Rabbi Mendel and Nechama Gurary recently arrived in Wood Ranch, California to open a new Chabad Center in the city. Wood Ranch is located in the hills of Simi Valley and has an estimated 400 Jewish families. The new Chabad House will host holiday programs, services, a women’s club, Torah classes, and an early childhood day care.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Shoshi Zilbershtrom have arrived in Jurmala, Latvia to open a new Chabad Center in that city. The new emissaries will focus on serving the ever-growing local Jewish community, businessmen, and thousands of tourists who come every summer to the popular tourist location on the shores of the Gulf of Riga and just west of the capital. The Zilbershtroms will also lead the youth and teen activities in Riga. The newly established Chabad House will help ensure that every Jew in the city will be able to connect to their Jewish roots and heritage.
Experience has borne out that people are enthusiastic and excited when they are told the history of Hakhel, that in the time of the temple this year would be a Hakhel year when the people and the king would gather in the temple. Furthermore, in the spiritual sense the mitzva (commandment) may be fulfilled now, too, by attending a Hakhel gathering which will effect more fear of G-d and greater Jewish unity. (From a letter of the Rebbe to Lubavitch Yeshiva of Manchester, 5748)
