Can’t Wait for the Rabbi

by Jim Duff, Hudson Gazette

Prior to this past December, the closest Jewish community centre for families living off island was in Kirkland. With the arrival in December of the Chabad Jewish Community Centre on Côte St. Charles, that has changed.

I have lived in the Hudson area since 1974. In fact, I brought up two children on the Cote Road, just two doors past where the new Chabad Centre is located.

In the 70s, I dreamed of being able to buy a bagel at Poirier’s. It came to pass. Never could I have imagined having a synagogue within walking distance, but that, too, came to pass when Chabad Lubavitch Organization sent Rabbi Nachum Labkowski and his young family to our area in response to an invitation from residents.

I am thrilled at the arrival of the Rabbi because I believe the Chabad philosophy is appropriate to our area. Why do I say that?

For the past twenty years I have been a member of the MTC, a Chabad Centre in Montreal. I love it. It beats any of my previous synagogue experiences: Modern Orthodox, Conservative, even Reform at one point. I wanted to have the option to decide on the degree of involvement my religion played in my life. Reform and Conservative had its obvious limits. Modern Orthodox expected me to be Orthodox.

Although Chabad is Orthodox, my Rabbi had no expectations of me; never did he point a finger. Chabad is the only Orthodox group which is inclusive of all Jews.

Also, over the years I have come to know many Chabad Rabbis and their wives, the Rebbetzins. I feel they make themselves more available and are closer to their congregants than other Rabbis I have known. Their home is always open; an extra chair can always be squeezed in at their holiday table and the day is never too long for another shared moment.

The warm atmosphere of a Chabad House/Centre is closer to what I remember of my grandparents’ home. Imagine belonging to a synagogue where every Shabbat, after services, the congregation has a lunch ­ a kiddish ­ together. That is a Chabad custom. Imagine a Chanukah or Purim party or any celebration ­ a fabrengen ­ with a feast of food, wine, stories, song and laughter. Again, that is Chabad. Chabad is a Hasidic movement; Hasidism is founded on joy, not fire and brimstone.

Last Rosh Shoshanna (the Jewish New Year), Rabbi Labkowski held services at Auberge du Rigaud. After services, Rebbetzin Malki Labkowski served a Kosher home-cooked festival meal to forty people. I was not there but those who were tell me that by any stretch of the imagination, this feat was a miracle ­ and delicious. That is Chabad.

Born in France and with family and friends still living there, Rabbi Labkowski is fluently bilingual. He tells a story of being sent by Rabbi Shlomo Ben Tolila, the head Rabbi of the Congo, under armed guards to Abidjan, in the French-speaking Ivory Coast. His mission was to bring a Kosher High Holiday service to about fifteen travelling businessmen in the area. I guess Rigaud was an easy assignment!

Much is being planned at the JCC, with synagogue services, adult educational programs, a Jewish Women’s circle, speakers and Bar/Bat mitzvah training. On Sunday, Feb. 28, for the joyous holiday of Purim there will be a Wild West Purim Party with a food feast, fun activities and a reading of Esther’s scroll ­ the Migella.

They are in the midst of establishing a Hebrew School ­ and they’re open to any ideas. For more information, visit their website, www.Jewishstlazare.com, or call 450-458-2530.