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Q – Which two (2) things can you find almost anywhere in the world?
A – Coca Cola… and Chabad. (It figures. They’re both the real thing).
Actually, in some remote places like Kathmandu, Nepal and Luangprabang, Laos Chabad has a vibrant center reaching thousands of Israeli backpackers. However, only a generic brand of cola is available.
There are more than 2500 permanent Chabad Centers around the globe spreading Judaism in the welcoming, non-judgmental way the Rebbe taught us. What about those really distant places still without a “Chabad House” of their own? That’s where the  “Roving Rabbis” come in. Every summer, pairs of young rabbinic interns set out to spend a few weeks of their summer vacation with these forgotten small Jewish communities. Back in 1987/88 I was privileged to serve as a Roving Rabbi to South Korea, Taiwan and throughout the Former Soviet Union. The joy on the faces of these lonely Jews when you bring them a Havdalah candle or a megillah, or even a prayer book, is indescribable.
 As more and more cities around the globe are getting a permanent Chabad presence, the reach of the Roving Rabbis is expanding with the goal of soon reaching each and every community where there is even a few lone Jews.
All of this is due to the love and passion of our beloved Rebbe, Rabbi Schneerson of blessed memory. The Rebbe truly loved each and every Jew like his own brother and sister, no matter where or who they were. Along with that love, he possessed a passionate,relentless desire to reach out each of them and remind them how specialthey are to be part of Hashem’s Chosen People and what they can and should do about it.
 It has been said that after surviving the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, the Rebbe made it his life’s mission to search out each of his brethren in love, much as they had been hunted down in hate. Please click here to see the story of the Roving Rabbis – 2008. Glance through the amazing blog the young interns are  putting together filled with stories of heroics, Divine Providence, and the inextinguishable “pintele Yid” (Jewish spark) which each of us contains, no matter how distant or lost he or she may seem. I spent a few minutes browsing the blog and it inspired me to tears (did I just invent a new concept… I don’t think so). I felt I had to share it. We are truly a remarkable people. And our generation has been blessed by Al-Mighty G‑d with a remarkable leader who, like our first leader Moses, reaches out to each and every one of his flock with love and care.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
Exciting News: Port Washington child wins free trip to Israel in Internation children’s contest! Three year old Joshua Kalinsky, son of Michelle and Lee of Port Washington entered into the Passover contest with Tzivos Hashem, the international children’s club that gives kids Mitzvah-Missions around each holiday and offers large scale raffles. From an estimated 250,000 entries, Joshua, a camper at our Berkowitz Gan Israel Day Camp and student at our Florence Brownstein Preschool, was the lucky winner! Rabbi Weinberg made the official announcement at the camp BBQ event last Sunday. You can’t imagine the surprise and excitement on Michelle and Lee’s faces, let alone Josh! Way to go Port Washington!
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Hebrew school registration in full swing! 
