Lag B'omer BBQ 2012

May 10, 2012
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY.

Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach held its annual BBQ this past Thursday at the Rabbi and Reb. backyard.

On Lag B’omer which commemorates the yahrzeit of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai the author of the Zohar one of the most famous books of Kabbala. Its become a custom to celebrate this day with making a fire reminding us of great flame that followed him to his final burial.

“Rabi Shimon lived his life in a ‘higher dimension’ he lived a Moshiach lifestyle. He saw the greater purpose in life. We must learn from him at least on his yahrzeit that there are times in life we must tune into the ‘higher dimension’ of our own lives.” Said Rabbi Avrohom Winner, who together with his wife Shula are the directors of the Chabad of Manhattan Beach.

The many young families and children that attended are from the Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach Russian Jewish Community.

“I was really just planning to come in and say hello out of respect to the Rabbi and Shula. I was in total shock of what was going on there. The place was packed many of the families and children I know from the neighborhood, the fun entertainment, delicious food and great company kept me there till the end”. Said Simon a community member.

The Winner’s of Manhattan Beach run many programming for Children and adults throughout the year. From holiday celebration to kosher cooking classes, kabbala lectures and synagogue services.

“Wow! Shula and Rabbi you guys know how to throw a Party!!” said Eve Estrin a member of our community. “I was totally not expecting this.”

The event included a magician show for the children and the lighting of a bon-fire where the kids raosted their own marshmallows.
For more info on this or other programs of Chabad visit: www.ChabadManhattanBeach.com.

For more pictures >

Celebrating Passover Seder in Manhattan Beach

Picture taken before the Holiday commenced

April 6, 2012

(Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY) Hundreds of Young Jewish Russian American families from the greater Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach communities participated and celebrated the Family Passover Seder this past Friday, April 6 at the Ohel David and Shlomo catering hall. The seder was hosted by Neshama-Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach.

“This is one of, if not the only Passover Seder in south Brooklyn which held a simultaneous children’s program and seder. We want people to realize that Judaism is a ‘family thing’, said Rabbi Avrohom and Shula Winner, co-directors of Chabad of Manhattan Beach.

“It was amazing to watch Shula and how she captivated all the children. We just love what the Rabbi and Shula are doing for our children and the community at large, bringing us Russian Jews together is no small feat”, said Eve a resident of the Oceana complex in Brighton Beach.

The Seder service and dinner was a beautiful event which concluded with a spontaneous dance to the song “next year in Jerusalem!”

For more info visit our website www.ChabadManhattanBeach.com.

Purim In National on Brighton Beach

“An elder chossid from 150 years ago showed up for the Purim Shpiel in Brighton Beach this Purim” 

Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, NY. Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach held its first PURIM in NATIONAL event. The overflow crowd of some seven hundred participated in the event that began Thursday afternoon with a reading of the Megilah and lasted late into the night with a chassidic Farbrengen. Due to the enormous crowd the event had to be held on two floors, an amazing children’s program and show on the first floor and a buffet dinner and adult celebration in the main ballroom.

This event was hosted by Rabbi Avrohom Winner, Chabad of Manhattan Beach. Rabbis Zushe Winner, Shimmy Silver and Moishe D. Winner, Chabad of W Brighton Beach.

The event included a Purim Shpiel of ‘Reb Moishe Ukrainer’ visiting Brighton Beach, asking all members of his “family” – all Jews living in the area – to reconnect with their roots. This Chassid from Ukraine of 150 years ago, related to the audience stories of the Lubavitch Rebbe who was born and lived in his youth in the Ukrainian cities of Nikolayev and Dnepropetrovsk, and he urged all to learn more at their local Chabad Houses.

The Rabbis held a Kapelia (choir) singng many Russian Chassidic meledies followed by a Chassidic Farbrengen, the audience was very inspired.

One man, 42 years old, committed himself to have a Bris in the following week. Another committed to buy a quality set of Teffilin and wear it daily. For many this was the first Purim that they ever celebrated.

For more Pictures click here >

Siddur Awarded to Oldest Class

Sunday, March 4, 2012

What an inspirational Sunday we had this week at Hebrew School.

The oldest class celebrated a special Siddur Party. It was a presentation awarding the oldest class in Hebrew School with their own Siddur – Paryer Book. Throughout the past few years in Hebrew School these children have been perfecting their Hebrew reading skills, now they will be reading from the prayer book itself instead of workbooks. They will also learn the order and format of the prayers.
The Siddur is theirs to keep and at the end of this year they will take them home.

“It was so beautiful to hear the different individual reasons why each child prays, what they ask for, and what they thank Hashem – G-d for.” said Mora Leah Gopin the class teacher.

“With the siddur, we each have the power to express ourselves and request from G-d for all of our needs.” said Rabbi Avrohom Winner, Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach. “Winner, shared an inspiring story of a young who didn’t know how to read, he only knew the Hebrew Alphabet, he beseeched before G-d to compile the recited letters into words”.

The class felt special as the entire school looked on as they were receiving their siddur.
“We want the younger children to strive and look forward to the time when they will get their own Siddur”. said Shula Winner, the Hebrew School Director.

The program concluded with delicious refreshments celebrating together.

Thank you parents that came out on that special morning and joined us. May we have many more celebrations together!

For more pictures>

Bridging the Generations - Grandparents day at Chabad

MANHATTAN BEACH - Sun. 2/12/12.
What a Sunday we spent with our grandparents.

It was such a beautiful scene, seeing all those children greeting their grandma or grandpa into Hebrew school.

“Grandparents you guys are the connecting bridge between the generations, its from you that the grand kids see the past and their personal connection to Judaism” said Rabbi Winner, director of the Chabad in Manhattan Beach. “…Tell them the stories of your grandparents, the impact can be extraordinarily impressionable”, added the Rabbi.

The impact made upon everyone and the atmosphere was very warming to the heart.
Words were shared by some of the Grandparents including Mrs. Mirra Khauvulya. Who spoke of the opposition to Judaism in Russia, and now, through seeing her Grandchildren Learning in a Hebrew School it makes her feel that she has won all that opposition!
The program included a delicious lunch and a show and tell from grandparents of something personal and dear to them that they want the grandchildren to remember.

“It was so interesting to see the different items of the past that the grandparents brought along” said Shula Winner, Director of the Hebrew School.

Richard Fesinstine's grandfather Mr. Peter Korotoshevsky showed off a newspaper clipping and Tallit from his Bar Mitzvah in the US. When Peter was in Russia and turned 13, it was forbidden to have a Bar Mitzvah (or to do anything Jewish for that matter). When Peter came to America he finally had his Bar Mitzvah. He was 50 years old!

For more pictures of the event >

Bar Mitzvah Fesinstein Article

Chanukah Children's Party and Show

December 25, 2011

(Brooklyn, NY) Neshama hosted a Chanukah Children's Party and Show where hundreds of Russian American families from the greater Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach communities participated.

The program included a Chanukah Menorah Building Contest. "We want children to bring the holiday home. By making this contest hundreds spent time during the week building their menorahs and decorating them", said Rabbi Avrohom Winner.

This program was a joint project of Neshama - Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach and W Brighton Beach.

For more pics visit our website www.ChabadManhattanBeach.com.