LOCAL CENTER COMMEMORATES
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF
“MASON MITZVAH DAY”
Mason CityCouncil honors victims of Mumbai massacres two years ago
In honor of “Chabad of Mason Mitzvah Day,” proclaimed by the City of Mason to be commemorated each year on November 28, the local ‘Center for Jewish Life’ has launched a “Food for Friends” drive.
Initiated by Laura Rossey and a volunteer group formed to raise awareness of the Mason Mitzvah Day mayoral proclamation, “Food for Friends” encourages participants to bring nonperishable food items and place them in the container outside the Jewish Discovery Center building, located at 7587 Central Parke Blvd, in Mason. The food collected will be distributed at the end of November to area families in need.
“We want to draw attention to this important day by honoring the victims of that fateful massacre [in Mumbai],” said Rossey, the Mitzvah Day Committee Chair. “The Chabad Jewish center there, known for its hospitality, was targeted. Our response is to flood the world with more goodness and random acts of kindness.”
Students of the Chai Tots Early Childhood Center and the Discovery Hebrew School, educational programs run by the Jewish Discovery Center, are leading the charge by collecting canned goods from friends and family to distribute to local friends in need.
“This is a great way to remind our children of the great Mitzvah [Divine Deed] of Tzedakah [charity],” said Rochel Kalmanson, Education Director at the center. “Children are taught at a young age to be sensitive to the needs of others and to give to our community.”
Two years ago, the world watched in horror as a small, but organized group of terrorists hit Mumbai, India, with a series of coordinated attacks throughout the city claiming nearly 200 innocent lives, leaving scores of others maimed and wounded.
Among the terrorists' chosen targets was the local Chabad House,* known as the "Nariman House." The casualties there included Chabad representatives Rabbi Gavriel Noach and his wife Rebbetzin Rivkah Holtzberg, and their four guests.
In response to the horrific events, the city of Mason’s Mayor Tom Grossmann proclaimed November 28, “Chabad of Mason Mitzvah Day,” calling upon citizens to increase in acts of goodness and kindness in memory of the Mumbai Massacre victims. The proclamation was presented to local Chabad representative, Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson of The Jewish Discovery Center, at the city’s meeting of City Council.
On the second anniversary of the massacre, the rabbi is reiterating the Mayor’s call to honor those who lost their lives with increased acts of goodness and kindness.
“What better way to honor the memories of our colleagues who died while on the front lines of a raging spiritual battle, radiating love, kindness, and inspiration to the far-flung corners of the earth,” said Rabbi Yosef. “When terror strikes, our response is to put more good into the world. If 10 people can perpetrate so much evil, imagine the good 100,000 people can accomplish.”
According to Kalmanson, each good deed, however small in nature, becomes part of a tapestry of light and life - something far more powerful than any force of darkness. “Help the needy, study wisdom, pray from the heart, say ‘I love you.’” he suggests.
To join the Mitzvah Day committee or for other events planned, please call Laura at (513) 442-5778 or email [email protected]
To learn more about Chabad or its programs, visit JDiscovery.com.
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* The Mumbai Chabad House is part of the global Chabad-Lubavitch network of more than 4,000 emissary families in 47 US states and 73 countries around the world. The Jewish Discovery Center is one of the 5 greater-Cincinnati Chabad branches and serves Butler, Warren and Northern Hamilton counties.
Chabad centers are Jewish hubs dedicated to spreading light and goodness in their respective communities. Open to every Jew, regardless of affiliation or level of observance, these community centers host classes, lectures and experiential workshops on Jewish topics, religious services, Shabbat and Jewish holiday meals, family Jewish experiences, preschools, religious schools, day schools, summer camps and more, responding to the unique needs of their respective community. Chabad centers typically offer social services as well, including counseling services, hospital visitations, prison visitations, senior citizen programming and the Friendship Circle for physically or mentally challenged children.
