By COLlive reporter
A young and motivated Chabad couple will soon be hitting the road in the state of California searching for and reaching out to Jews.
Rabbi Simcha Moishe Kreindler and Atara Michal (nee Simkovitz) are the directors of the newly established Chabad T.O.R.C.H. (Torah Outreach in Rural California).
“We will be bringing the light of Torah to 37 remote towns and cities in California,” said Rabbi Kreindler. “We estimate that over the course of the year we will meet and interact with 2,000 Jews.”
Their first activity will be next week when they will organize 6 public Menorah lighting ceremonies on Chanukah, while traveling with their son Yisrael Leib.
Later in the year they plan to hold 16 Shabbatons (3 day events) and holiday awareness events, in addition to individual efforts such as distribution of Menorah kits and of matzah for Pesach.
“The average population for each of the 37 locations is approximately 13,000,” Kreindler told COLlive.com. “On average, the locations we visit are 73 miles from the nearest Chabad Shliach. In many cases, there isn’t any Jewish service or center in the immediate area.”
The Kreindlers were appointed by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach of the West Coast. They thanked the California Shluchim for “invaluable advice” and to Rabbi Yossi Cunin for all his help.
Kreindler said Chabad TORCH is inspired by what the Rebbe said in the discourse “Basi LeGani” of 5711 to “go to a place where they don’t know about G-dliness… they don’t know about Judaism… they don’t even know about Alef-Beis… and to place {their} own needs aside and devote himself to them.”
To sponsor a Chabad TORCH event or program, email [email protected]
The average human population of each town is approximately 13,000…the estimate for Jews in each town is 100
“The average population for each of the 37 locations is approximately 13,000,”
13,000 Jews is not a little town. 13,000 Jews x 37 locations is huge.
He probably meant to say “The TOTAL population for ALL of the 37 locations is approximately 13,000,”
Right?
California’s huge with tons of little towns with a little Jews in each
Wondering the same thing…
read the article – these are presumably places that cannot sustain a shaliach couple. Please be more positive.
What are the 37 remote cities in California?
Too many shluchim too close together. If these new shluchim feel there is a community that really needs shluchim, then a family can be sent out to them.
This was usually the domain of Bochurim on Merkos Shlichis. I wonder how they will cultivate B”B. What will be with Chinuch etc. I wish them Hatzlocha Rabba!!!
Get on their e/mailing list: 🙂
To sponsor a Chabad TORCH event or program, email [email protected]
May you have success, go gettem Tiger and fish Jews out of the Woods,
Sheitel credits to Chava Schechter 🙂
Please keep the readers posted on the progress of this schlihus – to report, promote and inspire all of us.
Sara Z.