 
Chanukah Telethon, December 13
|
Published on Thursday, November 19, 2009 -
COMMENTS (0)
|
|
The upcoming Chanukah Telethon is set to include a live chuppah wedding ceremony for a remarriage of a couple from the Former Soviet Union to help revitalize the faith of this immigrant family. “Chanukah is a festival of miracle and during these difficult and challenging economic times, we wanted to share this uplifting moment,” explains Rabbi Anchelle Perl, director of Chabad of Mineola and telethon co-host, “to bring hope, happiness, and joy to the widest community.”
The bride and bridegroom are Tatyana and Alex Shalshin who live in Mineola. They graciously accepted this opportunity to broadcast this special moment in their lives with the world, with the wish it would inspire others to know that it’s never too late to accomplish good things in life. The anticipation of excitement and rejoicing is great. The Jewish wedding ceremony is to be officiated by Rabbi Perl who will speak of survival and the creation of a new world of tradition and purity, of majesty and splendor, of blessings and of peace.
On the flip side, Rabbi Perl will also be seen in his bright yellow apron and large white chef’s hat frying latkes for the first International Kosher Latke Eating Contest. Eight contestants will have three minutes to eat as many latkes as they can while a scorekeeper known as a “Latke-ette” counts the number of latkes consumed. The top three winners will receive Chanukah gelt in the amounts of $360 for first prize, $250 for second prize, and $180 for the third prize. Rabbi Perl will present all contestants with gifts such as menorahs, books, and silver coins. Anyone interested in participating in the contest should e-mail KosherLatkeEatingContest@gmail.com. “I created the Kosher Latke Eating Contest to bring lightheartedness and joy into people’s lives that is part of this happy holiday,” says Rabbi Perl. To warm up his culinary skills, celebrity Chef Jeff Nathan, of Abigail’s restaurant in NYC, showed Rabbi Perl how to make the world’s best latkes. Telethon viewers will see a video of Chefs Perl and Nathan that also includes a latke recipe.
Also on the program, three local teenagers will be admitted into the Good Deeds Hall of Fame and honored for continuing their work helping those who are less fortunate. Larry Slatky, executive vice president of the Nassau University Medical Center will be recognized for helping children with special needs.
In addition, the telethon will include video footage of the burial of the time capsule that took place last spring on the grounds of Chabad of Mineola when the sun was in the same position in the sky as the first day of creation, which occurs every 28 years. Rabbi Perl asked young children to insert papers describing what they aspire to be in 28 years, the next time this will happen. A membership list of the synagogue was also inserted.
During the past year, Rabbi Perl initiated and expanded his programs to help those who have fallen through the cracks of Judaism and those who are in need. For example, he partnered with Winthrop Hospital in Mineola to open a Sabbath House so observant Jews have a place to stay within walking distance of the shul. He is also increasing his work at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow to now include women in his Jewish Education Hour. Every week challah and grape juice is delivered to the jail by Chabad of Mineola. For Chanukah, they are also planning to deliver latkes.
In another innovative program, in conjunction with the national Cars for Clunkers program, Rabbi Perl had his own “Seat for Clunkers” that was seen on WNBC TV. Those who donated a car received a tax deduction and two front row tickets for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Chabad of Mineola.
“Despite our hardship this year having to deal with an anti-Semitic attack on our shul, we cannot allow cynicism and hatred to dampen our spirits,” says Rabbi Perl. “Our goal is to continue helping those who need money—due to foreclosures, bankruptcy, job loss, etc.—and further expand our charitable work,” explains Rabbi Perl. “Parents of our Hebrew School children call us every day asking for help and moral support, and we want to be there for them.”
This year, Rabbi Perl’s goal is to raise $500,000 to further expand the charitable programs offered by the Chabad of Mineola. Some of the programs supported by the Chanukah Telethon include good deed awards for teenagers, drug and AIDS prevention outreach, toys for hospitalized children, hospital visitation to the lonely, children’s matzah factory, bar/bat mitzvah for the unaffiliated, and many others.
The Chanukah Telethon fun and festivities will include Rocking DJ Mickey B and entertainers including the Chassidic “Dancing Rabbis,” a juggler, a comedian, mentalist David Levitan, and others. A free raffle drawing with many fabulous prizes will be held. To enter, send an e-mail with your name, address, and phone number to ChanukahTelethonRaffle@gmail.com.
For more information on the Chanukah Telethon, contact Rabbi Perl at 516-739-3636. The fundraiser will air Sunday, December 13, 7:00–11:00 p.m. on WLNY TV 10/55 and reach viewers on Long Island and in the tri-state area with a simultaneous webcast at www.chanukahtelethon.com. ♦
No Comments
|
| |
|
Click Here To Download
this
week's paper as a PDF
Click Here For Newspaper Archive.
|
SUBSCRIBE
Get 5TJT Delivered to your door
every thursday morning.
|
Poll
5TJT Visitors
255644
|
