News Blog

Thank you Colonel Avner Cohen for your deeply moving presentation on Tuesday evening at Chabad of Sudbury regarding your efforts in identifying the the dead of the terrible attack of Oct 7th, as commander of Israel's Shura Base,

The 100% rate of identification, considering the terrible circumstances and difficult conditions, are a testimony to the perseverance and dedication of your entire team to the Kavod HaMet, (Respect of the Deceased).

You can read more and buy the Hebrew version of his book From Shura to Tekuma or order the soon to be printed English version at www.avnercohen.com

Each day in camp we sing a joyous melody during the morning prayers which expresses the hope that "Sheyibonah Beit Hamikdash", "May the Temple (in Jerusalem) be rebuilt". The kids love the song, and the sing with joy and zest as they bang on the table and blast out this song and its message.

This morning, a young camper approached me and told me he had a question to ask me, and he proceeded to ask me "why can't we just go and take the stones and Jerusalem stone and rebuild the Temple together as a Jewish people"?

It was a great question from an inquisitive young mind, why just pray for this to happen, why not take a hammer and rebuild it?

I told him that this was truly a great question, but that this… Read More »

Dozens of campers have enjoyed yet another awesome week of Camp Gan Israel of Sudbury.

The campers who are from across the area, have been enjoying an amazing summer experience with an exciting Jewish twist as they enjoy tons of activities, sports, trips, swimming, chess, baking, arts and crafts, biking and so much more!

Thanks to our amazing staff who are working non stop to give every child a blast of a summer, things are thank G-d going very well!

Thanks to all those who have helped with support to the Camp Gan Israel to make this project a success and to enable us to provide every child with a meaningful and fun filled camp experience. 

You can see lots more photos of this week at camp over here 

Dear Friends,

He was overwhelmed with emotions as his eyes welled up with tears and he just couldn't bring himself to say goodbye.

It was a young camper who was on his last day of Camp Gan Israel who wasn't able to join us for the following weeks, who was just so sad that it was all over for him, for this year.

This the level of connection that the children feel with the amazing experience of Camp Gan Israel.

They may be scoring goals in the game, braiding Challah's, performing shows, biking for miles, going on special trips, swimming, learning, praying, visiting nursing homes or so many of other other activities in the camp, but overall they are not only having such an energetic, meaningful and fun filled summer, they are also … Read More »

Despite the fact that I was born in Britain, I am still so grateful for 250th anniversary of the US which will be celebrated across the USA tomorrow. 

I also have a little bit of patriotism left in me and I am hoping that England makes it to the top in the FIFA world cup.

This week, besides having an amazing first week at Camp Gan Israel, we also finished a four week course on Sinai & Civics which delved into some of the Jewish touches, teachings and ideas that influenced the founding fathers and so much of what this country is about.

It was a fascinating course that really zoomed in to some of the great ideas that the founding fathers were seeking to include as they sought to build a society that respected freedom, freedom of r… Read More »

Few words can describe the sentiments and emotions that filled the massive tent, as nearly 300 people gathered to hear former hostage Yosef Haim Ohana, share his story of 738 days as a Hostage and the messages of faith, compassion, kindness that helped him navigate the two years as a hostage.

Each anecdote of challenge, pain, torture, was in itself so much to  hear, but the strength and determination of Yosef, and the miracles that happened along the way, are truly beyond words.

Following Yosef's speech, his father Avi who had visited Sudbury two years ago and stayed in touch with our community, took the stage, and shared his perspective as a father, and the faith and trust in G-d that kept him going.

They spoke togeth… Read More »

A VERY MOVING BRIT MILA AND NAMING

Mazal Tov to Hila and Naor on the birth of your baby boy and the Brit Milah celebration today at ChabadSudbury and his name being called Lavi Adi.

Adi, the father of Hila was a very dear and good friend who visited us many times and sadly was killed on Oct 7th while using his last hours to save lives in his hometown of Netiv HaAsara.

Today his daughter Hila and her husband Naor brought their baby into the covenant of Abraham at Chabad of Sudbury and named the baby Lavi Adi, Lion Cub Adi after Adi who spent his life helping others and died doing what he lived for, saving lives.

Yosef Chaim Ohana the former hostage who is visiting us and spoke before almost 300 people last… Read More »

Mazal Tov to Tyler Grossman on your Bar Mitzvah Ceremony earlier this week. You did a beautiful job when you were called to the Torah and wrapped the Tefillin and your message and Dvar Torah was truly beautiful!

Mazal Tov to your parents Matt & Katherine and all of your family!

May you continue to be a source of Nachas and joy to your parents and all of the community as you continue your journey as a Jewish adult.

Sometimes events are happening in the world around us faster that we can even keep up with. Our heads are left swirling as we try and keep up and make sense of it all, which so often doesn't add up or even ring true.

Alliances and values come and go with the wind, devices that were once the coolest thing are now relegated to the recycling bins, and the powers that be rise and fall like the weather around us.

Yet within it all, beneath the mist and the obscurity and the winds of change, are a bedrock of truths and principles that have had an enduring presence for thousands of years and which will continue to be true with the eternity of time.

When we say the blessing on the Torah, we speak of the Torah being a Torah of Truth / Emet.

The … Read More »

This week, I had the opportunity to be involved in a very moving experience, in pairing up a soon to be Bar Mitzvah boy who I am studying with, with a seriously wounded IDF soldier, who together with his parents gifted this wounded veteran with a pair of Tefillin of his own, as the boy begins his own milestone of starting to wear Tefillin.

The injured soldier whose name is Daniel, lost his two commanders in the attack, spent two and a half months in the ICU and many months since then in Rehabilitation, and as part of this he decided that wearing the Tefillin and reciting the Shema each day, is something he would really like to do.

A mutual friend of ours who helps a lot of the wounded, helped pair this family through Chabad of Sudbury wit… Read More »

On behalf of the Chabad Center of Sudbury, we extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Jacoby Allen on his Bar Mitzvah this week.

Mazal Tov to his dear parents Dan & Racheline and to his grandparents and family.

May Jacoby continue to be a source of Nachas and joy as he continues his journey as a Jewish adult and takes upon himself the Mitzvot and traditions of Judaism.

This morning I had the honor of meeting multiple grandparents who have traveled from far, even from across the world, to be with their grandchildren as they graduate High School today.

It is that time of year, as students are graduating College, High School and more and the proud family members are gathering and coming together for these milestones.

They are growing up so fast and are spreading their wings. 

Even more than the culmination of years of learning and experiences, is the hope and wish that we have imbued within our children the desire and drive to become lights to the world, and people who understand their responsibilities as Jewish adults and the difference they can make to the world, through the Mitzvot, Good D… Read More »

On behalf of the Chabad Center of Sudbury, we extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Avigayil Weisenberg on her wedding in Israel this week to Yehoshua Eliyahu Hagage