Chabad CSL holds big celebration at Trudeau Park

Mayor Anthony Housefather and members of city council  were pleased to participate in Beth Chabad CSL's Simchat Beth Hashoeva celebration at Trudeau Park on September 23.  Hundreds of people gathered  to hear renowned Israeli singer  Shimon Sibony perform.

There was a festive atmosphere in the park and weather conditions were pretty good for the affair. CSL resident Amir Toledano was there with his mobile food truck, serving up items from his Mega Burger Glatt Kosher Restaurant -a real hit on Decarie Boulevard.

Congratulations to Rabbi Mendel Raskin and his team for another wonderful event.

With Rabbi Mendel Raskin at his concert.

Rabbi Raskin's annual Sukkot Dinner

On the evening of September 19, I joined Mayor Anthony Housefather and members of city council at the home of Rabbi Mendel Raskin and his wife Sarah. It is a tradition for the Raskins to hold festive dinners in their Sukkah. We were among a group of close to 100. Israeli Consul General Joel Lion was there as well and I was pleased to see many of my constituents from District 2.

Rabbi Mendel Raskin

I remember  meeting Rabbi Raskin a decade ago at Bialik High School. It was a very cold winter night and they were holding a dedication ceremony for the planned Beth Chabad Community Centre, which was to be built across the street at the corner of Marc Chagall and Kildare. For years Beth Chabad worked out of the former Eaton locale at Cavendish Mall and prior to that at the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre.

Our council works very closely with Rabbi Raskin. He goes out of his way to include us in his many activities. Coming up is a concert at Trudeau Park on September 23 and the lighting of the large menorah in front of City Hall at Chanukah. Beth  Chabad's beautiful facility has been in operation for two years now and hosts many simchas.

Please read Councillor Glenn J. Nashen's excellent summary of our evening in the Raskin Sukkah.

I also recommend you read this wonderful piece by Menachem Posner,.