rebbe’s finest. A real kiddush Hashem, their goodness, kindness and warmth have brought such blessing to the Montreal community
May they go from strength to strength.
-Fellow shluchim in Montreal
Congratulation!Rabbi Sirota is certanly deserved it.MAZL TOV!
This award went to the right people.Rabbi Sirota real spiratual leader russian jewish community . Rabbi and Chana a very special inspiring couple .Congratulations . BK
What makes Rabbi and Rebbetzin Sirota so great and so special is that in addition to the mivtzoim which they do, they both maintain regular day jobs – unassociated to the hafotzo which they do – for their own livelihood. The mivtzoim which they do is on their ‘own’ time and they do not derive any personal financial (or other) reward from it. That is a great lesson for money in this field of work!
Shver is HOT ( & shviger)
YW
Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov! I am very happy and proud for knowing this outstanding people. Real Tzadikim Nistarim!!!
it runs in the family….
Congratulation to our dears Rabbi Sirota!!!!!! You are incredible man, as you said: behind the successful Man is a good Woman. Thank you to both of you for your dedication to Russian Jewish community. We love you and proud of you. Stella G.
Mazel Tov!! All the best to you and your family !!!
Reb Israel , you are doing a very good work !!!
Family Golts .and Grinberg
To Rabbi and Chana a truly inspiring couple who constantly are doing Mitzvah’s to one and all. May you continue in your G-dly work in good health.
May Hashem always bless you both and your family.
Carolyn and Arnold Steinman
The sirotas are the MOST AMAZING PEOPLE I have ever met.
Hands down. They are completely devoted to loving and supporting their community. Much much more continued success. This award is so appropriate and deserving.
We extend our congratulations to Rabbi and Mrs Sirota,
Dedication without limits!
Over the past 18 years, I’ve seen the incredible hard work Rabbi Sirota & Chana have done first hand. These type of shluchim are a rare find! Two Very special people. These are one of the Rebbe’s finest “They dont make them like they used to!” Congratulations to my inlaws DL
The Sirota’s have done so much for so many people. This award went to the right people.
Well deserved to both rabbi and Chana Sirota
The most humble people!
Admirers in columbus
Ma and Ta are the best. No better mother in law and father in law in the world. Love you both very much!!! -DS
Well Deserved!! I can think of no better couple to receive this award. Yisroel and Chana are an inspiration to us all.
good old lizzy!