Congressional and Chabad Leadership Headline Boteach Fundraiser
by 05/09/2011
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=34401
House majority leader Eric Cantor, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky as well as noted philanthropists David and Lara Slager among many other lay leaders joined Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for a breakfast fundraiser benefiting the soon to be launched National Institute of Jewish Values.
The event was graciously hosted at the magnificent home of Jimmy and Lisa Cohen in Alpine, New Jersey.
“The idea [of the institute] is to create the Jewish equivalent of a Rhodes Scholarship” explained Rabbi Boteach, “by seeking out the gifted minds and talents within our community and training them to become true exponents of Jewish values.”
Notable guests included Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky Chairman of Mekos Linyonei Chinuch, and his son Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky of Machne Yisroel, as well as Rabbi Ephraim Mintzdirector of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky from Merkos Leinyonei Chinuch, and Rabbi Menachem Genack of the OU. The congressman was especially pleased by the presence of his longtime friend Rabbi Michel Gurkov Shliachto Wayne, NJ.
Avi Lesches, Special Assistant to New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as well as other political activists were in attendance.
Closing a round-table discussion with the Majority Leader Rabbi Gurkov, who officiated at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Cantor, asked the ranking house member to what he attributed his meteoric rise to prominence. In the spirit of mother’s day Mr. Cantor thanked his dedicated wife Debby “the mother of my children” and Rabbi Gurkov himself, stating “without you I would not be married to her.”
“Rabbi Boteach spoke to your humility while I would like to speak to your temerity” saidRabbi Getzy Markowitz to Mr. Cantor, and went on to extol the majority leader as an example of leadership for young Americans. Commenting on Rabbi Gurkovs question Rabbi Markowitz suggested to Mr. Cantor “providence has placed you where you are,” adding as he raised a glass of lechaim “may g-d bless you with the strength to continue doing all that you do to keep the American dream alive.”
Speaking exclusively with CrownHeights.info, philanthropist Mr. David Slager a prominent supporter of Chabad causes said “when the Rebbe sent Rabbi Shmuley [Boteach] 23 years [to Oxford] ago he recognized his talent for spreading Jewish ideas and values to a wider audience, this is a natural progression of that work and the further fulfillment of the Rebbes brochos, it’s a very worthy project and I am very excited to be a part of it.”
