Dishing out some soul food

AVRUM NADIGEL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

How long would it take to prepare your home and cook a seven-course, Friday night dinner for 75 people? Five days? A week? According to Henia Wineberg, it takes less than 24 hours.

"It doesn't take long," she said. "I start on Thursday. But that's just the preparation. The cooking I do later. I want everything to be fresh."

Rabbi Yitzchak and Henia Wineberg have been hosting large-scale Friday night dinners for two years. At times, they have crammed more than 100 people, mostly unaffiliated Jews, into their modest home.

But why go through the trouble? The clean up alone must take several days. And then there are the exorbitant costs and the ruckus. Why would anyone go though all this trouble to share their dining room with a bunch of strangers?

Henia Wineberg quoted the founder of Chassidism, the Ba'al Shem Tov, to explain her inspiration for organizing these events.

"The whole purpose of being born is to do a favor for another Jew, physical or spiritually," she explained.

The Winebergs belong to a Chassidic movement known as Chabad (an acronym derived from chochmah (wisdom), binah (insight) and da'at (knowledge). While most Chassidic sects remain fairly insolated from mainstream society, Chabad Chassidim dedicate time, energy and financial resources towards working with secular Jews. And while some Jews are uncomfortable with Chabad's outreach campaigns, Yitzchak Wineberg is clear that his intentions are sincere.

"We accept every Jew exactly the way they are," he said. "Our job is not to convert. We are here to provide a warm meal, to sing and to hear some Torah."

The rabbi's comments are not surprising, given that proselytizing would be a sure way to make his guests run for the door. But are unaffiliated Jews convinced that there is not some other agenda to the meals?

Harris Morton, a 30-year-old Internet company owner, grew up in a Reform Jewish household in Richmond. At the recommendation of a friend, Morton joined the Winebergs for his first traditional Shabbat dinner.

"It provided me with a new look at Judaism," said Morton. "It opened my eyes to the true meanings of Shabbat, in terms of togetherness and fullness."

When asked if his Reform background provided impediments to enjoying an Orthodox-style Shabbat dinner, Morton said, "Not at all. In fact, I'd like to be invited again."

Unlike Morton, Diane Goodman, originally from Montreal, attended Jewish day school and is quite knowledgeable about Jewish customs and traditions. However, upon moving to Vancouver in 1998, the 27-year-old University of British Columbia chemist did not feel overly welcomed by the Vancouver Jewish community. It took five years and some prodding by friends for Goodman to attend Jewish events. She claims her experiences are mostly positive, but singles out the Wineberg dinners as having a special role in the Vancouver Jewish community.

"Shabbat at the Winebergs is completely different than other Shabbat dinners I've attended," said Goodman. "I think it's because of his little stories. They offer universal truths about morals, values and the importance of family."

Goodman is also quick to dispel any rumors about undue pressure on the part of her hosts.

"People talk about Chabad like they're trying to convert you, but I don't feel like that," she said. "All I get is witnessing his lifestyle. And I should be so lucky to have such a happy family life."

Ironically it was other Chassidic and Orthodox sects that took issue with Chabad's outreach to secular Jews.

"Our peers claimed, 'How do you bring these people into your home. They'll influence your children. They'll turn your mind around.' " Yitzchak Wineberg said.

In the end, the opponents of Chabad, whom Wineberg terms "Chassidically challenged," followed suit and created institutions such as Aish HaTorah and Ohr Somayach, which are both yeshivot catering to unaffiliated Jews.

Ultimately, these groups understand that secular Jews may also be yearning to connect to something spiritual. But timing is everything and too much Torah can cause an unaffiliated Jew to lapse into an elaborate dream state. So Henia Wineberg sticks to the basics, like food.

"I know for a fact that people are very busy," she explained. "They don't have time to cook. And I know that they come here and receive a good home cooked meal. And that gives me a lot of satisfaction."

And when the physical appetites are taken care of, her husband fulfils the spiritual ones.

"I want to share my knowledge, the joy and excitement and the passion of living a Jewish life," Yitzchak Wineberg stressed. "These are the things I want to share at my Shabbat table."

For more information about the Winebergs' Friday night dinners, call the Chabad office at 604-266-1313.

Avrum Nadigel is a freelance writer and project manager for MN8 SOUND, a record label/recording studio for at-risk youth living in Vancouver.

^TOP