New York – South Dakota, with its minuscule Jewish community scattered throughout a geographically expansive area, has had the dubious distinction of being the only state in America with no rabbi.
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That will all change this winter, it was announced at the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, when Rabbi Mendel and Mussie Alperowitz move from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Sioux Falls to establish a Chabad center that will cater to a community dating back to the days of the Wild West.
Chabad-Lubavitch has been serving Jews in South Dakota for more than half a century, since the Rebbe established the Merkos Shlichus (Roving Rabbis) program, which dispatches pairs of young rabbis to small and isolated communities around the globe.
Although it has been widely accepted that fewer than 400 Jewish people reside in the entire state, Rabbi Alperowitz estimates that it may indeed be home to as many as 1,000 Jews.
He believes that the Jewish population may have been bolstered in recent years by the growing financial and health-care industries.
mazel tov, mazel tov, great news. real msirus nefesh on his par.t tough place for shlichus.
After reading much holocaust matter, especially R. Avigdor Miller’s (ZTL) unpublished book, “Divine Madness” it seems that it is the lack of concern and even hatred of one Jewish group for another that brought the holocaust.
Perhaps it is the going out to reach assimilated and non-affilitated Jews and bring them back to our Father in heaven, that will not only stop another holocaust but bring the Geula Schlaima.
I wish them well and commend the movement for going to South Dakota. Just curious as to how Kosher food will be obtained. Bring lots of very warm clothing!!