SouthTahoeNow - 8/28/17

Chabad at Lake Tahoe will be celebrating their four years of serving the Jewish community of Lake Tahoe on September 6, 2017 with an Evening on the Lake starting at 4:00 p.m.

The evening will feature a scenic cruise along the pristine shores of Lake Tahoe, in addition to live Jewish music, a silent auction, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The cruise will depart from the Tahoe Keys Marina.

Founded in 2013, the Chabad center was established to provide full-scale religious and social services to the growing Lake Tahoe Jewish population, in addition to cultivating a strong Jewish community.

“A Jewish community means more than just study and prayer,” explains Rabbi Mordey Richler, who, along with his wife Shaina, is the co-director of Chabad at Lake Tahoe. “A community is a family, a place where strong and meaningful relationships are formed.”

The Richlers are part of the global Chabad-Lubavitch movement, with over 3,500 centers servicing Jewish communities worldwide. Their mission is to provide a non-judgmental setting for all those seeking to reconnect with their Jewish heritage, regardless of affiliation or religious practice.

“At first I was more than a bit skeptical,” admits Joey Wolf, a Lake Tahoe resident, who met the Richlers when they visited his home to put up a mezuzah. “Mordey came to our house, and made me feel like I had family here. I look forward to learning and sharing experiences with other Jewish people here in Tahoe.”

Mezuzah services are just some of what Chabad at Lake Tahoe offers. Their other programs include Shabbat and Jewish holiday services, the Jewish women’s circle, retreat and camping trips, Jewish tourist accommodations, early childhood education programs and a variety of adult education classes and lectures.

“The best way to ensure a bright Jewish future is through education,” said Shaina Richler, explaining the mission of the newly established Early Childhood Education programs. “We give them the tools to live a Jewish life and pass on our traditions to their children.”

The Evening on the Lake will be a celebration of Chabad’s growth over the first four years, as well as an opportunity to set their visions for the future.

“We are thrilled to have met and connected with so many special people here in Lake Tahoe,” Rabbi Richler said. “We are constantly focused on what more we can do for the community, and how many more Jews we can bring together.”

For more information about Chabad and to RSVP for the Evening on the Lake visit www.JewishTahoe.com or contact 530-314-7677.