On Sunday evening March 19th, hundreds of people jammed the synagogue hall of Chabad Markham to celebrate the 36th (double chai) anniversary of the organization.
An original, creative program prepared especially for this event was produced by Rochi Stillman from LA with Rebbetzin Goldie Plotkin and coordinated by Chips Klein and Sanchia Rabin. Many of the guests who had attended many other galas over the years said that they had never experienced something quite as moving as this.
The evening began with an elegant buffet presented by Elys fine dining featuring a meat station sushi and pasta. In the center of the room was the famous Moully cup of blessing created by Chasidic pop artist Yitzchok Moully, for all to partake in pouring a cup of paint to help create a new featured art piece to be displayed in the Shul lobby.
The program started off with a flash mob presentation with singers and dancers who were all members of the Shul, joining from every corner of the room to the song of “To life l’chaim” chanting the special lyrics especially written for the event. Master of ceremonies for the evening was one of our young community leaders Romy Katzeff-Pilarski, who spoke about how Chabad changed the spiritual trajectory of her family forever.
Romy introduced Rabbi Avraham Plotkin, Rabbi and Executive Director who related how thirty-six years ago, he and his wife Goldie arrived in Markham on a mission from The Lubavitcher Rebbe to reach out to unaffiliated Jews. “Little did we know then as youngsters that we would years later build a highly successful center with 400 families as members and service thousands of others. Little did we know that we would succeed in building a Centre that can host a dinner of this magnitude!”
The focal point of the dinner was the “lamplighter” segment, recognizing eight members of the community who were moved by vision of Chabad and in turn dedicated themselves to becoming lamplighters and inspire others. The honorees were each asked to come up to the stage and light one candle on a decorated Menorah-like candelabra and say a few words describing their role of lamplighters in the community.
The segment opened with a video of the Rebbe encouraging former ambassador of Israel Yehuda Avner OBM at a late night audience to light his own candle. The Rebbe explained to him how every soul is a candle that needs to be lit with Torah and Mitzvot. And did the Rebbe light my candle tonight? asked Avner as he was leaving the Rebbes room. “No, I gave you the match”, responded the Rebbe. “Now it’s your job to light the candle”!
The honourees were a very diverse group representing all ages and the entire gammit of Chabad activities in the community. They were, Paul Klein president of the congregation who together with his grandchildren lit the first candle for continuity. He was followed by Wayne Gelb who shared an amazing life saving miracle he experienced when visiting the Rebbes Ohel.
Rebbetzin Esther Gitlin introduced Sasha Aron, one of the youth leaders in our community who told her family’s story. Rebbetzin Plotkin then introduced Nikki Texapolous who related her unlikely story of return to Judaism with all her five children. Stella Kosta spoke of how each of the Rabbis and Rebbetzins of Chabad Markham in their unique way helped her family
Rabbi Meir Gitlin addressed the crowd and introduced Rabbi Yossi Berktin aka Rabbi B, a world-famous children’s entertainer, who told how at every juncture in his life Chabad Markham was there for him!
Dr. Steven Kazman lit the last candle while sharing his life story, the ups in the downs and how Chabad Shluchim followed him around the world from Aruba to Toronto
The crowd was visibly touched by the stories of the lamplighters. They were totally enraptured by the powerful stories and many were seen passing around the Kleenexes!!
Nathan Fuchs, a young budding cantor and singer delivered a beautiful rendition of the prayer for soldiers of Israel. Nathan together with his friend Noah Kosta were the featured singers on the Erev Shabbat zooms for the last two years (during Covid).
Now if all this wasn’t enough Ilan Smith, world-class illusionist from South Africa wowed the crowd with his unbelievable magical tricks. Mendy Plotkin led the guests in a roll call ceremony, asking the crowd to rise when they heard the decade in which they met Chabad Markham. The crowd then broke our into spontaneous dancing and Horas in an outburst of emotion celebrating an evening that will never be forgotten for years to come!
