There’s a clip available on the Internet of the latest “Star Wars” film, dubbed into Chinese and then shackled with unintentionally hilarious English subtitles.
For example, in the climactic scene when Darth Vader raises his fists to the heavens and bellows, “Noooooooo!” the subtitles read, “Do not want!”
Rabbi Menachem Landa can sympathize. The Israeli-born Palo Alto Chabadnik grew up speaking Hebrew, so when it comes to hearing sermons with translated biblical verses — well, he does not want.
For “the standard American Jew, every verse from the Torah has to be translated into English, which an Israeli doesn’t need. And it loses its taste, which the Israeli is used to,” said the rabbi.
Since Landa lacks the means to take the South Bay’s Israelis back to the Jewish state, he decided to bring the Jewish state to them — in his garage.
The 33-year-old spiritual leader of the Chabad Israeli Community converted his two-car garage into an Israeli recreation lounge and gathering spot that can hold 45 people.
“Our mission is to bring to the Israeli community here a Jewish identity with the same taste that they are used to in Israel,” said Landa.
And when he says “the same taste,” he often really does mean “the same taste.” You won’t find bagels or lox in Landa’s community room (née garage), but you will find copious amounts of hummus or babaganoush whipped up by Landa’s wife, Sonia.
You also won’t find much spoken English. Since dedicating the room in late August, Landa has held a number of lectures in the site as well as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services with a “full house” of 45 or so Israelis there. In the next few weeks, he plans on starting up a Sunday school class.
“There are a lot of Chabad centers in Northern California — close to 30 — but we feel Israelis will feel more comfortable and willing to participate when everything is in the Hebrew language. It will be like home,” said the rabbi.
And, if you’re wary of typical garage décor such as Budweiser-packed mini-fridges, pool tables or oil stains, you won’t find that here — Landa stresses that it is no longer a garage, but rather a “community room.”
“We have wood floors, tables, chairs, even a nice chandelier,” said the rabbi.
For more information about the Chabad Israeli Community call (415) 418-4768 or visit www.chabadisraeli.org.