By Pat Gilliland
The Daily Oklahoman

Reprinted by permission

Even though she decided years ago that she was willing to go to unfamiliar places to encourage Jews to understand their faith and observe its traditions, Nechama Goldman admits some nervousness as her family settles in Oklahoma City.

She and her husband, Rabbi Ovadia Goldman, recently moved from the New York City area to open a Chabad Jewish Center.

Rather than culture shock, the parents of 1-year-old Mushky and 2-year-old Mendel prefer to view their new environment in terms of a challenge. They prepared through their educations in Lubavitch schools and also on mission-type work, hers in the former Soviet Union and his in Venezuela.

"We're not the first. There are hundreds of other young couples who've been out.... We look to them for guidance, for advice," said Nechama Goldman, 24.

"But we're human. We're nervous" about leaving relatives and friends and an area with easy access to resources for the cultural, spiritual and educational needs of Jewish people, she said.

Devotion to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement inspires the Goldmans' commitment. Founded 200 years ago in Lubavitch, Russia, its tenets are wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

It is part of the Hasidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism distinguished by its emphasis on the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah and the presence in each community of a charismatic leader called the rebbe.

The Lubavitcher headquarters moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1940. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who was the Lubavitcher rebbe until his death in 1994, is credited with much of the movement's growth.

"I grew up watching and experiencing with him his selfless commitment to Jewish people all over," said Ovadia Goldman, 28. "I think that's what inspired Nechama and myself to eventually look for a community that can use our help."

Chabad-Lubavitch has a regional office in Tulsa. Rabbi Yehuda Weg, regional director who opened the Tulsa Chabad House 10 years ago, identified the need for a separate center to serve an estimated 3,000 Jews in the greater Oklahoma City area, the Goldmans said.

The Goldmans said they received a warm welcome from Jewish leaders in Oklahoma City, although they said they realize some of the people may not understand their purpose.

Rabbi Richard Marcovitz of Emanuel Synagogue said his main concern was that the Chabad Center enhance the Jewish community and not dilute or divide it. Besides the synagogue, Temple B'nai Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City are based in the city.

Marcovitz said he has family members who are involved in Chabad.

"They are a very well-organized group. They do have a very clear message that they want to get across. And they do involve themselves in a great deal of outreach," Marcovitz said.

Ovadia Goldman said that while the temple and synagogue focus primarily on serving their members, the Chabad Center reaches out to the entire Jewish community.

"We're not looking for anybody to change their membership,... to sign up and become Chabad people. We're looking for them to view us as the center of an exciting Jewish experience," Goldman said.

Chabad also has a special focus of seeking out people of the Jewish faith who are not affiliated with existing organizations. They also try to promote "God-consciousness" and morality for non-Jews, Goldman said.

They hope community events such as a Lag B'omer barbecue and kite demonstration tonight at Lake Hefner can work toward their goals.

Lag B'omer is the 33rd day after Passover, part of the 50 days between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. It marks the day of passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai, a Talmudic sage who prescribed the celebration as an annual commemoration of the completion of his writings.

The party will begin at 6:15 p.m. at the children's playground at Lake Hefner. Admission is free, but reservations are required by calling the Goldmans at 810-1770.

The Goldmans recently began a Torah study for women. They've also invited people to come for Shabbat meals.

For now, programs are at their northwest Oklahoma City home, where the sweet fragrance of fresh-baked cake and the soft but lively chatter of a dark-haired 2-year-old provided an inviting welcome.

Ovadia Goldman previously worked in the Lubavitch headquarters in New York City. One of the projects he helped with was publication of a brochure, "If You're Looking for God, Go Home," that encouraged Jews to make their homes the primary place of education and observance.

"My goal is to... have a positive effect on every single Jewish person in the entire greater Oklahoma City area," Ovadia Goldman said. "I want my doors to be open at all times, to anybody who seeks to learn."

The Goldmans will personally reach out to the ones they have names, addresses or phone numbers for, and encourage others to contact them.

"We plan to be here for a very, very long time. We plan to cross the bridge to the 21st century with the Jewish community here, and then be there with them on the other side for quite a while," Goldman said, his eyes gleaming and his teeth smiling through his beard.

(c) The Daily Oklahoman Reprinted by Permission