Shluchim Mark 10th Anniversary

by Angela Goldstein for COLlive.com
Photos by Rob Upton Photography

Over the last decade, people around the globe sat and watched history unfold time and time again. We saw the twin towers fall, the stock market crash, tsunamis, and hurricanes. Rocket ships landed on the moon and we all learned how to tighten our belts a bit to deal with a lingering recession.

And if you are a Jew in the Lehigh Valley, the third most populous region of Pennsylvania, you were also fortunate enough to witness a ray of light, more specifically a spiritual awakening ignited by the arrival of Rabbi Yaakov Halperin and his wife Devorah.

On April 10, over 230 people gathered at the Holiday Inn in Allentown to mark the 10th Anniversary of Chabad of the Lehigh Valley.

With humble beginnings in the home of the Halperins, Chabad has grown over the years and has served hundreds in the area through services and programming such as Shabbos and holiday dinners, Camp Gan Israel, Chabad Hebrew school, Gan Yeladim preschool, a women?s group and adult classes.

The theme that resonated throughout the evening was to give tribute to the past and to unveil the vision for the future. Attendees from near and far came dressed to the nines to show their support and appreciation for the Halperins and the accomplishments of Chabad, as well as for the evening?s honorees.

Among them were Dr. Ron and Melissa Stein (Lamp Lighter Award); Dr. Michael and Eileen Ufberg (Kesser Shem Tov Award); Drs. Gregg and Sharon Schubach (Chesed Award); Atty. Jay and Lori Scherline (Community Service Award); and myself, Ms. Angela Goldstein (Volunteer of the Year Award).

Guests feasted on a savory cocktail hour followed by a full sit down dinner, and were entertained by young singer, Shmuly Brafman, who was a finalist in “A Jewish Star” singing competition.

In addition, each honoree was given the opportunity to address the crowd as some others, including Head Shliach of Philadelphia Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, and Rabbi Halperin’s father, Rabbi Avraham Michael Halperin, Rabbi of the HaGiv’a HaTzarfatit neighborhood in Jerusalem.

Also present was Mrs. Halperin’s parents – Rabbi Sholom Spalter, Magid Shiur at Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Morristown, NJ, and his wife Teibkeh.

The Lehigh Valley Halperins also spoke reminiscing about what it was like for them to relocate here with the challenge of both adapting to a new environment and revitalizing the Jewish community. And, what began as small gatherings in their home, soon grew into regular Shabbos services, adult Torah classes, women’s evenings, Camp Gan Israel, a preschool, and more.

In all, it was an eventful evening enjoyed by friends, family, and community members. More importantly, the Gala raised money for Chabad’s current and future programming that supports spirituality and Jewish identity in the Lehigh Valley as well as the hallmark of Chabad?s philosophy, which is a love for every Jew.

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