Rabbi Garelik was born and raised in Milan, Italy, where his parents were sent by the Rebbe 50 years ago. He studied in Italy, Pittsburgh, NY, Morristown, New Haven and received his Rabbinic ordination of Yore and Yadin (Dayanut) at the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva from Rabbi Piekarski, individually. He has served as spiritual guide of a Lubavitch congregation in Boston; as a Rabbinic coordinator for OK Kosher, and is currently the spiritual leader of the European Synagogue located across from the EU in Brussels, Belgium. He lectures extensively in the USA, Europe, and Israel.
Rabbi Garelik has edited many works, including the highly acclaimed "Kitzur Dinei Tahara" and his forthcoming "Guide for the Shliach (in print)".
Languages:
Rabbi Garelik is fluent in Yiddish, Italian, Hebrew, and English.
• All of the following lectures are possible to be catered for Lubavitchers, Modern Orthodox, Frum, non-religious yet, or mixed audiences with varied levels of knowledge of the subject. Please make sure to specify the approximate background of the attendees when you order your talk.
• At all lectures there are handouts available (except for dinners) – although no prior knowledge is required. [This is so that the time should be used as a learning experience.]
• All sessions can include a Q&A time slot at the end on the subject material.
• Chassidic Philosophy
1. Chassidus – Can I be a good Jew without it?
2. Outreach without Chassidus? An oxymoron.
3. What is accomplished by putting on Tefillin once – are Jews robots?
4. The phenomenon of Shlichus.
• Torah Learning
1. Parshas HaShavua: In depth learning of any Parsha.
2. Masores HaTorah / Can any Rabbi make changes/additions to the Torah?
3. Let's learn a couple of lines of the Talmud.
4. Science vs. Torah: Contradiction or enhancement?
5. Birchat HaChama: The Torah's explanation of the Milky Way.
6. History and application of the Seven Noahide Laws.
• Lifecycles and the Jewish Home
1. Is being Jewish an accident of birth?
2. Jewish Education: Responsibility of the parents or the school?
3. How and why the Shidduch system works.
4. Why do we give a ring under the chuppa?
5. What's behind that Kosher symbol? A glimpse at what goes on behind the fascinating scene in Kosher supervision.
6. Saturday Night (and day) Live: why can't I play golf on Shabbat? Isn't that called resting? A deeper view on Shabbat.
• In the Synagogue
1. Are women secondary to men in Judaism?
2. Mechitza: Why not unite?
3. Doesn't Reform Judaism attract more adherents than Conservative or Orthodox?
• History
1. Why did G-d destroy the first temple? And the second one?
• Moshiach and the Land of Israel
1. Moshiach: 3 part series in depth learning of the Rambam Hilchos Moshiach
2. Moshiach: Why the time is now!
3. Moshiach: Will the real Moshiach stand up?
4. Reincarnation
5. Two thousand years of exile and endless persecutions. What's the secret?
6. Israel, the Holy Land, and Zionism.
• Surprise lecture: You choose the topic
This talk is essentially a glimpse into the Torah and Chassidus's viewpoint on the world. All audience members can submit anonymous questions—on any topic-- in writing before the speech. At the start all questions will be read aloud. Within your given timeframe (min. 1 hour) all the questions will be resolved, and participants will gain an understanding of Judaism, and the Torah view of life, social issues, and the world at large.
• Unifying the Lubavitch Community
1. Minhagei Chabad vs. Halacha
Getting the facts about what went on and goes on in Lubavitch.