Crown Heights Hockey Team to Play Benefitting RCCS

In a display of unity and community spirit, the Brooklyn Pigeons, a hockey team composed of mostly Lubavitch Chassidim from Crown Heights, are gearing up to compete in the 5th annual RCCS Charity Hockey tournament this week.

The event, which will be held at the Ice Line Arena in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is a fundraiser for RCCS (Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society), a non-profit organization that provides assistance to Jewish cancer patients and their families in ways that go far beyond just financial.

The Brooklyn Pigeons have been a fixture in the tournament since 2020. Led by their captain, Shmuly Wineberg, the Pigeons are known as a team that plays with heart, skill, and great sportsmanship, relentless in their pursuit of aiding an organization that helps countless patients in our community.

One unique aspect of the team is the father and son duo of Shimon Rosenberg (46) and Mendel Rosenberg (17), who will be lacing up their skates together for the tournament. Shimon Rosenberg, a longtime member of the Crown Heights community, is proud to be sharing the ice with his son and his fellow Lubavitchers and Yidden.

“It’s a real honor to be part of this team,” said Shimon Rosenberg. “We may not be the biggest or the fastest, but we play with a lot of heart and we represent our community with pride.”

The Brooklyn Pigeons are cognizant of the fact that they represent their community in a tournament that hosts almost 400 Jewish players and many family members. “This is a huge Kiddush Lubavitch ” said Wineberg. “We want to show that we can compete at a high level and make a difference in the world at the same time. We have earned a reputation as a team that competes hard but always with a smile on our faces.”

Anyone looking to support the Brooklyn Pigeons and donate to the RCCS can do so by visiting www.rccsclassic.org/brooklynpigeons. With their passion, determination, and community spirit, the Brooklyn Pigeons are sure to make their mark on the tournament and beyond.