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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6/18/2010 There is a registry set up at Bed Bath and Beyond to help get our center up and running as soon as possible. The registry includes items in all price ranges. Every gift is sincerely appreciated. Go here to access the registery. The Winebergs are also in need of items that cannot be bought at BB&B -- including kids' beds, kids' winter outerwear, a dining room table and a washer and dryer. To help recover these items, we have set up a donation fund. The password to access the fund is: friends To make a tax deductible contribution, please go to our Support page. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6/7/10 We are very humbled by your outpouring of concern, and the incredible assistance that you have given us and continue to offer to our family in this incredibly challenging time.
As you might know, an electrical fire broke out in the neighbors home that eventually tore into our apartment causing extensive damage to most of our home, and of course the Chabad Center. Baruch Hashem, (Thank G-d) we are all healthy, safe and physically unharmed.
When we entered our apartment, we were very shocked by what we saw. It is a surreal experience to leave a complete, neat home and return 3 hours later to absolute destruction. With the help of our extended community family, whom we will forever be grateful to, who not only physically shlepped, but actually guided us through our shock and assisted us in making important timely decisions, we were able to remove all the salvageable items before the windows were boarded up and there was no more light.
The resulting damage is too extensive to expect renovations anytime soon. But don’t get us wrong- we are not “burnt out!”, on the contrary, we are “FIRED UP!”. The Rebbe always taught us that we must see every situation for its positive potential, as the nature of G-d is pure good. We therefore see the fire as the catalyst for finding something bigger and better- a larger & more permanent location for Chabad of Long Island City!
In the meantime, due to the kindness of Jascha & Naomi Preuss-Wolfensohn, we will be staying in their apartment in CityLights. The Hebrew School will finish its last 3 weeks in a location that is yet to be determined. The LIC Synagogue will resume this Shabbos at The Badge Building, graciously hosted by Ron & Mia Mandel (details to follow), and the upcoming lecture on Jewish meditation by Rabbi Tzvi Rimler (Mon. June 14) will be held in a yet to be determined location as well.
We also want to let you know that when you say “How can I help?" it really makes a big difference to us and we genuinely appreciate it- in fact, it just solidifies the already remarkable community that has blossomed in LIC, and it is a very comforting feeling. The unfortunate truth is that we do need help. Although we managed to remove many of our belongings, at this point, they are smoke/fire damaged and scattered in many locations. Aliyah Lombardo has undertaken to manage our “needs list". Please feel free to contact her at 347-415-3975 so she can let you know how you can make a difference and help us out.
Thank you again to everyone from the bottom of our hearts for sticking it out with us through this sudden challenging time. We are grateful for your positivity and your faith that we will rise from the ashes of this adversity to achieve new and bolder heights. May Hashem bless us all with lots of health, happiness and success in everything!
Rabbi Zev, Rivka, Nachum, Mushka, Meir & Reuven :-)
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