Jul 9, 2012
Pomegranate Opens For Shluchim
For Shluchim Only: Owner of Pomegranate supermarket Avraham Banda, a Satmar chossid, was joined by Head Shluchim to inaugurate a unique hotel in Crown Heights.
By COLlive staff
On Sunday Daled Tammuz, The Shluchim Office unveiled its latest in service and support to Shluchim visiting Crown Heights: a brand new hotel for visiting shluchim, the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim.
Mr. Avraham Banda, owner of the well-known Pomegranate Supermarket in Flatbush, was present together with his extended family for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. He and several other special guests were given an exclusive tour of the new suites even as staff and designers put the finishing touches on the furnishings before the event.
In the case of the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim, Mr. Banda had taken a step rarely seen among donors and contributed the entire construction and furnishing cost of the Pomegranate Suites - including the elegant buffet, direct from his own supermarket, for the ribbon-cutting event.
Calling this, "the Pomegranate way" of going about business, Mr. Banda thanked Rabbi Gedalya Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Pinson and Mr. David Farkash for bringing him the opportunity to return the hospitality that Shluchim offer to travelers throughout the world.
Rabbi Shemtov and Rabbi Pinson presented Mr. Banda with an exquisite art rendition of the new hotel’s logo and engraved glass awards to his brother, Yaakov Yoel Banda, and Farkash "for their contribution in bringing this effort to full fruition."
Immediately following the awards, the three of the Banda brothers cut the ribbon together with their father, officially opening the Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim. Mr. Banda was also the first of five special guests to affix one of the mezuzos.
Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, head of the O-K Kashrus Laboratory and long-time contributor to the Shluchim Camp in Arizona, affixed the second mezuzah.
Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff and Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin from The Shluchim Office committee each affixed one mezuzah, and Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, affixed the fifth mezuzah.
The new hotel was then opened to the public for a grand open house tour.
Other honored guests attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch; members of The Shluchim Office advisory committee Rabbi Yossi Groner, regional shliach of the Carolinas, Rabbi Yossi Kessler, shliach in Montreal, and Rabbi Hershel Spalter, regional shliach of Costa Rica; as well as Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov whose father, Reb Mendel Shemtov A"H built the first Shluchim House at 715 Eastern Parkway and opened the way for this concept.
The Pomegranate Suites for Shluchim is intended to serve visiting shluchim and their younger children for short stays of 2 or 3 nights. Reservations will be opening on the July 16 - Tammuz 26.
Lubavitch has a ;lot to learn from Satmar.
Araivim (sweet) ze la ze!
i dont
if you want a nice place to stay go to one of the Borough Park hotels they won't mind you so you shouldn't hog the whole hotel and keep it for yourself.
"tzeiten". I wish for Mr. Banda that he should see a big return on his "investment" many times over.
Also, shluchim give them themselves for their communities and have no life of their own. So yes they deserve some royalty
Yasher koach.
Is there a charge? or is it pro bono?
there are both in every area there are rich and poor shluchim and rich and poor residents in CH
we came to a point that if you are a "shliach" you get a free pass even if it means you have thousands in the bank and you have a business and if you are from CH you need to pay the full price even if you are thousands in debt.
we need to treat everyone for who they are without the title
we need to make sure the the help goes to the right people on shlichus and in our community
the people in CH are on more mesiras nefesh then any of the shluchim
Hashem must be so proud of His children.
while most on CH are getting by day by day....
its about time people help out CH and their schools!
This is a new project for shluchim only. Someone decided to donate suites for shluchim to stay. Correct, if you're not a shliach it was not made for you. And if you're an "average joe shmos" you can stay where you've been staying for the past 20 years when you visited Crown heights or at some of the other establishments.
Shluchim do. Non shluchim can use a hotel in Crown Heights
and that is why there is Aishel.
I am tired that every time anything is done for the Shluchim someone has to pipe up and compare the Shluchim VS Crown Heights and create an imaginary battle between the two
Look at the USA -they treat their Army Vets very differently than their regular citizens giving them health care, paying for student loans etc etc- That doesn't mean that the vets work harder- they just have dedicated their life to one of sacrifice and we didn't -Not better or worse the fact
The fact is the Rebbe gave unique attention, funds, Kinus Farbrengen to the Shluchim as they are his ambassadors- so if a Yid wants to continue in that way and support them
we should say Bravo!
I dont hear Shluchim complaining why the CH Community Council doesn't support them and send them benefits -Its kinda ridiculous these foolish complaints
One last point -You like it or not the Shluchim respect their leaders ( yes there are squabbles yet nothing compare to what goes on here)-who would want to organize and create and lend a heart here when EVERY single leader who even tries is torn down
I Love the Shluchim and Love the Shchuna
May the yidden in all communities be blessed with health, wealth, happiness and success!
Dubrawsky
Dallas, TX
Also let's not get all overly excited here ....the whole 'hotel' is all of like 2 suites...
So start lining up for your turn...maybe in Tof Shin Kuf....
Good luck anyway...so classy ;love the monogrammed hand towels
We give to 10-15 shluchim on a regular basis and these guys work very hard!!
I know a shliach in Miami that has a part time job to support his family as he works full time as a shliach...
This isnt mesiras nefesh?
CH people I feel for you, pleae move to North Miami Beach FLORIDA.. nice 2 bedroom apartments 850$ a month includes utility's.. no heat and use ac 4 months a year.
People make choices, I choose to support shluchim
I am so proud to be a Jew
What a hachana to tisha b'av we are doing away with sinas chinom Some of you may not be ready yet but please don't rain on my party
If no, what about when Shluchim sre not using it and oterwise it will be empty for that period ?
If they are happy to make money then, whom would we contact ?
then the schools would have enough money
listen OK.all that fathers in ch do is teach their little gemara classes.I'm not saying its a stupid job but seriously shluchim fund raise for hours some even go to bed at 4:30!!! so either you are super dumb, or you're just jealous of shluchim.
why is it so bad to do something nice for shluchim that work really hard and are not the richest people?
Does not look like a local Firm.
Interior Design was done by Aaron Bornstein and Associates.
Tzivia Leher should be credited for assembling all the Props. Well done.
Mitzvas is being done in many ways.
Now when you do tzeduka the way you do business like you see here 5 star, that's real tzeduka, May hasam help you in every expect of your life.
The Rebbes Brochos to your speacial mosad should be Mekuyam.
Hazlocho rabo
This story is about someone who was sweet and kind enough to build something for shluchim out of the goodness of his heart. THAT'S IT! Thank him and thank all those who do good this and don't just complain.
I see both sides.
Everyone loves and appreciates the shluchim. Many of us wouldn't be where we are today without the help of the shluchim. But just like the old saying goes, behind every great shliach are his great supporters.
We all see the amazing work being done by the shluchim and we see the great mesiras nefesh of many of them, too. We share our lives with our shluchim. We work right beside them to help with their events and schools and chabad houses. We, the non (official) shluchim, have taken upon ourselves the work of our shluchim because we so believe in what they are doing. In the Rebbe's message and work. We want to be a part of what is going on.
And it doesn't matter if you write a check for $18 or put on children's Chanukah party, it's all in support of the shluchim.
So, this is not about hate. This is about love. Love and the desire for equality.
Many of the shluchim's supporters have mesiras nefesh since becoming frum. Giving up successful careers to stay home with children or to be able to learn. Moving into smaller homes or apartments to live in a Jewish community. Often having to break with families who want nothing to do with us.
So, dear #73 and all others, please know that this is not about hate. This is about appreciation. We are THRILLED our shluchim have a beautiful place to stay when they "go home" to CH. They do deserve it.
But so do the rest of us.....
you all walk down the street to go to a frum & lubavitch school. I walk down the stairs to go to online school. You go to empire kosher and get kosher food. We get our meat shipped and hardly any kosher food. Maybe its time to do something for shluchim?