FROM OUR INBOX
Here is a sampling of some notes and comments
received at Chabad (updated periodicaly)
Sunday, May 25, 2012
Dear Rabbi and Chanie,
Shabbos is special and so is the Zaklikovsky family. We always feel so welcome in your home. Thank you for sharing your Shabbos table with us once again.
Everything about the evening was beautiful.
Many Blessings.
January 6, 2010
Rabbi and Chanie
I know that Jerry already sent you a thank you email and we received your lovely poem, so I’m a bit tardy with my note. Forgive me, please! You should know that Jerry is also a master of the 4 line poem. Give us a call some day and listen to our voice mail message – every month there is a new message - in rhyme!
On a personal note, I want you to know how much I enjoyed myself last Friday. When Margie asked me if we would join her and Rick at your home, I was really excited. Honestly, I looked on it as an adventure. I must admit that I was/am interested in the Lubavitch way of life. Even as Jews, we often have prejudices bout people different than we are. After all, you wear long black coats and have long beards and payes (how do you spell that?) and women wear wigs! To us, it seems as if it is a throwback to another century (although we all might benefit from the old ways and less of the modern era!) And I’ve read about how women are viewed by the Orthodox. That didn’t make me feel too welcome.
Well, myths were dispelled.
And how grateful I am for the opportunity to have shared Shabbat dinner with you and your children. I always believe that we are better when we meet together and break down barriers. If more people would venture out of their comfort zone, the world would be a better place as we learned about one another and to accept one another.
Again, thanks for inviting us. It was wonderful!
Fondly,
Priscilla
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12/29/09
Dear Rabbi
Thank you for a most enjoyable Holiday Service
Harold L
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2/6/09
Dear Rabbi and Chanie
Gert & I will long remember your gracious hospitality. I thank you both for inviting us to share your celebration of Shabbat at your home. We wish you long life with much nachas from your lovely children.
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Dear Rabbi
Thank you for saying prayers for our granddaughter Justine…
We are grateful for your prayers. G‑d bless you and your family. We will continue to be in touch with you.
Connie & Isidore
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December’s presentation was handled by Bob Blitzer who on a very timely basis told the story of Chanukah and Christmas through music. The Chanukah music sounded like a digitalization of Klezmer from early times but this strange genre had a disco beat. Go figure! The Christmas music however was recognizable although Alvin and his Chipmunks never sang. In the middle of the program there was a sound like sleigh bells outside and a noise on the roof but alas, there was no fireplace chimney to fuel our hopes.
Then a rapid rapping resounding knock, (alliteration; Oh yeah!), was heard upon our chamber door, (it was really a door bell). When the door opened; yes Virginia, there he stood: Rabbi Zaklikovsky from the Monroe Chabad Jewish Center.
So, who did you expect maybe; Santa Claus? Rabbi Zaklikovsky, all of six feet six, not an ounce of fat on the frame; (what a basketball player he would have been); so as I was saying, the good Rabbi came to enlighten us on music and the discussion turned into a game: Stump The Rabbi! The most prominent question of the evening was why wasn’t chicken parave or for the uninitiated why is it considered meat? Rabbi Z did well but ran out of time and invited anyone and everyone — all Friends into his home to share a family Sabbath meal with him and to continue to play Stump The Rabbi. Ho-Ho-Ho.
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Dear Rabbi & Chanie
Thank you for the wonderful “Kosher Experience” and inviting us for Shabbos dinner Friday evening. You and Chanie did a wonderful job in opening your home to us.
It was greatly appreciated and I look forward to more occasions with you and your family.
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Dear Rabbi Zaklikovsky,
We were happy to see you and your lovely children at Susan and Norman’s home last Saturday night. We would like to wish you and your family a Happy Chanukah and all the best in the year to come.
Sincerely,
Pearl & Alan
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9.11.09
Dear Rabbi & Chanie
Thank you so much for the generous scholarship you afforded my son – last year. It was a true blessing as I was not employed.
I am now working part time and want to pay my share. Your program is so wonderful and I am so very grateful.
Again thank you very much. …is learning so much and the socialization with “typically developing children” is good for him.
With deepest love and affection
Sari
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7/20/09
Many thanks for your hospitality. The evening was delightful and the food outstanding. Enclosed please find a donation to Chabad in honor of Chanie’s second bowl of chicken soup.
Respectfully,
George & Harriet
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6/18/09
July 20, 2009
Dear Rabbi Eliezer and Chanie
Thank you so much for visiting us and bringing Chanie’s delicious Challah. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in welcoming us into your Chabad community. We are looking forward to visiting your center on August 14.
Fondly,
Linda & Jerry
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Dear Rabbi and Rebbetzin Zaklikovsky,
I want to thank you so very much for the beautiful party that you helped me make for my mother. You made it a wonderful experience for everyone there – in ruchniyut and gashmiyut. I feel that you touched the hearts and neshamas of all the people there, especially, of course, my mother. The beautiful Dvar Torah, the brief moment of song, and the very special present you gave my mother – it was all filled with Ahavat Yisrael and I could see that my mother and everyone was very moved by your kindness and thoughtfulness.
I appreciate also the way in which you reached out to our friends and relatives – trying to draw them closer to Yiddishkeit.
I always had a great respect for Lubavitcher Chassidim even before I became frum (I would encounter them briefly here and there during my college years). Now, of course, I really saw Chabad in action.
It is so important that you are there in your spot in Monroe and what you accomplished at this birthday gathering was really something special. It was truly a Kiddush Hashem. Thank you
Sincerely
Tzipora Z
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HI CHANIE.....
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING MY BIRTHDAY SO SPECIAL. YOU ARE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE, WITH YOUR FOOD PREPARATION, SERVING, YOUR ENERGY AND THE LOVE AND CARING YOU GENERATE TO ALL THOSE AROUND YOU.
THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN SAD FOR ME....THOSE ARE THE TIMES I MISS T... SO MUCH WITH THE HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS. I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE LOVE OF MY FRIENDS AROUND ME, BUT A PIECE IS ALWAYS MISSING. MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN CONNECTICUT, 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY AND WORKS, AND MY SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW AND MY LITTLE 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON AIDAN, WENT TO FLORIDA FOR THE HOLIDAYS....SO I GOT TWO HUGE BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS YESTERDAY AND PEOPLE IN MY LIFE LIKE YOU AND RABBI TO GET ME THRU.
TAKE CARE,
S.
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Rabbi & Chanie,
What a wonderful pleasure to share “Shabbat” with you both and your family. You were such gracious hosts. You touched the “pintele Yid” in me. Thanks so much!
Fondly,
Marilyn
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6/16/08
Dear Rabbi & Chanie,
I want to thank you for the wonderful Shabbat evening at your home Friday night. Dinner was delicious, the company superb, and best of all, it brought back some very precious memories of our Shabbat dinners with my sisters and my parents when I was growing up. I also want to thank you for the Shavuot services last Monday and the lovely lunch.
I’m enclosing the article of the story I told which was published in the NJJN this past winter (How I found my family after 50 years of searching).
Sincerely,
Marlene
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Dear Rabbi & Chanie,
I want to thank you for inviting me to your home for Shabbos dinner.
It was a wonderful evening, and I felt your warmth and hospitality. Loved being with your delightful children.
Sincerely,
Evelyn
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June 15, 2008
Dear Chani & Rabbi Zaklikovsky,
I know it has been a week but Moti and I want to tell you how much we enjoyed our dinner with you last week on Shavuot. We were honored to be invited and to feel a part of the community that you are building. I tardied with our donation to Chabad for the Yizkor book, but I have not forgotten our promise.
בכל ההצלחה
Fran & Mordechai
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February 15, 2009
Dear Children of the Chabad School,
We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contribution for the children of Sderot. We were very excited to find out that there are Jewish children like you who think about our children and want to help us.
Thank you for the lovely games and candies. They were given to children in air raid shelters in Sderot. The children in the shelters enjoy experiential and educational activities and receiving a hot lunch, as they spend their day in a fully protected location in the company of a dedicated and loving staff.
May G‑d bless you all,
Reut Sderot Association & The Children of Sderot.
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Rabbi Zaklikovsky & Chanie
Sara and I wish to thank you for a lovely Shabbat dinner and interesting conversation. We hope to be able to join you again in the near future.
Shalom
Paul & Sara
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Thank you Rabbi Zaklikovsky for your comforting words on the passing of my mom
Murray & Florence
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Dear Rabbi and Chanie
How can I begin to thank you for your kind words and the meaningful 71st Psalm you presented to me last Saturday. You two are the most caring Rabbi & wife we have ever met. We love you and the children like family. You have made me feel very special.
Shalom with love
Dorothy
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Dear Chanie
Thank you so much for all your efforts in preparing the Kiddush in honor of my beloved father.
As I was slowly walking down the stairs and came to the part where I could see the room – I stopped right there on the steps. How special everything looked. Actually, and I hope this doesn’t sound too corny, I put my hand to my heart.
It’s important for me to let you know how much I appreciate the care you took in preparing the Kiddush.
I was also happy to see your Aunt and Uncle were also there. Although I didn’t get a chance to say HI – please let them know how pleased I was that they were there to share in the afternoon.
With love, always
Natalie
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Dear Rabbi,
On behalf of the A- families, I thank you for presiding over the services for my beloved -. Both your presentations and prayers, as well as your letter is heart warming and of great comfort.
Sincerely,
D-
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Dear Rabbi Eliezer & Chanie,
It was wonderful having Shabbat dinner with you and your family. The food was terrific and the conversation around the table very enlightening.
Thank you for the special invitation. We look forward to sharing many more holidays with you.
Sincerely,
M & A