MASON MAYOR SET
CHABAD OF MASON MITZVAH DAY
Mason
City
Council
remembers victims of Mumbai massacres
Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson, director of The Jewish Discovery
Center (
www.JDiscovery.com), was presented with a proclamation from City of Mason’s Mayor Tom Grossmann, on Mon., Dec. 15, at the city’s meeting of City Council. The mayor proclaimed November 28, “Chabad of Mason Mitzvah Day,” calling upon citizens to increase in acts of goodness and kindness in memory of the more than 170 victims of the Mumbai attacks at the end of November. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, directors of the Chabad House in Mumbai, were among those brutally murdered when the Chabad center was targeted by terrorists. The ceremony took place at the City of Mason Municipal Building and was open to the public.
“What better way to honor the memories of our colleagues who died while on the front lines of a raging spiritual battle, spreading Jewish knowledge and observance to the far-flung corners of the earth ,” Kalmanson said in his address to city council following the presentation. The centers around the world are encouraging every person to take part in this monumental effort by adding in their observance of a Mitzvah good deed.
The Mumbai Chabad House is part of the global Chabad-Lubavitch network of more than 5,100 emissary families in every US states and over 100 countries around the world. The Jewish Discovery Center is one of the 6 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.
Chabad has vowed to respond to the dark tragedy of the Mumbai massacre by creating a passionate revolution of light through increased acts of goodness and kindness. To date, a “Mitzvot for Mumbai” tally entitled “What Can I Do?” on their website at JDiscovery.com counts over 9,600 Mitzvah [Godly] deeds pledged to counter the terror acts.
“While others seek to destroy the world, we seek to repair it,” said the rabbi. “Others seek to spread darkness and hatred; we must be as dedicated to causing light and love to shine wherever we go. If we increase in a Mitzvah act, we can bring light to the world and transform it.”
Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson (left) with Mayor Tom Grossman
Photos by: Colleen Kelley
