Rabbi Mendel Lipskar celebrates his 70th surrounded by family

SUZANNE BELLING

Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein called Rabbi Lipskar “one of the most important and influential leaders of the South African Jewish community” and a catalyst in the baal teshuva movement. He praised the rabbi and his wife, Mashi, for having transformed this community.

Rabbi Lipskar was the first emissary sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to Africa. He came to this country 45 years ago and is now head of the Lubavitch Foundation, rav of the Shul at Hyde Park, one of the of the founders of Torah Academy and chairman of the school’s education committee.

Even before his birthday party, his children were posting Facebook pictures of their reunion in the bush with their parents.

All the children show obvious pleasure at having the opportunity to spend time with family, former school friends, members of Chabad and the Johannesburg Jewish community.

Goldie Raitport, the eldest sibling, is one of two who remained in Johannesburg. “We are here on shlichut (as emissaries). I teach kids Torah and we follow the Rebbe’s example of bringing Jews closer together.”

Her husband, Rabbi Shloimy Raitport, runs an evening kollel every day.

Dini Freundlich and her husband, Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, have been living in Beijing, China, for the past 17 years. They run the only shul, Jewish school and kosher restaurant in Beijing.

They are frequented by the 2 000 Jews living in the city and 20 000 visitors annually.

Leah Shemtov and her husband, Moshe, work as Chabad emissaries in Stanford, Connecticut. They run a large pre-school. “It is a wonderful community, with many ex-South Africans,” she said.

Rabbi Aaron Lipskar and his wife, Leah, live in Surfside, Florida. He is another Chabad emissary and is the founder and national organiser of the Aleph Institute. “We work with incarcerated Jews,” he said. There about 5 000 Jewish prisoners in the US. “This is a big division of the institute as it works with the families of the prisoners as well.”

A separate division works with Jews in the US armed forces. Rabbi Aaron does chaplaincy among them.

Grunie Uminer and her husband, Rabbi Mendy Uminer, work in the big Chabad House in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. They are also on the long list of Lipskar children and their spouses who are the Rebbe’s emissaries.

Rabbi Mendy is the rabbi of the shul and the Chabad House. Grunie works in the Chabad House and the Talmud Torah (similar to Sunday school) and is also the director of large summer camps.

Zalman Lipskar is not a rabbi, but a commodities trader. He lives in Surfside, Florida. He and his wife, Rivkie, were in China for several years, choosing Beijing to be near his sister and her family, while he was engaged in his business.

Rabbi Levi Lipskar, director of growth and development at Torah Academy, is the second Lipskar child to remain in Johannesburg. He was the master of ceremonies at the event. His wife, Leah, teaches at the school.

They run the Friendship Circle, a programme for children with special needs who require remedial education. Rabbi Levi also runs a project for adults.

“He studied in yeshivot in the US,” Leah said, “but it was always his dream to come back to South Africa.”

Mushkie Barber lives in “the paradise of Mauritius” with her husband, Rabbi Laima Barber, who is rabbi for the 150 local Jews on the island.

“Recently, for Purim, we had 200 Jews. The community is growing and is a very special one.”

When the Barbers first arrived, there were 90 Jews on the island. “It is a real paradise and now, with more and more Yiddishkeit, it is a real Gan Eden,” Mushkie said.

Sarah Dworcan, the youngest Lipskar child, works in the Palm Beach Synagogue in Florida, where she is the programme director. Her husband, Yossi, is in business.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Rabbi Aaron said Jewish sources indicated that the number 70 could be a sign of unity, concern, kindness, growth and positive development.

Rabbi Mendel Lipskar said his life was “full of excitement, kindness and goodness”, and paid tribute to his wife, Mashi, saying they were equal partners.

Photograph by: Moushkie Photography
Apologies that Moushkie Photography’s name was placed over a black shirt in the paper last week. We will make every effort to not let this happen again.