THIS WEEK'S TRIBUNE  THIS WEEK'S TRIBUNE Jewish college building opens in Ste. Agathe, plans underway for library
|
|
Jewish college building opens in Ste. Agathe, plans underway for library |
|
|
|
|
Written by Mike Cohen
|
|
Tuesday, 17 March 2009 |
STE. AGATHE – For this Quebec Laurentian mountain town, which was frequently in the news last summer following a number of acts of intolerance and antisemitism, celebration was in the air Sunday as community leaders gathered to formally open the new facility for a small Jewish college.
BMC Teachers College is being run by Chana Carlebach, the wife of House of Israel Congregation spiritual leader Emmanuel Carlebach. She launched the program nine years ago after their three-month-old son died suddenly. BMC, in fact, is named after their son and stands for Beis Moshe Chaim.
Thirty-five students from around the world attend BMC College, which is fully accredited and trains teachers in Jewish studies and leadership. One of the more celebrated graduates was Hana Sellem Barouk. She made headlines last fall when she got married in the centre of town and invited the entire community to attend the ceremony as a way to break the tension in Ste. Agathe. Hana, now residing in Florida with her husband, was among the special guests Sunday.
Rebbitzin Carlebach told the Jewish Tribune that she purchased a 9,000-square-foot building near the centre of town last May after working out of rented premises.
“Our first event actually was Hana’s wedding,” she remarked. “That event, though, was held outside of the building.”
Sunday’s event was attended by about 100 people, including local Jewish leadership and community dignitaries. They shared cocktails and a buffet lunch followed by remarks by community leader Murray Dalfen, the Ste. Agathe police chief, a local merchant and Hanna Sellem Barouk. There was also a slide show about the school.
Rebbetzin Carlebach, a mother of 12, explained how “this new Ste. Agathe Jewish Cultural Centre” presently has space on the upper floor for offices, meeting rooms and classrooms. She announced that the next step will be to establish a library downstairs that will be open to the community at large.
“In order to get a wide and interesting collection of books we will embark upon a fundraising campaign,” she said.
Despite acts of intolerance and antisemitism, which have occurred in the Ste. Agathe area, Rebbetzin Carlebach said that her school has always worked towards building bridges.
“Every week our students publish a newsletter in English and French and we distribute it around town,’” she said. “It is very well received. We use it to describe different aspects of Judaism. Our most recent newsletter, for instance, explained the festival of Purim. We believe that the expansion of our school and the opening of a Jewish library will only do good things for our community.” |
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 March 2009 )
|
|
