Dinner Program

Siyum Sefer Torah
Torah Completion Ceremony

The writing of a Torah is a sacred task. Each of its 304,805 letters is precisely written exactly as they were transcribed by Moses, as he recorded G‑d’s words to him at Sinai 3324 years ago.

Torah is a luminous universe of individual parts. Each letter corresponds to a Jewish soul. Each letter, like each Jew, expresses individuality. Yet, each letter must be complete and connect with the others to forge the transcendent G‑dly unity of Torah’s immanence. He is one and His people are one.

In its totality, Torah is the splendid connection between the spiritual and physical. It is G‑d manifested on earth through His eternal Torah and people.

Our new Torah – The Community Torah of Unity - written in the holy city of Tiberias, Israel by Rabbi Shimon Schneerson, will be completed this evening as the highlight of our evening’s program. At that time, the Zohar describes a reality which is borne; "Israel, the Torah, and the Holy One, blessed be He, are one." This triggers the Jew’s core.

Added to this new Torah’s profound sanctity, is the representation of thousands of our community’s men, women and children who have had these G‑dly letters dedicated in their honor and merit. This is the absolute embodiment of “Celebrating Jewish Life.”

The joy which accompanies The Torah’s birth - A Siyum Sefer Torah - is truly unequalled.
 

Ethan Bortnick
Concert Pianist

Twelve year old Ethan Bortnick has moved audiences as a pianist, composer, singer, entertainer, and a driven humanitarian, dedicated to combining his musical pursuits with his charity work.

At three years of age, the Hollywood Florida native begged his parents for piano lessons and discovered an uncanny ability to hear a song once and play it back note for note, the musical equivalent of a photographic memory.

Ethan has toured the world, connecting with diverse audiences in countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and Australia. In 2011, he made history as the youngest entertainer to headline a show in Las Vegas with his residency at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, a venue revered for putting on iconic shows by legends such as Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, and Barbra Streisand. Ethan was recently certified a Guinness World Records title-holder as The Worlds Youngest Solo Musician to Headline his own Tour.

When Ethan was five, his younger brother had three heart surgeries and that powerful time inspired him to use his musical talents to benefit charity. As one of the youngest philanthropists ever, Ethan has supported such charities as Miami Childrens Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club, Starkey Hearing Foundation, ONEXONE, and Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, among many others. Through his appearances at benefits and galas, he has helped raise over $30,000,000 dollars for nonprofits around the world.

Ethan has performed with legends such as Elton John, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Beyonc, Reba McEntire, among many others. Recently, he joined some of musics biggest names including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, and Tony Bennettas as the youngest of the all-star lineup that recorded “We Are The World 25.”  

His deep musical knowledge, broad tastes, and staggering talents make his performances a synthesis of relaxing jazz, dazzling classical music, raise-the-roof rock n roll, and his own memorable originals. He knows hundreds of songs that he can instantly call up to memory. Just by looking out at the crowd and gauging their reactions to songs, Ethan can tailor a pleasing and enjoyable in-the-moment performance. Sets can go from Beethoven, to the Beatles, to Bieber. Its all a natural flow for Ethan.

Ethan began at the age of three picking melodies with one finger on an eight-note childrens keyboard. Around this time he pleaded to study on a real piano with formal lessons. He soaked up the music of such diverse artists and composers as Beethoven, Mozart, Little Richard, and Elton John. He began writing originals at age five.

Ethan has been featured on many national late night and morning television shows, including multiple appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America and Oprah, where he was named one of Oprahs All Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids. In 2010, Ethan was the youngest musician to create and host his own award-winning, nationally-televised concert on PBS.

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov
Keynote Address

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov was appointed by The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of The International Chabad-Lubavitch Movement.

Rabbi Shemtov serves as Chairman of American Friends of Lubavitch, Washington DC.  In addition, Rabbi Shemtov serves as Chairman of Beth Rivkah Schools, the central school system of Chabad-Lubavitch for girls, where 3000 students are currently enrolled. 

Rabbi Shemtov resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he serves as The Rebbe's emissary to The Greater Philadelphia area. His dedication to The Rebbe is legendary. His extensive responsibilities are demonstrative of a trust that he, singularly, merited to receive from The Rebbe.

Often called the "Rebbe's ambassador to DC", Rabbi Shemtov has developed extensive connections and friendships in Washington. He regularly leads Chabad-Lubavitch delegations to the White House and played a pivotal role in the relationships formed between The Rebbe and Chabad _Lubavitch with U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

On February 28, 1984, Shemtov was appointed by President Reagan as one of the five members of the National Advisory Council on Adult Education. Through Shemtov's influence, the U.S. Senate declared “Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A.” to correspond with The Rebbe’s birthday. The proclamation is signed, annually, by The President of the United States.

Each year on Chanukah The National Menorah stands proudly on The White House Lawn, thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Shemtov. Presidents and senior administration officials, light the menorah each year.

The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to The Rebbe in recognition of his unprecedented contributions to this country and to the world.  The Medal, considered one of the highest regarded honors to be granted to any person, was presented in 1995 at a White House ceremony. Rabbi Shemtov received the award on behalf of The Rebbe and The Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The Rebbe was the first religious leader ever awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

A brilliant orator, renowned Torah Scholar and penetrating thinker, Rabbi Shemtov transmits, distinctively, The Rebbe's message of direction and leadership to an increasingly alarming, adrift society.

Senator Marco Rubio 
Greetings from Washington, D.C.                          

Senator Marco Rubio’s parents left Cuba in 1956 and after Fidel Castro solidified his communist grip were never able to return. In America, his father worked as a bartender, while his mother worked different jobs as a maid, cashier and retail clerk.

Marco was born in Miami and lives there with wife Jeanette and their four children.

Shaped by what he experienced within the walls of his childhood home, Marco consistently witnessed two hard-working parents devoting themselves to ensure that their children had opportunities they never had. 

Since then he has proudly been on the side of job creators and those whose mission in life is to build a strong and prosperous America which their children will be blessed to inherit.

He is engaged in our national conversation about America’s foreign policy and has proudly articulated his beliefs about America’s national interests in opposing dangerous tyrants, standing with freedom fighters and being a forceful voice for democracy and human rights.

Within the Houses of Congress, which are renowned for their unwavering friendship to Israel, Senator Rubio's stellar record of support for the Jewish homeland is quickly proving outstanding.

As Senator to Washington, DC from one of the largest Jewish population centers in the world, Senator Rubio has affected and enhanced the ever growing partnership and alliance between these two great allies; The USA and Israel. Senator Rubio, who sits on the Senate's prestigious Foreign Relations Committee, is key to the furtherance of America's and Israel's worldwide common interests.