By COLlive staff
Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida, under the leadership of Shliach Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz, consecrated a new Jewish cemetery for the Southwest Florida Jewish community this week.
The cemetery is being dedicated by Dr. James and Betty Rubenstein in Memory of Betty’s mother Chava Rabinowitz, and will be named Chava’s Garden.
A special ceremony was held to consecrate the Garden, led by Shluchim Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida, Rabbi Fishel Zaklos of Chabad of Naples, Rabbi Mendel Gordon of Chabad of FGCU, Rabbi Simon Jacobson of Chabad of Charlotte County and Rabbi Sholom Schmerling of Chabad of Venice and North Port.
They were joined by Rabbi Jay Lyons, Director of the Florida Region of the National Association of the Chevra Kadisha, members of the Boca Raton Synagogue, and several members of the Southwest Florida Jewish community, as well as Taryn Sasser, a leading member of the Ladies Chevra Kadisha, and Dr. James and Betty Rubenstein.
The Shluchim, as well as the Chevra Kadisha members, fasted all day in preparation for the ceremony. Together they read the special Psalms and prayers, and walked around the Jewish section 7 times as is customary, and gave charity each time they went around.
All present were very grateful to participate in this unique opportunity to be part of this special Mitzvah.
May it never need to be used!