PHOTOS: Mayor Menashe Miller and Deputy Mayor Albert Akerman were among dozens who took part last night in the grand opening of ‘Yossi’s Game Room’ at Minyan Shelanu.
Yossi’s Game Room, in memory of Yossi Tarlow Z”L, is a state of the art drop-in teen center created for the disenfranchised teens of the Lakewood community. A program of this sort is one of a kind in Lakewood, combining the latest and greatest in interactive entertainment while simultaneously offering comprehensive services for these teens. The game room is the catalyst that attracts these young men to Minyan Shelanu. Once they come through the door they have the opportunity to interact with the game room staff of trained professional mentors that are working with these teens on a daily basis. Through the many services and programs offered at Minyan Shelanu these youth have the opportunity to receive the many services they so desperately need.
The game room was donated by family and friends of Yossi Tarlow, A”H. Yosef Yitzchak Tarlow was born on the 10th of Shevat 5744, the yahrzeit of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe Zatzal after whom he was named. A delightful, bright and energetic child, Yossi was privileged to grow up on the campus of the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ.
“Six years ago, when he became actively involved in Minyan Shelanu, Yossi brought with him his own history of being “lost and found”, having struggled in his teen years to make sense of his environment and connect with a true purpose, Minyan Shelanu said. “Since his early 20’s, Yossi was naturally drawn to embrace young men like himself who struggled to find their place in Jewish life. From many summers as a counselor in Camp Extreme and its year round follow-up programs, three years as Dorm Counselor in Israel, to his life in Lakewood spending days and nights here at the Minyan, Yossi was devoted to sharing his love, compassion, understanding and good humor with those he encountered.”
“Yossi was admired for his pure honesty, authenticity and ability to perceive the emes, truth, the essence of a person or situation. His amazing capacity to make space for another without judgment endeared him to many, making it possible for him to bridge diverse communities. A role model for us all in the way he embraced his difficult illness, he was mekabel yesurim b’ahava v’emuna. Yossi did not complain, remained cheerful, engaged and always hopeful, living fully every day of his life. Yossi will be remembered by many as a truly good friend, for his passionate warmth, radiant smile, unpretentious manner, optimism and innumerable acts of kindness and caring. May the spirit of his good humor, simchas chaim and most of all ahavas yisrael permeate this new Game Room.”
Following the ribbon-cutting event, the crowd sat down to a Yahrtzei Seudah in memory of Yossi Z”L.
[TLS-Photos provided by the Lakewood Shopper]
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Wow! Nice! Although it surprises me that for the “good guys” there is no outlet. Maybe if their “allowed” to also have a game room, that will get to the root of the problem, and we won’t have these issues to begin with. Why not reward them for doing the right thing. It’s hard and e/o can benefit from some chilling time.
That was beautiful, touching poignant matzV last night. May all the good that comes out of the game room be an aliya for his holy, precious neshama.