Shimon Lazaroff
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Shimon Lazaroff is the Texas Regional Director for Texas Friends of Chabad Lubavitch, Inc. (aka Head Shliach for Chabad Lubavitch of Texas
) and member of the board and executive committee of Agudas Chasidei Chabad
. With the direction of the Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
, he established Chabad Lubavitch in Texas upon his arrival with his family in 1972.
where his grandfather, Shimon Lazaroff, was the Hasidic Chief Rabbi
of Leningrad
. Rabbi Lazaroff received his early education in Paris, France. He later received a scholarship to study at the Chabad Talmudical Academy in Kfar Chabad
, Israel
. While in Israel, he began to be active in Youth Leadership work. Arriving in this country in 1958, he attended the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva
Tomchei Temimim
at 770 Eastern Parkway
in New York City
. During the summer seasons he traveled as a special delegate of the Lubavitch Youth Organizations to all parts of the United States, including Missouri
and Washington State. In 1962 he was chosen as emissary to Europe to strengthen Judaism in Jewish communities and college campuses. This work took him to various parts of France
, Scandinavia
and England
. He received his ordination from the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva, after excelling in Talmud
ic studies, Rabbinical literature and Chabad Chassidic philosophy
. Following two years of post-graduate work, he received the distinction of being ordained as Rabbinical judge. He was active, prior to his arrival in Texas, in Lubavitch youth work on many college campuses as part of the Lubavitch Youth Organization's College and University Council's activity for Jewish college youth, and occupied administrative posts in youth groups and camps.
From 1967-1972, he resided in Detroit, Michigan
, where he was Spiritual Leader
and Executive Director
of the Gan Israel Camping Network
for the Midwestern United States
.
Chiena Lazaroff (née Schapiro), have helped facilitate the growth of Chabad branches and activities in Texas. In Houston there have been some changes since the time of Rabbi Lazaroff’s arrival, in particular, with the number of frum (observant) Jewish families now living here, but also in the number of non-Orthodox Jews who have experienced a dramatic “reawakening” of their own Jewishness.
Under Lazaroff's direction, the Chabad Lubavitch Center now comprises multiple arms of which he is the executive director, including a synagogue
, Torah Day School of Houston
, Camp Gan Israel, Chabad Hebrew School, Community Collel and Mikveh Taharas Yisroel.
He is the Rav Hamachsir of Mehadrin Kashrus of Texas created for the local community and out-of-town visitors seeking adherence to a higher standard in local kosher establishments.
Announced at the Thirtieth Anniversary Founders' Dinner, he has embarked on a bold mission to expand the facility with an expansive building renovation project.
To date he has established Chabad House
s in area cities of Houston, Arlington, College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso
, Pearland, Plano, San Antonio and Austin
. These centers provide the Jewish communities with Jewish Day Schools, Jewish education
al resources, holiday awareness, Hebrew school
s, day camps, mikvehs and prison chaplain
cy.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Shimon Lazaroff is the Texas Regional Director for Texas Friends of Chabad Lubavitch, Inc. (aka Head Shliach for Chabad Lubavitch of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) and member of the board and executive committee of Agudas Chasidei Chabad
Agudas Chasidei Chabad
Agudas Chassidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement. It administers three of the main Lubavitch offices: Machneh Israel, Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, and the Kehot Publication Society...
. With the direction of the Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
, he established Chabad Lubavitch in Texas upon his arrival with his family in 1972.
Early life
Lazaroff was born in the former Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
where his grandfather, Shimon Lazaroff, was the Hasidic Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. Rabbi Lazaroff received his early education in Paris, France. He later received a scholarship to study at the Chabad Talmudical Academy in Kfar Chabad
Kfar Chabad
Kfar Chabad is a Chabad-Lubavitch village in central Israel. Located between Beit Dagan and Lod, it falls under the jurisdiction of Lod Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 5,100.-History:...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. While in Israel, he began to be active in Youth Leadership work. Arriving in this country in 1958, he attended the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
at 770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. During the summer seasons he traveled as a special delegate of the Lubavitch Youth Organizations to all parts of the United States, including Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Washington State. In 1962 he was chosen as emissary to Europe to strengthen Judaism in Jewish communities and college campuses. This work took him to various parts of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He received his ordination from the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva, after excelling in Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic studies, Rabbinical literature and Chabad Chassidic philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. Following two years of post-graduate work, he received the distinction of being ordained as Rabbinical judge. He was active, prior to his arrival in Texas, in Lubavitch youth work on many college campuses as part of the Lubavitch Youth Organization's College and University Council's activity for Jewish college youth, and occupied administrative posts in youth groups and camps.
From 1967-1972, he resided in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, where he was Spiritual Leader
Spiritual leader
Spiritual leader is a form of title that is used to refer to religious leaders.In Buddhism, spiritual leaders are usually the people who have attained high level of spiritual awareness. Those spiritual teachers can guide people on their path toward spiritual awakening.Spiritual Leader may be a...
and Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Gan Israel Camping Network
Gan Israel Camping Network
Gan Israel Camping Network is an umbrella term for a group of Jewish religious summer camps affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Orthodox Judaism. Most of these camps bear the name "Gan Israel."...
for the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
.
Texas life
Arriving in Houston, Texas in 1972, Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff and RebbetzinRebbetzin
Rebbitzin or Rabbanit is the title used for the wife of a rabbi, typically from the Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic Jewish groups...
Chiena Lazaroff (née Schapiro), have helped facilitate the growth of Chabad branches and activities in Texas. In Houston there have been some changes since the time of Rabbi Lazaroff’s arrival, in particular, with the number of frum (observant) Jewish families now living here, but also in the number of non-Orthodox Jews who have experienced a dramatic “reawakening” of their own Jewishness.
Under Lazaroff's direction, the Chabad Lubavitch Center now comprises multiple arms of which he is the executive director, including a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, Torah Day School of Houston
Torah Day School of Houston
Torah Day School of Houston is a Jewish Day School in Houston established in 1977 by the Texas Regional Headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch. It offers a Jewish education to grades K-8 in addition to its Early Childhood Center for children ages eighteen months through four years old.-About:Rabbi...
, Camp Gan Israel, Chabad Hebrew School, Community Collel and Mikveh Taharas Yisroel.
He is the Rav Hamachsir of Mehadrin Kashrus of Texas created for the local community and out-of-town visitors seeking adherence to a higher standard in local kosher establishments.
Announced at the Thirtieth Anniversary Founders' Dinner, he has embarked on a bold mission to expand the facility with an expansive building renovation project.
To date he has established Chabad House
Chabad house
A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating Orthodox Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad Houses are run by the local Shaliach , who was sent to that place by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who founded all Chabad Houses...
s in area cities of Houston, Arlington, College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Pearland, Plano, San Antonio and Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
. These centers provide the Jewish communities with Jewish Day Schools, Jewish education
Jewish education
Jewish education is the transmission of the tenets, principles and religious laws of Judaism. Due to its emphasis on Torah study, many have commented that Judaism is characterised by "lifelong learning" that extends to adults as much as it does to children.-History:The tradition of Jewish...
al resources, holiday awareness, Hebrew school
Hebrew school
Hebrew school can be either the Jewish equivalent of Sunday school - an educational regimen separate from secular education, focusing on topics of Jewish history and learning the Hebrew language, or a primary, secondary or college level educational institution where some or all of the classes are...
s, day camps, mikvehs and prison chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
cy.