Thank You for Your Condolences

Thank you all for your heartfelt words of condolence, kindness, and support following the passing of my dear father, Rabbi Yisroel Rubin.

May his memory truly be a blessing. As King Solomon teaches, “The living should take to heart” — inspiring us to do a mitzvah, an act of goodness, in his memory.

A Special Shiva Gathering in Clifton Park

We held shiva here in Clifton Park. Members of the community came to share memories of my father, each bringing their own personal connection and stories.

I began by sharing some memories of my father's early years in Albany, the Jewish institutions he and my mother established, and especially his extraordinary creativity in bringing Judaism to life. From the Shabbat candlelighting matchbooks and Torah stickers to the kosher hot dog cart at the Capital and kosher pizza on Washington Avenue, so many initiatives began in Albany and eventually spread around the world. He had a unique gift for bringing Judaism alive in full color!

B.K. spoke emotionally about the lasting impact of watching Rabbi Rubin learn Torah with his friend John O’Brien, especially during his illness.

S.B. remembered first meeting Rabbi Rubin around 1990 when he brought him a Mac computer, beginning a friendship that lasted decades. B.B. recalled how genuinely fascinated Rabbi Rubin was by her work in nanotechnology, always wanting to understand every detail and the power of something so small.

J.L. shared how Rabbi Rubin always made him feel that whatever he was saying was important. That really captured something special about him. Despite being such a tremendous Torah scholar, he had a remarkable ability to connect with anyone and make them feel valued.

We also read the Rebbe's letter to Rabbi Rubin marking five years of Chabad in the Capital Region. E.S. commented that it almost sounded like the Rebbe was describing Rabbi Rubin's entire life - the challenges and tremendous blessings of bringing Torah to the Capital Region community.

Continuing His Legacy

My father loved and supported all the Jewish activities here in Clifton Park, from holiday celebrations to community Shabbat dinners and educational programs. He participated in many of them with tremendous joy and pride.

We are establishing a special fund in his memory to help these programs grow and continue bringing Judaism alive in full color. We invite you to be part of continuing his legacy.

This Week: Bereishis — Genesis

My father loved making the stories of the Torah come alive. One of his wonderfully creative projects was The Torah Times, presenting Torah stories as exciting newspaper reports, as though the events were happening today!

As we begin reading Bereishis this week, it's a wonderful opportunity to experience the Torah through his unique creativity.

Order your copy of The Torah Times here: The Torah Times - Sefer Bereishit

www.amazon.com/Torah-Times-Sefer-Bereishit/dp/1519758723

Shabbat shalom!
Light candles at 6:04 pm
Shabbat ends at 7:03 pm ... See MoreSee Less

The Torah Times - Sefer Bereishit

www.amazon.com

Torah Times is humorous and entertaining, but it is no joke! Rather than ancient once-upon-a-time characters, we relive Torah events as they happen, HERE and NOW. Rather than archaic characters in lon...