What an amazing Public Menorah Lighting at the Semiahmoo Mall in Whiterock/Surrey.
We were honored by the presence of both Mayor Wayne Baldwin and Mayor Linda Hepner and their spouses as well as Councillor Dave Woods and Councillor Helen Fathers. Both mayors, Rabbi Schtroks and Dr. Howard Green (on behalf of the JCC White Rock/S. Surrey) delivered words of greeting. Chazzan Yaakov Orzech once again did a spectacular job lighting the Menorah and singing the prayers.
This year our program was full of the light of many youngsters. Many were wearing their glow in the dark Dreidel glasses! You could say it was just deLIGHTful!
Young Mariasha Schtroks helped Mrs. Simie Schtroks set the tone for the C4J Annual Young Lamplighter awards, by reading quotes from” What Chanuka Means to Me” by Chaya Citron (age 11).
Both Mayors helped C4J present the awards to the lovely and inspiring Amy and Sarah Aginsky. The girls had worked for months to collect clothing, shoes and other necessities for the needy and have it presented to those in need in a most dignified manner of a free store. Both these young ladies are already busy working on their next volunteer project to serve the community. We hope that they will pass the light forward and inspire many young people to reach out and help others in big and small ways. They are teaching by example that a little light dispels a lot of darkness.
Six year old Rebecca Buhkman was another shining light tonight. She entertained the crowd with her exquisite violin performance and was accompanied by her mother and master teacher Rada Bukhman. Calvin Lingage 12, played a beautiful Rachmaninoff piece.
Before the participants got to partake of the scrumptious donuts, baked by Marat and Ella Dreyshner, they got treated to this year’s four rounds of LETS MAKE A CHANUKAH DEAL! Of course we cannot forget the Suess (zoys) Chanuka made expressly for our community by Rabbi Moshe Chanowitz of Plaque impact in Montreal.
What a spectacular evening it was!
I’m currently in Eretz Yisroel which is the ONLY reason I couldn’t attend this event. Having attended many other amazing Chanukah events put on by the Schtroks it’s hard to believe the comments that this was the best-ever Public Menorah Lighting in Surrey/Whiterock. Yet, seeing the photographs and reading the posted comments this seems, in fact, to be true. Simie, you put your heart into all the work you do, thank you.
I was not able to be there this year, but thank you for all the great job you always do, the hours you put in each detail , the love and the creativity and always no Mather what for the support to your community . I love you Bonnie
Keep it up!! Great pictures.
Ashreinu that we have the best shluchim in the world in our community.
Great idea!
Other ppl should do that too.
Nice to see you in action Simi. Your community is very lucky to have you.
-a friend from your seminary days.
Go Mariasha go! What a shlucha!
We have never missed iron chef or chunnukah in the mall ….I want to say from the pictures and the crowd , you can see it was well attended and well received by all in the community. I did write to Simie and Rabbi, on behalf of their invitations, of course when health is involved and we are unable to come, we are saying thank you for Simie and all she does for everyone, we loved the pictures…as I said before, you are the best. The same can be said for you Rabbi life would not be so good without… Read more »
The Shtroks are amazing shluchim. I was there for a Shabbos one summer when I was a counselor in Vancouver. They are such amazing examples of real shluchim who care to do what the Rebbe wants and put their heart and soul into every person. I’ve been to many Chabad Houses and their’s always stands out in my mind. Thanks for setting a great example for us all. Hatzlocha raba with your holy work!
I’ve been there a couple years now and this one was by far the best one yet. It’s heartwarming to see the next generation of young Jews be put on the pedestal in our older adult community. Thanks to Rabbi and Rebbetzin Shtrocks, I see a Jewish future in Surrey.
Wow what a lineup you arranged! Yasher koach Simie!!!!
Great artical.
Rabbi Falik and his Rebbetzen Simie Schtroks worked tirelessly for this event. Much like they do for all of there events. The community is extremely LUCKY to have them there.
Much success with everything.
A lot goes into this kind of event, and I would like to thank, not only Simie, Falik and but also those who were able to attend and participate in this year’s public Menorah lighting. Gets better every year. Heartfelt thanks to all,
Was there for this- such a wonderful event! Where would this community be without Simi Schtroks, I wonder? So grateful for all she does.
Sorry that we were not in attendance. We spent Chanukah in Toronto with our 2 sons and their families (4 delicious grandchildren). We would never miss a Community Chanukah event otherwise. It is very, very important that the community support events, especially public events in the general community. Nothing happens in our Chabad community without Simie. Her planning and hands are evident in everything we do as a group. We are lucky in the extreme to have both the Rabbi and Simie here. Their devotion to us is beyond parallel. Those who did not attend without a good reason should… Read more »
Spectacular program, full of toichen, u put together! Very impressive, both mayors in attendance is a chiddush, great idea to have the twins receive a lamplighters award, the young violinist was charming and the menorah glasses look super cool, and ur famous lets make a chanukah deal is always a hit! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for all the hard work for our community. The community won’t be the same without our amazing Rabbai Schtrock and his wife Simie! We appreciate all the time and effort you put into it. Thank you!!!
Its amazing to see the effort, enthusiasm and sacrifice that Rebbetzin Simie Schtroks puts forth not only at these events, but each and every day for the Jewish Community in Surrey, BC. In my world travels, this has far been the warmest and truest Chabbad House I have ever seen. Rebbetzin Simie Schtroks in not only an “ezer kenegdo” for Rabbi Schtroks, but i also an “ever kenegdaynu” for all us Jews in Surrey, BC.
And having been there is previous years too, this has to have been one of the best yet. Multiple, short segments of inspiration and entertainment. Wow!
Kol hakavod to Mrs and Rabbi Schtroks