Chabad of Riverdale Commemorates Lubavitcher Rebbe With Scholar in Residence
To commemorate the 21st anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Chabad of Riverdale will be hosting Rabbi Lazer Gurkow of Congregation Beth Tefilah of London, Ontario, over the Shabbat of June 19–20.
Rabbi Gurkow is a sought-after teacher who has presented in Israel, Australia, Europe and North America. His talks combine hands-on mentorship with empowering self-help techniques. Rabbi Gurkow has authored the curriculum on leadership for the Rhor Jewish Learning Institute, which has been taught to over 50,000 students. As a prolific author, Rabbi Gurkow has written more than 750 essays, and has been a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, Chabad.org and Israel National News. He is also the author of Portraits of Leadership: Reaching for God and Living with Higher Purpose.
Rabbi Gurkow’s weekend in Riverdale will begin with a lecture on Friday night following a dinner at Chabad, entitled “Planting Seeds of Happiness in the Fertile Soil of Life: The Rebbe’s Formula for Joy.” On Shabbat morning, Rabbi Gurkow will be teaching “Tanya Soul Maps” prior to davening at 9. At 11 a.m., he will be giving a sermon entitled “The Spiritual in Ritual: What Can I Tell My Child to Make Ritual More Exciting?”
Following a Shabbat luncheon, Rabbi Gurkow will be giving another lecture at 1:30 p.m. entitled “Searching for Me and Finding God: The Rebbe’s Contribution to Jewish Thought.” At 6 p.m., the last lecture of the day given by Rabbi Gurkow will be called “Love Like Wine Improves With Time: When One Plus One Equals One.” At the end of Shabbat, participants will leave Riverdale for prayers at the Rebbe’s Ohel (resting place).
All sermons and services will be held at the Chabad of Riverdale, located at 535 West 246th Street. Sponsorships are available for $180. The Friday-night dinner is $35 and the Shabbat luncheon is also $35. Children 10 and younger are $18; children three and younger are free.
by Tamar Weinberg