| Rating |
Date Attended [v] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
|
Very fascinating
|
| Fri, Aug 8, 08 10:00 AM |
tneistadt |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| Rabbi Epstein is very charming, very open about Chassidic life and was very interesting as well.
You get a glimpse of a culture that is not very well understood, even by other Jewish people,myself included.
I would highly recommend this tour. |
|
Needs Improvement
|
| Sun, Aug 3, 08 10:00 AM |
aviyente |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
| Even though the guide was enthusiasitc and had good knowledge, the tour was limited to very few destinations. The website gives the impression that it is a 3 hour walking tour; whereas, the walking part does not exceed an hour. Also, the tour guide had a hidden agenda (i.e. make Lubavitchs look like a great group of people) and his main goal for the tour does not align with those of the visitors who would like to see Crown Heights in more detail. |
|
|
The Rabbi led us on a timeless Path of Discovery
|
| Thu, Jul 31, 08 10:00 AM |
ARDNAHOE |
Male |
40-49 |
International Tourist(s) |
Family With Children |
| Sometimes google searches throw up more than trash and nonsense. This was a wellspent half-day tour into a New York few international tourists will get to see. We probably all know the "Big Bagel" is the largest Jewish city on the planet but Rabbi Epstein gives a unique insight into Chassidic and Lubavitcher life - as Scots and Catholics raised on the likes of Bashevis SInger, Chaim Potok and other great writers we were interested to get a glimpse of everyday activity among the successors of the Baal Shem Tov and visit this "Vatican" of the Orthodox. Rabbi Epstein is a warm,humourous, kind and obviously well-schooled and spiritual man who vibrates his faith and communicates it animatedly and informatively to others. And this is not like an encounter with some nutty evangelical group - the Lubavitcher have no real interest in converting Christians (would that all Christians would reciprocate and respect the faith of the Chosen People!) - but are people of faith who recognise that others also find their own way to God. We took in firstly the weird and wonderful sights of Crown Heights, the mystic mayhem of the rabbinical college and its shul, some interesting local activities including watching the manufacture of tefillin and the repairing of Torahs from round the globe. As we but the day before had been showing our children illuminated manuscripts at the Met this was a special moment and a step back in time - perhaps more accurately a step out of time. We finished off with a simple deli lunch - better informed, uplifted and glad to have met the irrepressible Rabbi from Chattanooga on whom the Lord most surely has shone His face. If a quick zip round a gallery or 5 minutes is the extent of your attention span this may not be the trip for you ( allow 1hr 15 mins each way by subway from Midtown Manhattan) but if, like us, you wanted a more offbeat New York tour that will stay with you for some time give Chassidic Discovery a go - we were glad we did! |
|
|
Far beyond expectation
|
| Tue, Jul 29, 08 10:00 AM |
AnneGeorges |
Female |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| as we were only for two days in NY, I was not sure than taking the tour was the best choice, but it turned out to be my best time there.
As a christian (with no jewish background), i've always thoughts all our roots are in the Jewish faith and tradition, and most of us are missing so much to ignore them.
The openess of the tour, the friendly atmosphere allow anyone to learn a lot, dig deeper into one's faith roots, widen the understanding of the Scriptures.
I think every christian with an open mind would draw huge benefits from taking the tour, learning and just listening.
What really struck me after the tour was this quiet feeling of peace and joy that our two guides were able to communicate to me.
A big thank you to both of them for this heart experience, and sharing with me so much
Anne Georges (France) |
|
|
really interesting
|
| Sun, Jul 27, 08 10:00 AM |
caylee |
Female |
20-29 |
International Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| really interesting and informative very approachabve guide |
|
|
A wonderful experience
|
| Thu, Jul 24, 08 10:00 AM |
JudithBrown |
Female |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family With Children |
| You don't have to be Jewish to take this tour!!!! It was interesting and informative. Rabbi Epstein has great charisma. He made us feel comfortable as he asked questions and told stories. We appreciated how much he shared his world with us. Next time we come to New York, we are going to bring our Dad too!
Thank you from Judith, Hannah and Diane!! |
|
|
Very Interesting
|
| Wed, Jul 23, 08 10:00 AM |
kmarkowitz |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| I learned alot and the tour guide was very personable. |
|
|
Extremely informative
|
| Sun, Jul 20, 08 10:00 AM |
caliban010 |
Female |
20-29 |
Combination |
Other |
| This tour is highly recommended for those who would like to learn more about the Lubavitch community and their approach to Judaism. Since the tours are organised and run by community leaders, it is a rare, respectful way of learning about the community and its everyday life. The tour leaders were extremely hospitable and learned. They were very glad to answer our questions and consequently our tour was almost twice as long as the amount of time advertised. |
|
|
great experience
|
| Sun, Jul 20, 08 10:00 AM |
murakami |
Female |
40-49 |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
| Joining the tour, I learned a lot about the community. It is always nice to know about other people not just through reading books or searching internet but through talking face to face. It would be annoying for people that we entered to synagogue to see people praying, and at first I was a bit hesitated about doing so. But because I was guided by ones who are from the community, I could learn what exactly people were doing there, and I think it was really precious experience for me. Our guides were so sincere and at the same time friendly, which I was deeply impressed. I appreciate their efforts to introduce their way of life and philosophy to outsiders. Thank you so much. |
|
|
many intresting insights
|
| Mon, Jul 14, 08 10:00 AM |
huesemann |
Male |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Family With Children |
| Very interesting tour with many insights into a jewish community. It is not possible to gain this kind of an insight in any other place as a non jewish person (as far as i know).
thank you very much |
