New Chabad rabbi serves Lakeland/Polk County area

Rabbi Moshe Lazaros, his wife, Libby and daughter, Chaya Moussia Merkos Chabad Lubavitch of Central Florida has expanded to Polk County, opening its first branch in Lakeland.

Rabbi Moshe Lazaros and his wife, Libby, will serve as the new directors of the Chabad- Lubavitch of Lakeland.

The branch joins the other centers established by Rabbi Lazer and Devorah Rivkin in central Florida since 1976.

Rabbi Lazaros grew up in Framingham, MA, the son of the director of Chabad and rabbi of Congregation Bais Chabad in that area.

The future rabbi studied at Chabad Talmudic Yeshiva in Israel. After graduating, he taught seventh grade and later worked as an administrative assistant at Yeshiva Gedola in New Jersey.

He also studied at the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Brooklyn and continued his postgraduate studies at the Kollel Institute in Brooklyn. He received his rabbinical ordination in 2006.

Libby Lazaros, was born in Antwerp, Belgium has a degree in education and in 2008. She has taught at the Cheder Menachem day

school in Cincinnati and at Beis Chaya Mushka

in Brooklyn. ................................................................[ The couple has a 4-month-old daughter, Chaya Moussia.

Until now, Temple Emanuel of Lakeland was the only temple or synagogue serving the needs of the Jewish community in Polk County.

The Lazaroses plan to augment and further develop the Jewish programming in Lakeland and at Polk County colleges as well as make

contact with unaffiliated Jews in the area.

For more information including ongoing and ............................ future programs such as upcoming Passover

........................................ programs and ordering Passover Shmurah

Matzoh, go to www.chabadlakeland.com or call (863) 877-0072.