Actor Tony Curtis Remembered By Chabad

(lubavitch.com) For the last few years of his life, actor Tony Curtis enjoyed a close relationship with Rabbi Mendy Harlig at Chabad Green Valley, in Henderson, NV, where he lived. The famous film star passed away on September 29 at the age of 85.

Rabbi Mendy first met Tony Curtis after receiving a call from his daughter Allegra Curtis. She felt that it would be good for her father to have some spirituality in his life. Both New York Jews, the actor and the rabbi quickly developed a great rapport.

“Tony shared a lot about his childhood with me,” Rabbi Mendy recalled. “He told me much about growing up in poverty, the many challenges that he faced, and how he set out to overcome them.” Mr. Curtis also shared his paintings with Rabbi Mendy and gave him an autograhped copy of his book, American Prince, with his own drawing of a mezuzah alongside the inscription.

Rabbi Mendy’s five children sometimes accompanied him on his visits. “Tony always welcomed my children. They made him laugh and he made them laugh,” said the rabbi.

“My 10 year old daughter, Chana Sara, had school assignment to write a report about a famous Jewish personality. She chose to write about Tony Curtis and later showed him her work. He was very touched.”

Over the years Rabbi Mendy visited Mr. Curtis at his home many times, delivering honeycake, shaloch manos, matzah. And sometimes, just to chat.

“Tony (whose Hebrew name was Boruch Hershel ben Emmanuel) was a very proud Jew,” said Rabbi Mendy. “Whenever I asked him to participate in a mitzvah he was always eager to do so. I hung a mezuzah at his home, we put on tefillin and I once took a picture of him wearing a white yarmulke. When he saw it he asked me to take a different picture saying, 'People might think I’m the Pope'!”

Two years ago, Chabad of Green Valley honored Mr. Curtis with the lighting of the menorah at its public Chanukah ceremony at The District at Green Valley Ranch Hotel. Over five hundred people were delighted at the opportunity to get up close and personal with the beloved star, and he was equally happy to express his Jewish pride at the event. Although it was difficult for him to get around, when the time came to get up on the stage and light menorah, he refused any help that was offered to him.

On October 4, 2010 Rabbi Mendy attended Tony’s funeral, staying behind after the burial to help in filling the grave with earth.

“We will sorely miss Tony. He was a proud Jew, a wonderful person and a great friend.

Yom Kippur Message From The Rabbi

Shalom,

Today, Friday September 17 2010 is Yom Kippur. Candle Lighting is before 6:03pm (here is a small clip of Paula Abdul about lighting Shabbat/Festival candles CLICK HERE)

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year--the day on which we are closest to G‑d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement -- "For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d" (Leviticus 16:30).
For twenty-six hours--from several minutes before sunset on Tishrei 9 to after night fall on Tishrei 10--we "afflict our souls": we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.

Before Yom Kippur we request and receive honey cake, in acknowledgement that we are all recipients in G-d's world and in prayerful hope for a sweet and abundant year; eat a festive meal, and give extra charity. Late afternoon we eat the pre-fast meal, following which we bless our children, light a memorial candle as well as the holiday candles, and go to the synagogue for Kol Nidrei services.

In the course of Yom Kippur we hold five prayer services: Maariv, with its solemn Kol Nidrei service, on the eve of Yom Kippur; Shacharit--the morning prayer; Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service; Minchah, which includes the reading of the Book of Jonah; and Ne'illah, the "closing of the gates" service at sunset. We say the Al Chet confession of sins eight times in the course of Yom Kippur, and recite Psalms every available moment.

The day is the most solemn of the year, yet an undertone of joy suffuses it: a joy that revels in the spirituality of the day and expresses the confidence that G-d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of "Hear O Israel... G-d is one." Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively "Napoleon's March"), followed by a single blast of the shofar, followed by the proclamation, "Next year in Jerusalem." We then partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a Yom Tov (festival) in its own right

"A Gmar Chasima Tova" (May you be inscribed in the Book of Life)

Have an easy fast!


Shalom and Best Regards,

Rabbi Dovid Loksen
Chabad Of Hawaii
www.JewishGuam.com

Rabbi Levi & Rabbi Yisroel

Rabbi Levi & Rabbi Yisroel dancing by the sea

Koshering the Kitchen for Passover

 

 

 

Guam very own Matzoh Bakery

Guam Passover 2010

Hank and Yisroel outside the Synagogue

Dr. Shmuel and the Rabbis

The Cunninghams

Greg and Yisroel

Getting the rolling sticks for the Matzoh

Rubashkin - Why should you care?

My Plea to the Jewish community of Guam!

Shalom/Hafa Adai,

I don't like to get involved in such matters as this but seeing what is happening to a Jewish man who has a family and is being treated the way he is for a crime that none has ever gotten punished this harshly before, It is my duty to send you this email.

Rabbi Sholom Rubashkin is not a murderer, he is not a pedophile, he is a man who has helped countless organizations and private family's

throughout the world.

Now he needs our help, the Jewish communities around the world.

Please if you can take 2 minutes of your time and please write a letter and sign the petition for Rabbi Sholom it will show the great unity of the Jewish people.

Below is letter from the Jewish Leaders.

With the hope and prayer for only good news.

Rabbi Dovid Loksen

====================================================

Supporters of Sholom Rubashkin are being urged to sign an online petition at the “Justice for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin” Web page at justiceforsholom.organd call or e-mail Department of Justice Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison (202-514-3465 ; oipl@usdoj.gov and cc pr@justiceforsholom.org), to protest the recommendations of life in prison for Sholom Rubashkin.

Those interested in assisting the “Equal Justice for Sholom Rubashkin” campaign, or in receiving call to action alerts should e-mail their contact info to info@justiceforsholom.org, or text message ICARE to 347-948-JUST (5878)

Team of rabbis visit Guam for Passover 2010

Source: GuamPDN.com

Two rabbis sponsored by the Chabad of Hawaii are going to ensure Jews on Guam don't pass the chance to celebrate Passover in the traditional way.



This year, Guam will be hosting a Passover Seder.

Passover is the time when Jews celebrate their ancestors' miraculous freedom from slavery in Egypt, said Rabbi Levi Groner.

Jews typically gather together with family and friends, and in the course of a celebratory meal called a "seder," eat matzah and drink four cups of wine symbolizing freedom, a press release from Groner stated.

It is a holiday tradition to eat unleavened bread called matzah, just as the ancient Israelites ate matzah while hastily leaving Egypt.

But even for the Jew some thousands of miles away from home, the Seder, one of about 2,000 communal seders around the world being conducted by the Chabad-Lubavitch organization, will be conducted by rabbis Groner and Israel Majeski.

The two are sponsored by Chabad of Hawaii, a branch of the Chabad organization based out of Brooklyn, New York.

"Everyone is welcome to the seder," says Groner, 24, of Melbourne, Australia. "Passover is a time to leave our own little Egypt, too, to tap into our soul, and that's where we're all united."

Majeski, 24, of Brooklyn, will be visiting Guam for a few weeks.

"Besides for Passover items, we're also bringing religious items that Jews on the island can't necessarily get. I'm sure we're also going to be getting a lot of questions, too, but that's what Passover is all about."

The four questions that Majeski was referring to are traditionally asked by the children at the seder, who wonder out loud about the curious customs and traditions Passover holds, the release stated.

"Our goal is to provide a warm, Passover experience for every Jew in Guam," said Majeski. "We're really looking forward to meeting everyone with a smile."

Anyone interested in participating can RSVP or get more information by e-mailing Groner at JewishGuam@gmail.com, or calling 671-838-0914.

The event is tonight at 6:30 at Top of the Mar at Nimitz Hill.

FridayLight l Candle Lighting Times

FridayLight l Candle Lighting Times

Rabbis to host Passover in Guam

Rabbis from Brooklyn, NY will be visiting Guam this Passover holiday to bring the holiday spirit to the island. They will be hosting the Seder (Passover meal) and visiting Jewish Military and locals on island. More information will be posted once it becomes available. For questions please email JewishGuam@gmail.com.