Yesterday, Monday, volunteers of MTC’s L’Chaim Project provided a minyan for Yitzchak ben Yosef.
Rabbi Z. Samama of Chabad South Shore officiated at the service. Here is the gist of what he said:
Today’s service is a double miracle.
The first miracle is that a Jewish Soul has come back home. After being disconnected from the Jewish People and his family for many years, Yitzchak ben Yosef reconnected when a Righteous Gentile put me in touch with him. I went to visit Yitzchak on Thursday. I spoke to him about the importance, uniqueness and eternality of the Jewish Neshama. In the course of our discussion I began to explain and recite the ‘Modeh Ani’ prayer. As soon as I said the words ‘Modeh Ani…’, Yitzchak began to sing that prayer in a nursery rhyme he had heard years ago as a child. Together we sang, together we cried, and together we reconnected with our Jewish Neshama.
He passed away the next day, Friday.
The second miracle is the minyan here thanks to MTC’s L’Chaim Project. Here’s a Jew who lived in isolation from his people for decades. But in the end he comes home and is laid to rest as a Jew, surrounded by fellow Jews he had never met.
Yitzchak’s story reminds us all that God never forgets His People. Whatever happens in life and whatever choices we make or situations we end up in, God remembers us and brings us home. This story pushes us to remember that we all have that Neshama which remains forever connected to Her people and to God.
May the Neshama of Yitzchak ben Yosef find peace and rest in its journey to the next world.
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To join the pool of volunteers, email levi@themtc.com
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Hampstead Remembrance Day Ceremony 2024
Good morning,
Thank you Mayor Jeremy Levi and councillors of the Town of Hampstead for honouring me with the opportunity to share a few words at this important occasion.
As the Mayor explained, we are gathered here today to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect and preserve the Freedoms offered by this great country of Canada.
The Director General earlier said that ‘it is important that we know why we need to remember’. Indeed, why is it important to remember?
There are two levels to the answer.
First, remembering helps us remain grateful and humble. We must understand that what we have didn’t come about of its own accord. It’s important that we know that there are those who came before us who have fought hard, and even given up their very lives, so that we can have the beautiful life of Freedom in Canada. We don’t exist in a vacuum. In this way, we remain grateful and humbled by the blessings we have and never take them for granted.
Second, remembering helps us be inspired. We must be inspired to live up to the Freedoms that have been preserved by those heroes we are gathered here to remember.
What does it mean to ‘live up to Freedom’ and why is Freedom so important? And an even simpler and better question is, what is Freedom?
Here too there are two levels.
First level of Freedom is the Freedom to Choose. To choose how we act out our lives without government or political coercion. The Freedom to choose our Faith, to choose our occupation, to say what we’d like, to travel where we’d like, etc. All of this is afforded to us and protected by this blessed country of Canada.
The second level is the ‘Freedom to Be’. This is a much deeper level. It’s not simply a question of how I act, but a question of who I am. And that’s true Freedom - to be me.
In that case, the great question emerges: who am I? What am I at the core?
Torah has a very deep and empowering insight. The Torah tells us that man is ‘Made in the Image of God’. That is the core and essence of being a Human Being - being Gods representative on earth carrying His Holy Image.
Living in touch and aligned with this core truth is what it means to be truly Free - Free to be Me. This is what it means be inspired by those who died for our Freedom.
How do we live that way? How do we live a life aligned with our true essence of being ‘Made in God’s Image’? Here are two suggestions.
One: begin each day with the following short prayer. In Hebrew it reads מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך. In English translation: I thank You, Living and Eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me, Your faithfulness in me is great.
With this prayer we are reminded that every day is a gift from God to be cherished and utilized in manner congruent with His trust in me to carry His Image.
Two: get a hold of one of these charity boxes and begin your day by placing a coin inside like so. This small exercise helps us remember that as a Human Being Made in Gods Image I am not simply a receiver of life, but a giver.
This would be a truly inspired remembrance of those who gave up their lives to persevere our Freedom.
Thank you!
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🔥🔥Rabbi New on the @FromTheInsideOutPodcast
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TONIGHT!
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Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky, 74, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyany Chinuch - Chabad HQ, and chairman of the International Conference of Shluchim, passed away yesterday, the 27th of Iyar. Reb Moshe dedicated his life to the Rebbe’s vision of building Chabad Houses in every corner of the globe. He attended the opening of the Montreal Torah Center representing Chabad HQ. May his memory be a blessing. Moshiach now!
POWERFUL!! Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky A"H at the MTC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
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Toady, the 13th of Iyar, is the Yartzeit of the Rebbe’s brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib.
https://youtu.be/wSLDgaWhSJQ
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Learn about the history, meaning and Halacha of today's fast - the 10the of Tevet. Check out our playlist tinyurl.com/4fr4r4be
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Shabbos, Yud Tes Kislev, we begin the Hayom Yom anew. Learn about this unique book written and published by the Rebbe here:
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Rabbi Moishe New interviewed by the @AFP
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Jewish stories, insights, learning, and inspiration. Updated Daily.
The official YouTube channel of the Montreal Torah Center.
Here you'll find videos of all the excitement at the MTC, classes with Rabbi Moishe New (Moshe New), Rabbi Itchy Treitel, Rabbi Levi Y New plus guest lectures. ENJOY!
The Montreal Torah Center is a community center in Hampstead, QC that attracts Jews of all ages and backgrounds. MTC is part of the global Chabad network. Our goal is to create a space where every Jew feels welcomed and inspired to do one more Mitzvah so that our part of the world becomes a more perfected and G-dly place. Our facilities include a: synagogue, library, lounge, preschool, youth center, Mikvah, health and fitness center and a social hall.
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27 October 2015