{"id":38777,"date":"2022-05-06T01:59:23","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T08:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=38777"},"modified":"2022-05-04T13:25:43","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T20:25:43","slug":"celebrating-25-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2022\/05\/06\/celebrating-25-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating 25 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chabad Richmond honours Rebbetzin Chanie and Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman at June 19 gala. (photo from Chabad Richmond)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal of the Freilach25 gala goes beyond just a thank you to me and Chanie,\u201d said Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman, who is being honoured with his wife Chanie next month.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about promoting the Rebbe\u2019s mission,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd, if Chanie and I can help do that, OK. We\u2019re dedicated to doing the Rebbe\u2019s work, to bringing the warmth of Yiddishkeit and the warmth of Torah and Chassidus (Chassidic philosophy) to as many people as we can, in whatever ways we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freilach25, which marks Chabad Richmond\u2019s 25th anniversary and celebrates the Baitelmans\u2019 many contributions to the community, will take place on June 19 at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. The keynote speaker at the event will be human rights advocate Natan Sharansky, who will talk on the importance of dialogue and cooperation between Jews from both sides of the Iron Curtain in the struggle for the release of Soviet Jewry, as well as the urgency of building and strengthening Judaism in our community.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with the Baitelmans, they spoke about their 25-year journey with Chabad Richmond, which began in October 1993.<\/p>\n

Lubavitch BC\u2019s Rabbi Yitzchak Wineberg brought the young couple out to Vancouver to be shluchim<\/em>(emissaries) of the Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994). Rabbi Yitzchak and Henia Wineberg were, and still are, their \u201csupervisors,\u201d but, in 2000, the Baitelmans went out on their own, when people asked for a Chabad centre in Richmond. Nonetheless, for the first 10 years, they maintained some of their duties and responsibilities for Lubavitch BC in Vancouver \u2013 programs, summer day camp, etc.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur kick-off event in Richmond was during Hanukkah,\u201d said Rabbi Baitelman. \u201cWe put the word out and had parties at our home over a couple of nights. In fact, we held a lot of programs in our home \u2013 Sunday morning Minyaneers Club, classes, and other programs. We weren\u2019t holding services yet, but we began expanding our programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chabad has had a presence in Vancouver for a long time. Not so for Richmond. \u201cOne of the biggest struggles we have in Richmond is getting the word out that we exist, what we do, and the welcoming atmosphere we have,\u201d said the rabbi.<\/p>\n

The Richmond Jewish community has evolved over the years and, he said, \u201cThere are different ways of measuring the changes. There are certain areas where we see incredible success and growth, in terms of the number of people participating and supporting Chabad. And financial support is an important measure of how much the community appreciates us, and the value they put on the work that we do. Thank G-d, our budget has grown every year, and we\u2019ve been able to offer more programs and activities. When we first moved to Richmond, we were still getting a salary from Vancouver, we were just raising money for our programs. Today, all our funds come from what we raise. The financial ties with Vancouver are long over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked what it\u2019s been like for their family being on shlichus here, Rebbetzin Baitelman said, \u201cOur kids are very proud of us. It\u2019s nice to hear that from your own children. It was hard because we didn\u2019t have a lot of family here. So, our kids didn\u2019t get to grow up with cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents. But they learned a lot and got \u2018voluntold\u2019 to do lots of different jobs \u2013 cooking and set-ups and welcoming \u2013 so they\u2019re like my assistants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rabbi Baitelman spoke warmly of growing up in the Rebbe\u2019s neighbourhood, being at his farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings) and seeing the energy, the love of every Jew, and the Rebbe\u2019s commitment to the spiritual well-being of each Jew.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an amazing inspiration, seeing the selflessness of the Rebbe,\u201d he said. \u201cMy grandparents also had a big impact on me. My maternal grandparents were shluchim of the previous rebbe. All my aunts and uncles (my mother\u2019s siblings, the Gordons) are all on shlichus. My parents were on shlichus until I was 2 or 3 years old. They considered themselves the unofficial embassy of Gordon shluchim around the world. Anyone inspired by the Gordon family would come to our home for Shabbos or after Sunday Dollars [every Sunday outside his office, the Rebbe would hand out a dollar bill to people who came to receive his blessing].<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, of course, Rabbi Wineberg inspired us by giving us the opportunity to come out here \u2013 he guides us a lot. Rabbi Lipa Dubrawsky was also a significant role model for how to inspire and engage people. And, of course, my uncle Rabbi Josh Gordon impacted my life tremendously. He was a shaliach in California who accomplished great things. He turned out to be a very influential, dedicated powerhouse of a man, in terms of leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

As to how they ended up in Metro Vancouver, Rabbi Baitelman said, \u201cWhen Chanie and I met, we discussed shlichus and we knew this was something we wanted to do, to make it the focus of our life. We knew what being shluchim would entail, although I must say that being young and a little bit na\u00efve helped. Being shluchim in North America fits with our talents and abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chanie Baitelman had confessed to her husband that she had only one hesitancy. She said she asked him: \u201cWherever we go \u2026 could they please speak English, because I\u2019m terrible at languages? Yechiel has a love for everything Russian, and he spent a couple of stints in Russia, and I was petrified we were going to end up there.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving here,\u201d she said, \u201cHenia Wineberg has been beyond inspirational. She took me under her wing and taught me how to navigate everything, even how to cook. When I got married, I knew how to cook three things, and one of them was cream of wheat, and only for a crowd. I was 21 years old when we came here and Henia would introduce me as \u2018the new rebbetzin\u2019 and I almost went through the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was younger,\u201d she continued, \u201cmy goal was to go to seminary in Australia, which I did. My parents were always very involved in our community, so we followed along and worked with them. Our grandparents and aunts and uncles were on shlichus, and extremely devoted to the Rebbe, so it was almost by osmosis that we took it on. It was something we aspired to. We lived in a little suburb of Detroit, Mich., and we grew up very wholesome. Family was our primary example to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

While her parents were not on shlichus when she was growing up, she said, \u201cMy father was a teacher in a Jewish (non-Chabad) day school and we were active in the Chabad community. My mother was also an educator. But now my parents are shluchim. They\u2019ve been shluchim for 21 years, so they went out on shlichus after us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both of the Baitelmans expressed gratitude when asked what message they\u2019d like to impart to the community.<\/p>\n

Chanie Baitelman said: \u201cThankfulness and gratefulness for allowing us to be part of your community and supporting and befriending us all these years. I\u2019ve learned something from everyone I\u2019ve met here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her husband contemplated for a moment before answering. \u201cFirst thing, gratitude is very important \u2013 gratitude to the Rebbe and all the people who inspired us to be shluchim, and who mentor us. I\u2019m so grateful to those people who opened their doors to us when we were an unknown commodity, a young couple new to the community. I try to always remember to say thank you to them for their belief in us, for their friendship and their support.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe there\u2019s still so much to do, both in terms of our personal growth, and in terms of communal growth,\u201d he added. \u201cOur best days are ahead of us. We have challenges, but they bring out the best in us. I invite everybody who wants to be part of this to bring their talents, experience and energy forward to join us. We\u2019re honoured and privileged to be on the journey with this community and, together, we should bring the Rebbe a lot of naches, and fulfil his dream and vision of the times of Moshiach, of a perfect world, when everybody will have what they need, and everyone will be happy and healthy and strong. And the beauty inherent\u00a0in Hashem\u2019s world will be visible and obvious to everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Baitelmans are the conduits through which many in the community connect with the Rebbe and his mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just the channel,\u201d Chanie Baitelman stressed. \u201cIt\u2019s not the easiest job, you have to work hard, but we\u2019re doing something meaningful. Really, it\u2019s a privilege. That someone would pay us to do meaningful work, is just beyond. Like our kids say: \u2018So, basically, Mom, you got your dream job. You\u2019re living your dream.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rebbe often used the metaphor of light \u2013 the power of light is that you can ignite an infinite number of flames from one light.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a sense, we are all shluchim, we\u2019re all doing the Rebbe\u2019s work in one way or another,\u201d said Yechiel Baitelman. \u201cSome do it as their career, some do it through volunteering or financial support, but having so many people involved in this army of goodness and kindness, all inspired by the Rebbe, that\u2019s so rewarding. I never really understood why people wanted to volunteer with Chabad, then I realized it\u2019s because others inspire them to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Baitelmans aren\u2019t people who seek out honours. However, said the rabbi, \u201cIf, by telling our story and being part of the Freilach25 gala, we can advance the Rebbe\u2019s mission for the betterment of the community, then do whatever you need to do. It\u2019s not really about us, but we\u2019re very grateful. Just please remember that there\u2019s a bigger goal beyond the thank you and acknowledgement. Something has to come from this, whether it\u2019s supporting Chabad or getting more involved, whatever it might be. Over the next 25 years, there\u2019s a lot more we need to accomplish, so please have that in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tickets for the gala are limited. They can be reserved at chabadrichmond.com\/freilach25<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shelley Civkin<\/strong> is a happily retired librarian and communications officer. For 17 years, she wrote a weekly book review column for the <\/em>Richmond Review. She\u2019s currently a freelance writer and volunteer.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chabad Richmond honours Rebbetzin Chanie and Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman at June 19 gala. (photo from Chabad Richmond) \u201cThe goal of the Freilach25 gala goes beyond just a thank you to me and Chanie,\u201d said Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman, who is being honoured with his wife Chanie next month. \u201cIt\u2019s about promoting the Rebbe\u2019s mission,\u201d he said. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":38778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6243,7368,21487,7282,218,20503,1623],"class_list":["post-38777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","tag-baitelman","tag-chabad-richmond","tag-freilach25","tag-gratitude","tag-judaism","tag-milestone","tag-rebbe"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38777"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38777\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}