Rabbi, Are You Really My Fan?

by Reuven Arazi

It was a magical evening celebrating the opening of the South Broward Friendship Circle, a phenomenal social service program that teams up local teenage volunteers with children and teenagers with special needs.

Andre Dawson, the only baseball player inducted in the 2010 Class of Baseball Players in the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY, shrine to America’s favorite pastime, joined child prodigy Ethan Bortnick, “The Child of the Decade” at Chabad of South Broward’s 30th Annual Dinner this past Sunday.

The Dinner at Chabad of South Broward Headquarters in Hallandale Beach, Florida, was held at the Max and Eve Rubenstein Main Sanctuary.

Dawson, “The Hawk” as he is called, received The Humanitarian of the Year Award, for his vast array of communal involvement, as Bortnick received The Child of the Decade Award as a tribute to the millions of dollars he has raised for Hospitals and other charities around the world. Ethan was appointed as the inaugural Chairman of the South Broward Friendship Circle.

SHLUCHA THANKS OTHERS

Also honored at the gala evening was Mrs. Endi Tennenhaus, co-director of Chabad of Northeast Hollywood and Dania, who received the Eishes Chayil – Woman of Valor Award.

Tennenhaus is also co-director of Camp Gan Israel of South Broward and director of the Chai Tots Preschool which has grown by leaps and bounds, with 70 children enrolled and 100 children on the waiting list.

An expansion of the Chai Tots Preschool is the next step in the growth of an exceptional program that serves as a model to other Preschools in South Florida, she announced.

In a very unassuming manner, Endi has mentored and assisted Directors of other local Preschools and new Preschools, helping their Programs be “top of the line,” and the core foundation of Jewish education to many hundreds of children.

SHERIFFS & SHLUCHIM

Parent of the Year Suzanne Friedman was honored for her dedication to the growth of the Hallandale Hebrew Club and its affiliates, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah Clubs, and the Mothers and Daughters and Fathers and Sons Programs. These programs reach out to the most unaffiliated children in the Jewish community, connecting them and their families to their precious and timeless heritage.

Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti, addressed the Dinner guests, expressing his commitment to partner once again with Project PRIDE, Chabad’s very successful Drug Prevention and Education Program.

Jeff Rubenstein, son of Max and Eve Rubenstein, was honored with reciting Hamotzie on the ceremonial Challah.

Hundreds of guests participated, including Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, Chaplain Rick Braswell, Alan Berkowitz and Michael Calderon of the Broward County Sheriff’s office.

Also present were Chabad Shluchim from all over South Broward including Rabbis Moshe Schwartz, Dovid Kudan, Yossy Lebovics, Yossy Korf, Pinny Andrusier, Aaron Kaufman, Mendy Tennenhaus, Leizer Barash, Mordy Feiner, Isser Dovid Silverman, Zalman Korf and Adi Goodman.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Master of Ceremonies at the Dinner was Rabbi Mendy Tennenhaus.

His brother Rabbi Levi Tennenhaus read a letter from the Rebbe sent to an earlier dinner in 5752, the last letter the Rebbe signed after the going to the Mikvah and before going to the Ohel on 27 Adar 1, 5752.

Tehillim was recited by Rabbi Yossy Lebovics.

Chabad of South Broward’s Consultant Rabbi Abba Perelmuter, Shliach of Shul by the Shore In Long Beach, California, helped coordinate the Dinner, and was presented with a birthday cake, along with Chaya Aydel Seminary student Moussia Azoulay from France.

Seminary student Riva Goldwasser, from Pittsburgh, eloquently spoke and delivered a beautiful Dvar Torah, representing the Seminary student body.

RABBI & SPORTS FAN

Featured entertainment was Bortnick, who included in his musical selections the traditional and Mozart editions of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”

When Dawson received his award, he was greeted with a standing ovation, as the music played the old Montreal Expos theme song, the original team Andre played for, and the team that he represents in the Hall of Fame.

“The Hawk” was introduced by Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus recalling the eight-time All Star’s 21 year career. When Dawson got up to speak, he asked the rabbi about his extensive sports knowledge: “was it the Internet or are you that big of a fan?”

Rabbi Tennenhaus closed the Dinner by thanking all those who helped, and emphasized that “Thirty represents strength, and our 30th Annual Dinner must give us the strength to do more, including the opening of the new social service program, the South Broward Friendship Circle.”

On behalf of his wife Goldie and himself, he thanked his fellow Shluchim and community members for helping make Chabad of South Broward leaders in Jewish education, social services and outreach.

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