“I was born and raised in Rechovot. I learned in Chabad yeshivos in Kfar Chabad (Rishon L’Tziyon), in Tzfas and in 770. I got married after a stint on shlichus at the Chabad house in New Delhi, India.
After a year in kollel in Tzfas, I worked as a teacher for a few years in the yishuv of Eli in Mateh Binyamin and then we moved to Petach Tikva.”
Name: Chemdat Avner (Chemdi) Gantz
Age: 36
Location: The Kfar Avrohom neighborhood in Petach Tikva
Occupation: Director of “The Jewish Workshop”
What is the Jewish workshop?
I run a series of experiential Jewish workshops for preschools, schools and cultural centers, like shofar and olive oil making workshops. Our main activity is the Lego workshop for children.
I work mainly with preschools, cultural centers and youth clubs. Most of my customers are not yet religious and I come in contact with dozens of children and staff members every day. As you know, building with Lego is very popular with young kids. Being involved with building and little pieces contributes to developing motor skills. Awareness of this is growing along with a demand for Lego workshops.
I also work with Chabad Houses and Chabad camps to provide appropriate programs for them.
SHLICHUS AT WORK
As I said, most of the people I encounter are not yet religious. I come to run a professional Lego activity, but all the preschool teachers and staff members know that all my programs start with a story. It could be a Chassidic tale or a story from Chazal, with an emphasis on stories with a lesson that strengthens emuna.
On holidays or other special occasions, I try to construct Legos with Jewish themes like a menorah or a Beis HaMikdash.
Your flagship project is the Lego Beis HaMikdash. Tell us about it.
I built a huge model of the Beis HaMikdash out of Lego, and mainly during the Three Weeks I come with Lego and build the model with the children. It’s a hands-on activity through which the children learn about the Beis HaMikdash, its structure, the side rooms, the azaros, and mainly about the Geula.
I do the workshops with all kinds of audiences, all over the country, starting with Lubavitcher children and Chabad House camps, the national-religious public and the exclusive neighborhoods of Tel Aviv or the Sharon, and the feedback is very favorable. I work hard to adjust the messages to the target audience and they are absorbed in an experiential and pleasant way.
SHLICHUS IN LIFE
We moved to Kfar Avrohom in Petach Tikva after a few years in Yishuv Eli and we began doing things in our new surroundings.
You come to a new neighborhood, new neighbors, how did you begin?
My wife is the one who led and always leads the way. She began giving shiurim and soon became an influential spiritual figure in the neighborhood. Many women started calling and consulting with her about all kinds of things. She explained to them about hiskashrus to the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh. This became widely known and many women began turning to us for help in this.
Then we started organizing Rosh Chodesh gatherings for women which were attended by dozens of ladies. At the same time we began developing programs for men, shiurim, Mesibos Shabbos for children with over 100 children every Shabbos, and holiday activities like the Lag B’Omer parade, children’s rallies on holidays and more. We are particular that every activity be permeated with and directly connected to the only remaining shlichus, Kabbalas P’nei Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
You are not the first Lubavitcher to live outside of a Chabad community. What motivates a Lubavitcher family to take responsibility and to do as you do in your place of residence?
(Chemdi chuckles): First, it’s thanks to my wife. On second thought, you’re asking a tough question. I don’t know. I never thought about it. I think it comes naturally. I never stopped to think about what motivates me. I think that every Chassid in my position would do the same thing. We know that shlichus is good for the shliach; more than the calf wants to suckle, the mother cow wants to give it milk.
Being involved in shlichus is first and foremost good for the shliach. It has a tremendous spiritual effect, it obligates you, and it contributes tremendously to the chinuch of the children. When they are part of the giving and influence, it has a great effect on them.