Tishrei in Ein Karem

Chabad of Ein Karem, Jerusalem, ran a whole range of successful activities this Tishrei. For Rosh Hashanah, shliach Rabbi Yisrael Naftalin gave out hundreds of gift packages that included a copy of Tehillim, the simanim for Rosh Hashanah, candies, and greeting cards designed by Jewish children.

Hundreds of patients at the Hadassah Ein Karem medical center received the packages. They were very moved by the gifts and warm personal attention that they received. The hospital patients also listened to an interesting talk about Rosh Hashanah, and the patients that felt fit enough even danced with the shliach and other volunteers.

The gift packages were sponsored by the Chabad House in Har Adar, which is run by shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Friedman.

During Rosh Hashanah, three different teams of volunteers blew the shofar for local residents, tourists, and hospital patients. Hundreds of people enjoyed listening to the shofar and getting a taste of the meaning of Rosh Hashanah.

A little later, just before Sukkos, sets of arba minim were given out to Jews in the hospital who did not manage to purchase their own. Tmimim also visited the hospital over Chol Hamoed in order to give patients the chance to bentsch lulav.

On Sukkos itself, the neighborhood of Ein Karem looked very festive. A mobile sukkah played Chassidic music as it drove through the streets inviting residents and visitors to come inside for a cold drink and some refreshments before bentsching lulav. The cheerful music attracted many visitors to visit the sukkahs, making this Tishrei a wonderful success.

(SOURCE & PHOTO: COL.ORG.IL)