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ZERNER
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no one like him in his caring and
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ed in the great success he has had
with his congregation. There are
people who leave town and then
move back because they miss the
place. His wife [Chaya Sarah] also is
a very intelligent woman."
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How The Winebergs Met: Rabbi
Wineberg's mother was a close friend
of Rochel's aunt, Chava. One day,
Chava told her friend: "Have I got a
girl for your son!"
"So we dated," Rabbi Wineberg
says, "and then I asked her to marry
me. And she, in a moment of weak-
ness, said 'yes.'"
What did he love about her?
Everything.
"My wife is a woman extremely
alive in her Judaism," he says.
"Everything about her is very posi-
tive, and she has had that influence
on her children."
The Winebergs have seven daugh-
ters, four of whom are married and
live outside Michigan, one teaching
in New York and two still at home.
Rabbi Wineberg said his wife is "a
fantastic model of a religious
woman."
Background: Both Rabbi Wineberg
and his wife are natives of Brooklyn,
N.Y. The family came to Detroit in
1975, settling in Oak Park.
"I was working as a principal in
Vineland, N.J., and I needed a big-
ger community for my growing fam-
ily," Rabbi Wineberg says of the
move. He liked the educational
opportunities here, and so accepted
a position teaching Jewish studies at
Yeshivat Akiva, then in Lathrup
Village.
The Winebergs' first impressions
of metro Detroit: "We liked it right
away."
About Lubavitch: Lubavitch, Rabbi
Wineberg explains, does not trans-
late to "ultra-Orthodox Jews" as they
are often misrepresented.
Instead, "Lubavitch are Orthodox
Jews who look to have a lot more
meaning and enjoyment as Jews
through deeper understanding and
education." Lubavitch Jews "follow
the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov
[Israel ben Eliezer, c. 1700-60,
founder of Chasidism] and other
Lubavitch rabbis. Our basic values
are God, Torah and mitzvot [com-
mandments]; these are the very
essences of our souls and define our
relationship with God. We don't just
say, 'I'm a Jew, therefore I do this
and that,' but rather we seek a com-
plete understanding of what it
means to be a Jew."
He illustrates with this story:
"Two people are climbing a moun-
tain on a hot day. Each has a sack
full of stones on his back, and both
are tired and sweating. One man
keeps tossing out stones to lighten
his load, while the other picks up
more stones — and he's whistling
and happy.
"What's the difference?
Knowledge. One man knows that
the rocks he's aatherina are dia-
monds. The other just b feels that they
are rocks.
"Once you understand that all the
so-called rocks [in Judaism] are real-
ly diamonds, you see that they are
treasures, not a burden, and that
makes all the difference in the
world."
Approaching Judaism: Lubavitch
Jews are well-known for their kiruv
work (bringing Jews back to
Judaism). How does Rabbi Wineberg
advise those who know nothing of
their heritage but want to learn
more?
"Don't limit yourself to learning
only Start with a little observance,
also," he says. "This [observance] is
what you're supposed to do as a Jew;
this is what creates a connection
with God."
It is learning, however, that "tells
you who are you as a Jew. A Jew's
essential character is his Jewish soul,
which is his Godly soul — and this
makes him different than everyone
else. It makes him have more respon-
sibilities. When we say we're the
`Chosen People,' this means that
we're chosen to fulfill a mission. We
are here to represent God in this
world. A Jew's every action, whether
he plays or works, everything he
does is supposed to represent
Godliness. Once we know exactly
what our roles are, it's not easier
because we have to learn and to
apply, but at least you have a guide.
This makes being a Jew so much
more enjoyable and meaningful."
Memories: Rabbi Wineberg says that
some of his most distinct childhood
memories focus on the late Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
(1902-1994). A member of the
Schneerson dynasty, Rabbi
Schneerson was born in Russia and
immigrated as a young man to the
United States. In 1950, he became
the seventh Lubavitcher rebbe and
spiritual leader of the worldwide
Lubavitch organization.
"We had such great love for him as
a guide, as a teacher," Rabbi
Wineberg says. "He was our father
figure."
Rabbi Wineberg's own father
would tell him this story of what
happened when Avraham was just 4.
went over to the Rebbe and put
my arms around his legs. I asked,
`Are you the Rebbe? I love you.'
Then he introduced himself. But
instead of saying, 'I am the Rebbe,'
he said simply, 'My name is
Schneerson.'"
Rabbi Wineberg says he was
impressed by the Rebbe's profound
love for the entire Jewish communi-
ty: "As water reflects an image, so
our affection for him was just a pale
reflection of his love for every single
Jew."
Rabbi Wineberg also remembers
how much he looked forward to
camp — he attended Gan Yisrael in
Canada — where he especially
enjoyed nature and learning.
"There, you were completely
immersed in your Jewishness; noth-
ing else existed," he says.
At home in Crown Heights, he
also liked sports and would play
games with friends on the street.
Growing up in 1950s New York
was quite different than what it is
today, he says. "We didn't have to be
so removed from society. Nov, many
things are the antithesis of Judaism."
Family Life: Rabbi Wineberg
describes his daughters "as very good
children. We are very blessed."
They were raised with "a strong fam-
ily life," especially on Shabbat, when
the dining room table was filled with
"singing and talking and stories."
When Rabbi Wineberg asked his
daughters what kind of men they
wanted to marry, they would say,
"Someone who will be able to lead
such a Shabbat table." He says each
of his daughters is "pretty, and they
all know about the [outside] world,
but they never strayed from what
they were supposed to do."
While most of the girls have mar-
ried, two still live at home (one is in
elementary school, and the other
attends high school). On very rare
occasions, Shabbat in the Wineberg
home is just a quiet family celebra-
tion. Yet almost every Friday night
and Saturday afternoon the table is
still filled with guests, song, plenty
of food and stories. ❑