U’faratzta At The International Maccabee Games In Staten Island

The international Maccabee Games for Jewish youth were held in Staten Island from 20-25th of Av. The thousands of people who came to watch the games were greeted by shaliach Rabbi Moshe Katzman and his able assistants, Tmimim of the Andrusier family, as well as other Tmimim from Crown Heights.

Throughout the five days of sports activities, t’fillin stands were set up, supplied with a wide variety of Jewish brochures. The Tmimim who manned the stands greeted the visitors, helped them with t’fillin, and told them about the privilege and need to prepare for Moshiach’s coming. About 500 people in all put on t’fillin.

The young athletes participated in the Shofar Factory, a project of Tzivos Hashem, which enables children to make their own shofar. The boys also made mezuza cases and the girls made Shabbos candlesticks.

The people who attended the games were pleased about the work that Chabad was doing. The enthusiasm was so tremendous that on his own, the Director of the Jewish Center of Staten Island, Mr. Lew Stolzenberg, suggested to the administration of the Olympic games that they have Chabad wherever they will hold their games in the future.

In a conversation with Beis Moshiach, Rabbi Katzman said that the number of participants was surprisingly greater than anticipated and that it was "all with the Rebbe’s kochos."