|
|
March 8, 2002
New rabbis in our midst
Lower Mainland community benefits from non-pulpit educators.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
In a new series, the Bulletin looks at rabbis who have
come to the B.C. community in recent years who may not be standing
behind a dais, but who influence the community in profound ways,
nonetheless.
With a shortage of pulpit rabbis around the world and with smaller
communities often suffering the most from that shortage, many areas
in British Columbia have become more accustomed to saying good-bye
to rabbis rather than hello.
That is until recently.
Thanks to, in part, the new Ohel Ya'Akov Community Kollel, some
help from a well-known rabbi in Israel and a little bit of fate,
Greater Vancouver has seen an influx of rabbis offering a variety
of services in the past couple of years.
And while these rabbis haven't filled any vacant pulpits, they are
certainly assisting in the educational and spiritual aspects of
the community.
So, while most members of the community are familiar with names
like Feinberg, Feigelstock or Bregman, they may not yet have heard
of Kohen, Yeshayahu or Berman.
Engaging the community
Rabbi Shmuel Yeshayahu's venture to the Jewish community of Greater
Vancouver started several years ago when he was spending time in
Jewish communities in Argentina, Chile and Peru working and teaching
at local yeshivot and helping out with High Holy Day and daily synagogue
services.
While visiting New York City in 2000, he was introduced to Rivka
Feigelstock, the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Feigelstock of Eitz Chaim
Synagogue.
Their relationship grew strong and, four months later, Yeshayahu's
life took a dramatic change when he arrived in Richmond, July 9,
2000, one day before he and Rivka would wed.
The newlyweds decided to stay in Greater Vancouver and Yeshayahu
has since taken on the role of administrator of the Community Kollel.
As part of his responsibilities, Yeshayahu also heads the innovative
Jewish speed-dating program that gives local Jewish singles the
opportunity to meet other singles for seven minutes at a time to
see if they can find their soulmate.
Now living in Kitsilano, Yeshayahu has also taken a leadership role
in that area's Jewish social scene. Kitsilano, the rabbi said, is
a place where many Jews live, but which has few Jewish organizations.
Yeshayahu leads several educational and social programs in the area,
including regular Shabbat dinners at his home. He invites anyone
and everyone interested to join his family for food, singing and
Jewish discussions any Friday night.
"What I am doing in Kitsilano is my most favorite part of the
work I'm doing in Vancouver," he said in his strong Israeli
accent. "The environment is really great because it's close
to the water and there is a young spirit.
"We moved to Kitsilano a year ago and now we have personal
relationships with more than 250 people."
On the last Saturday evening of every month, in the tradition of
closing out Shabbat, Yeshayahu organizes an event at Kitsilano's
West Side Café. Young adults sing, dance and celebrate their
Judaism in a social environment.
Need to put politics aside
Around the same time that Yeshayahu arrived in Richmond, Rabbi
Moshe Kohen was living in Israel with his wife, Raya, and their
three young children, and working with Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz
at the Mekor Chaim Educational Institutions.
In discussions with Steinsaltz and Eitz Chaim's assistant rabbi,
Shmulie Greene, Kohen decided to make his way to British Columbia
to take up a position with the Kollel, where he teaches young adults,
aged 20-40, about the Talmud, the Gemarah and Jewish thought.
Last year, Kohen was head of Judaic studies in what is now Vancouver
Talmud Torah high school and youth director at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue.
He is now working part-time with B.C. Kosher as a mashgiach
(kashrut supervisor). His current project with B.C. Kosher has him
involved with the Louis Brier Home and Hospital, helping with their
plans to attain fully supervised kashrut, set to be completed in
the next few weeks.
In Israel, Kohen taught Talmud classes for students with learning
disabilities and social problems at the Mekor Yeshivah in Jerusalem
and was the chief co-ordinator of the Ezra Youth Movement in Jerusalem.
Kohen isn't sure how long he and his family will be in Vancouver
but, except for community politics, he has enjoyed his time here.
"It's a very interesting place. Very small and unique,"
he said of the Jewish community. "The only thing that bothers
me is the politics. I think that every community has it but we need
to put aside the politics and go ahead to be together as one."
More information about the classes Yeshayahu and Kohen teach for
the Kollel can be found online at the Kollel's Web site, www.communitykollel.org.
^TOP
|
|
