Shluchim Pull Oprah Prank

By COLlive reporter

Gmail’s motion-controlled email, YouTube’s viral videos from the year 1911, profiles of famous dead people on LinkedIn and sniffing an iPad: all recent April Fools’ pranks.

And, now, you can add Chabad Shluchim to the list of creators of funny pranks.

April 1 is marked in the U.S. by funny jokes and good-humoured hoaxes perpetrated by friends, family members, teachers, neighbors and work associates. Apparently, by rabbis as well.

On Friday, April 1, 2011, 1:04 PM, hundreds of people who are on email lists of Chabad Houses received an email with the subject “Oprah Winfrey hosting Passover-Don’t miss it!!”

It read:

“In appreciation for all of the great work that Chabad is doing around the globe and especially for its recent help in disaster areas in Haiti, Thailand, New Orleans and now, Japan, Oprah Winfrey decided to host a Chabad Passover Seder in her California estate. (Including of course accommodations within walking distance for Shabbat.)

“Of all of the Chabad’s who applied we at —– ——– (the specific Chabad House’s name) were chosen because of all of the volunteering both locally as well as globally by the JPI Young Professionals. As with every year at Chabad EVERYONE IS WELCOME to join!

“A charter flight is scheduled for April 18th >>1:30pm PROMPTLY!<< at ------ airport leaving from terminal A. There may be a shuttle but for now please let us know if you are driving and have extra space (parking will be free) or if you need a ride. "Everyone attending will need to sign a release of liability waver for both Oprah and the OWN network as well as a form granting the rights for any images taken during the trip (no pictures will be taken on Passover). "Aside from one specified time, no cameras or recording devices will be allowed by participants on the premises, everyone attending will receive a signed photograph that will be sent to Chabad after the trip." The email ended off with a notice that "the regular Chabad Seder will still be happening for those who can?t make it," and a link for more details. The link led to a page on each Chabad House website, reading: Thank you for expressing your interest in joining the Oprah Winfrey California Chabad Passover trip.

But of course you’re welcome to join us for our Seder April 18 and April 19.

As COLlive.com discovered, the idea originated from a few Shluchim on campus who wished to show a light-hearted side to the students. The idea caught on and Shluchim who work with teens, young adults and families also sent it out.

“It was fun,” a Shliach from the New York area who asked not to be named told COLlive.com. “Everybody loved it. It was the talk of our shul this past Shabbos.”

Using Winfrey’s name, an American television host and philanthropist who according to some assessments is the most influential woman in the world, worked out well for another Shliach.

The Shliach, who also asked not to be named, told COLlive the email prank “actually had a serious result. One person who I was trying to get close to for a while has responded very positively and asked to meet me after Pesach.”

UPDATE: Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum, co-director of Chabad at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, confirmed to COLlive that he and his wife Tamar are the originators of the prank.

“Most people don’t fall for April Fools jokes,” he said. “But this one worked very well because it was so believable. Professors, researchers and students all know that Chabad does do good work in Haiti and Thailand and Shluchim are always invited to the White House.

“That fact that they believed it was a Kiddush Hashem. It went to show how people understand and see Chabad’s image. It was not unheard of that Oprah would want to recognize Chabad for the good work.”