By Robert Kalfus
Chabad of Yonkers/Greystone Jewish Center Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz celebrates his 42nd birthday this past Sunday, July 20, and for the past decade, has invited the community to enjoy a lavish free BBQ at the synagogue at which Yonkers residents, synagogue members, elected officials and those running for office attended, meeting and greeting, and pressing the flesh.
Rabbi Hurwitz literally served the community, celebrating his 42nd Birthday with a Grand BBQ celebration, delivering an extensive menu of kosher hot dogs with buns, hamburgers, grilled chicken, French fries, relish, potato chips, potato salad, homemade cole slaw, watermelon, cotton candy, bottles of cold water, and birthday cake for dessert, to the more than 100 people who joined his birthday celebration for three hours.
Rabbi Hurwitz and synagogue members sweated over a hot grill cooking the fresh and tasty meals on a day which thankfully was not one of the hottest days of this summer, enlisting the assistance of his wife, Rebbetzin Chanie, and four of their five daughters, all who helped prepare and serve. Rabbi Mendy’s father, Rabbi Israel Hurwitz, joined his sons, his nieces and grandchildren.
Rabbi Hurwitz explained how his 42nd birthday relates to this week’s upcoming double Torah parshaot Motot-Masei, meaning “Tribes” and “Journeys”.
“The Torah recounts how the Jewish people wandered and encamped in the desert for 42 years, from the time of Exodus leaving Egypt to their encampment on the plains of Moab across the river from the land of Canaan. They had 42 different stopovers; sometimes stopped for a day, sometimes a few days, sometimes a year, sometimes a few years. Sometimes it seems they even went backwards. The number 42 represents the 42 different journeys which people goes through in their own lifetime. This does not mean that you may go physically from Yonkers to The Bronx, or vice versa, it is 42 different stages in our lives, the 42 stopovers in our lives. The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement more than 300 years ago, said that these are journeys that every individual goes through in their lives. At each moment in your life, we are meant to be here, and we should not feel that ‘oh, I’m going backwards.’ Every day is an opportunity for meeting a person in the street, a person that you know, or a person that you do not know. You must be able to be aware of and to seize the moment. You can discuss the seven Noachide laws, or possibly help them with putting on tefillin. Supply them and encourage them to light Shabbat candles.”
Noting his latest birthday, Rabbi Hurwitz said “As you age and get older, you need to continue your education and acquire knowledge and wisdom. You also do not lessen your activities, but you instead increase all the good that you can do and accomplish, and you never stop helping others. Chabad of Yonkers has programs for religious instruction, spirituality, outreach, education, and we seek the health and well-being of the entire Yonkers community.”
In addition to Rabbi Hurwitz’ regular free Wednesday night Torah discussion and learning class on ZOOM, please contact the Chabad of Yonkers/Greystone Jewish Center for info on upcoming activities, religious services and dinners, Hebrew school and Bar Mitzvah preparation, Shabbat morning and the upcoming High Holiday services, at (914) 963-8888, or www.JewishYonkers.com
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