This year has been a challenging one for many and especially for those isolated in small towns, like in New York’s Rensselaer County, east of Albany. For that reason, two Rabbinical students, Sholom Lever and Azriel Laber, initiated the idea of visiting the area’s Jews and giving them a book called Positivity Bias, by Mendel Kalmenson. People were very uplifted by these visits and enjoyed speaking with the young Rabbis and hearing words of Torah from them. It turned out to be a beautiful idea and a covid-safe one as well.
The Rebbe underlined that one’s positivity is contagious and will lead to others adding in positivity. This was clearly seen, as giving the book led to many more mitzvahs, including putting up mezuzahs in people’s homes.
The Jews visited ranged from bankers, car dealers, jewelers, lawyers, doctors, and even a meditation center leader. Dozens of people were impacted and inspired by these visits and the bochurim encouraged those they met to keep spreading the positivity to the people they know.
The visits were under the direction of the Shluchim of Chabad of Greenbush and Southern Rensselaer County, Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Laber. This was happening in conjunction with running a Pesach program on the new (JGR) Jewish Greenbush Retreat property, the home of the Jewish Girls Retreat and Jewish Girls Unite Virtual Community.
Guests from out of town, as well as the local Jewish Greenbush community, enjoyed homemade Pesach meals, daily minyanim and Torah classes, art and soul workshops, boating and hiking around the pond, feeding the sheep and chickens, an uplifting concert with Rabbi Yossi Goldstein and nature and Torah workshops with Rabbi Laber.
The Jewish Greenbush Retreat will G-d willing be open to visitors for fun and experiential covid-safe programs, as well as an upcoming Shavuos Retreat and Jewish Girls Retreat this summer.
For more information, visit Jewishgreenbush.com or text Nechama at 518-727-9581.
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I’m a very proud Bubby and may you have much success in your shlichus