Ever pondered where the heart of Jewish community and learning thrives in Thornhill, Ontario? That’s Chabad Flamingo. Here we stand before a beacon of faith. It serves hundreds of families with diverse programs.
Chabad Flamingo’s story is deeply intertwined with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan. He is the founder and spiritual leader. Isaac Image captured Rabbi Kaplan in a portrait session. The phone never stopped ringing. Calls came from Israel and the USA. There was even an interview for a radio.
Rabbi Kaplan founded Chabad Flamingo with his wife Faygie. It was April 1998. Their mission was clear. They wanted to serve both affiliated and unaffiliated Jewish people. These people lived on Thornhill’s northern edge.
Rabbi Kaplan’s journey began far from Toronto. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1971. He attended Ivy League Yeshiva Schools in New York City. Even as a young man, he contributed to scholarly journals. He authored expositions in Hebrew. His artistic talent also blossomed during this time.
In 1990, Rabbi Kaplan graduated from Oholie Torah Rabbinical Seminary. The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged him to serve the secular Jewish community. So he completed a rabbinic internship in Los Angeles. He studied at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad. He then spent two years in NYC. He studied at the Tomchie Temimim Academy. He was appointed to The Kanim. This was an elite group of students.
After being ordained in 1994, Rabbi Kaplan returned from Russia. He directed studies for an elite student body. They maintained vigil at the bedside of the ailing Lubavitcher Rebbe. This took place in Beth Israel Hospital of NYC. After the Rebbe’s passing, he became director of Adult Education. He worked at The Lubavitch Centre of Jewish Studies in Milwaukee.
In late 1994, The Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan opened a new rabbinical seminary. Rabbi Kaplan was appointed Rosh Yeshiva. He was a senior professor and director of Talmudic studies. He then chose to leave the Yeshiva world. He wanted to impart Jewish tradition to the secular world.
Before coming to Canada in 1998, Rabbi Kaplan was a scholar-in-residence. He served at the Mayanote Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Today, Chabad Flamingo occupies the Ernest Manson Lubavitch Centre. This building spans 22,000 sq. ft. It hosts a family-oriented Synagogue. Youth Centres thrive here. The Institute for adult Jewish learning operates within its walls. A Nursery School also flourishes here.
An expansion is planned. It will add another 22,000 sq. ft. Construction will start as soon as 6.5 million is raised. Rabbi Kaplan is a familiar face in Toronto media. He appears on television and radio. He addresses issues for Canadian Jewry. He also serves as a Chaplain of the York Regional Police.
Chabad Flamingo offers a range of services. Daily, Shabbat, and Yom Tov services are held here. There is creative adult education. There are programs for children and families. A nursery school is on site. Both men’s and women’s mikvahs are available. The building is wheelchair accessible. It features barrier-free washrooms and a Shabbat elevator. Ongoing classes are available for adults. Special lectures enrich the learning experience.
Chabad Flamingo stands as a testament to Rabbi Kaplan’s vision. It is a place of worship. It is a center for education. It is a hub for community. It is a place where Jewish life thrives in Thornhill.