Shaloh House

Marks 100th Class in Rebbe’s Honor

 

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

 

STOUGHTON - Rabbi M. Schneerson, whose 100th birthday would have occurred on March 24, 2002, did not like to receive birthday gifts. Rather, he hoped people would instead work on humanitarian efforts, or improve their knowledge of the Torah. To that end, Stoughton’s Shaloh House strove to conduct 100 Judaic-themed classes prior to the Rebbe’s 2003 birthday; they reached that aim on March 4.

 

The program, which consisted of adult education, study groups and learning experiences, transpired throughout the year, with the goal to educate as many people as possible on varied topics. Shaloh House, an all-welcoming Chabad Lubavitch-synagogue and outreach center located at 50 Ethyl Way, Stoughton, has served the Jewish community of the South Shore since 1987 with educational programs for children and adults that include a preschool, a kindergarten and varied community outreach projects. Executive Director Rabbi Menachem Gurkow’s Jewish Music Festival, held each Labor Day since 2001 and featuring major bands, arts activities, food and cultural displays, has become an annual institution, with 6,000 guests attending the first event. In addition, Gurkow has spearheaded successful, well-attended events at area malls, supermarkets and other locales which whimsically, yet thoroughly highlight aspects of Jewish cultural life. Gurkow’s in-house initiative honoring the beloved Rebbe Schneerson, however, is his current focus.

 

“We made a resolution this year to have at least 100 Torah classes at Shaloh House in honor of the Rebbe’s 100th birthday,” he said. “This year-long project has created much excitement, awareness of the Rebbe's accomplishments, and brought together the different study groups at Shaloh House to all work for one common cause.”

 

Class 100, was reached at the 7 p.m. Talmud class on March 4, which corresponded to the 30th of Adar 1 on the Hebrew calendar, just 4.5 weeks before the Rebbe’s 101st birthday. The classes were thematically and logistically varied. “They included weekly Talmud classes, women’s groups, a special guest speaker at the Rosh Chodesh breakfast, Shabbat morning classes, parents’ Hebrew school classes, a lecture series, and more,” said Gurkow. The 100th class was celebrated with a L’Chaim and cake.

 

“Shaloh House will, of course, continue with its many classes, even when they are not being counted,” said Gurkow, whose group just completed their third Jewish Family Expo at the Cobb’s Corner Mall as well. “It was sensational and very educational for children and adults,” he said. The expo, attended by 400 people during its three-day run, featured an innovative Jewish Life Cycle. Partially sponsored by the CJP Synagogue Program Fund and Lappen Discount Auto Parts, Rentals Unlimited, Dame's Associates and Hilton Tent City, included a Wedding dress-up area (complete with a breaking-glass sound effect machine), an Aleph Bet beanbag game, a Bar Mitzvah board game, a Dating Well and a Jacob and Esau hunting tent. At a Hebrew Birthday finder, people registered their birthday in the computer, obtaining a Hebrew birthday certificate stating their next Hebrew birthday. Other exhibits included a newborn room showcasing important traditions celebrating a new baby, a Bris exhibit featuring Elijah's chair, and a Pidyon Haben display emitting chocolate shekels.

 

Shaloh House, which runs the net group Shalohhousestoughton@yahoogroups.com as well, welcomes Jews of all stripes (most likely, curious non-Jews would not be turned away either). “There are no prerequisites for getting involved at Shaloh House,” said Gurkow, who emphasised that one did not have to agree with everything that Shaloh House says or does. “If you are Jewish, you automatically belong.”

 

For more information, call 781-344-6334 or email shalohhouse@shalohhouse.com.