STARS TV - Live!

A new program has begun in Chernigov, changing the face of Torah learning here.

This past Sunday, the Jewish Community of Chernigov premiered a showing of "STARS TV", a multimedia learning presentation. 

 The event was well attended, by youth and older community members alike, and the audience was absolutely fascinated.

The show opened with a clip of popular Chassidic reggae star Matisyahu singing his hit song "Jerusalem". The rest of the class, moving at a fast pace, focused on Jerusalem, Israel, Abraham, and Hebrew language.

At the request of the viewers, the video was paused every few minutes for a fascinating discussion analyzing the historical and practical applications of the lesson.

The reactions of the crowd were perhaps summed up best by participant Vladimir S.* "Can we expect to watch a class like this each week?" He asked incredulously.

"No", he was answered with smile. "Next week it will be even better."

The smiles that broke out on the faces around the room proved the success of the class. 

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

A weekend with an impact

Each Shabbat, after services, the attendees sit down for a 'farbrengen' or Chassidic gathering, where, along with some good kosher food, they sing, tell stories, and are inspired to keep their Jewish identity and pride burning strong.

This past Shabbat was also the 10th of Shvat, which, this year, marked 60 years since the passing of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, and 60 years since the Rebbe took on the leadership of the Chabad movement.

Tens of people participated in an especially inspiring farbrengen. The lavish spread was appreciated by the participants. They sat wide-eyed as Rabbi Silberstein related stories of personal encounters with the Rebbe. The singing of niggunim (chassidic melodies), the warm atmosphere, and the words of Torah kept the crowd mesmerized for over 3 hours. The farbrengen culminated in the participants committing to a positive resolution they would do. One man plans to have a brit milah.

The STARS youth group met on Sunday. Class began with a fun and intellectually stimulating team building game. Following the class, there was a special farbrengen. The students enjoyed a delicious, hot meal. At the end of an especially warm and intimate farbrengen, the students wrote letters to the Rebbe in which they asked for blessings. They too took on good resolutions, including: putting on tefillin every day, attending synagogue on Shabbat, learning hebrew, and one young man resolved that come what may, he will only marry a Jew.