By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shimon Roumani
Chabad Shluchim serving the state of New York gathered last week for their annual Kinus gathering on the 57th anniversary of the founding of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis (“Tzach”), the central Lubavitch Youth Organization which oversees their activities.
The gathering which took place at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights was attended by the executive committee and staff of Tzach and was dedicated to the long-time Chairman of Tzach Rabbi Dovid Raskin OBM in connection with his first yahrzeit this week.
The evening began with a video of the Rebbe speaking about Beis Iyar, the birthday of the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Maharash whose motto was “l’chat’chila aribber” – to supersede the bounds of nature from the very outset.
The M/C, Rabbi Aron Ginsberg of Chabad-Lubavitch of Borough Park, began with words of inspiration about how every shaliach should be connected constantly to the fulfillment of the mission he has received from the Rebbe.
He then invited Rabbi Moshe Goldman, long-time secretary and committee member of Tzach, who greeted the Rebbe’s shluchim based in and around the Rebbe’s city, and wished them outstanding success, and that all of us together be able to fulfill the Rebbe’s mission and to bring even closer the ultimate Geula.
The M/C introduced Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Executive Director of Tzach and a noted columnist and radio host, who pointed out the special privileges the Rebbe has given everyone connected with Tzach.
He mentioned Rabbi Raskin’s frequent adage, that although the Rebbe first called for the founding of Tzach on the Shabbos when the month of Iyar was blessed, Nissan 24, 5715 (1955), nevertheless the Rebbe always stressed that the date of Tzach’s actual founding was Iyar 2.
“This emphasizes how the Rebbe empowers everyone connected to Tzeirei Agudas Chabad to utilize the two special qualities – that all activities and conduct should be in a manner of l’chat’chila aribber, and in a manner not only of tiferes – splendor – but of tiferes-sheb’siferes – the highest form of splendor,” Rabbi Butman said.
In 5751 (1991), continued Rabbi Butman, the Rebbe explained that conduct in a manner of l’chat’chila aribber has an effect upon the previous days, too, upon the dates of 27th-28th of Nissan that year, when the Rebbe spoke his renowned words about “the matter that is utterly incomprehensible” – the fact that we are still in exile.
“The Rebbe connected the subject with the 2nd of Iyar, emphasizing that it is essential to bring the ultimate Geula in a manner of l’chat’chila aribber. Based upon this, it is evident that LYO, founded on that date, was established in order further to speed and hurry the fulfillment of the ultimate Geula,” he said.
Rabbi Butman described Rabbi Dovid Raskin’s unique personality, how he was utterly devoted to the Rebbe and dedicated his life to fulfilling the Rebbe’s desire. He related several anecdotes to illustrate this.
He reminded everyone how, in 5745 (1985), when Rabbi Raskin fell ill with a dangerous sickness, the Rebbe referred to him at a farbrengen, without mentioning his name, as “a Tomim [graduate of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim] who has all the virtues of a Tomim” – an extraordinarily rare comment that expresses, better than any other, the personality of the Chossid and Tomim, Rabbi Dovid Raskin.
As a token of esteem, the directorate of central Tzach presented a large portrait of the Rebbe, with a plaque noting its dedication to Reb Dovid, to his son, R’ Yitzchok Raskin.
Rabbi Kasriel Kastel, Program Director of Tzach, referred to the extraordinary success of the shluchim in and around New York, who now operate more than 60 flourishing Chabad-Lubavitch centers which show every sign of maintaining their amazing success in the future, too.
The following speakers were drawn from those who have joined “the Rebbe’s army” of shluchim during the past year. One of them, Rabbi Yosef Goldwasser, is the program coordinator for the campaign – headed by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Butman – that arranges for speakers to address many congregations on Shabbos and Yom Tov on themes of Chassidus, including for the famous Tahaluchos, the various large-scale marches to other neighborhoods often held on those occasions.
Rabbi Goldwasser described the hard work involved in contacting every shul and arranging to send them suitable speakers, noting the great success particularly during the past year in which dozens of shuls have been added where speakers go for processions or every week.
Rabbi Yoel Naparstek is active in arranging farbrengens on special festive occasions at kollelim and yeshivos. He described how these introduce a refreshing spirit of vitality into many Torah institutions, and how eagerly these farbrengens are awaited, for they bring the students rich Chassidic perspectives that will continue to illuminate their lives in the future.
Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Deitsch, son of the unforgettable Chossid R’ Zalman Yuda Deitsch, of blessed memory, has been appointed during the past year as the shliach in Bronxville, N.Y. and at Sara Lawrence College in Westchester.
With characteristic Chassidic enthusiasm, he spoke about the great privilege of being a shaliach of the Rebbe, and related several anecdotes from his activities to illustrate how “we clearly see the Rebbe’s blessings.”
Rabbi Mordy Hirsch, director of the Mitzvah Tank Office, described the scope of the Mitzvah Tank parades several times a year, the Sukkah-Mobiles on Sukkos, and the tanks that operate every week.
He named a long list of shluchim who utilize the tanks to assist their activities with great success in the respective communities under the direct instructions of the Shliach in the area. Rabbi Hirsch offered shluchim the opportunity to order one or more tanks, with active crews for any amount of time the Shluchim desire.
In the keynote speech of the evening, Rabbi Manis Friedman, Dean of Bais Chana in Minnesota and world renowned author and teacher, related how he became involved in shlichus and public lectures.
His original inspiration, he said, came from the early “Encounters with Chabad” organized by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, the Lubavitch Youth Organization. “When I was a yeshiva student, I don’t think I missed even one lecture of those Encounters. This is what started me off on the path of shlichus.”
In his unique way, Rabbi Friedman explained a special perspective in the term tiferes-sheb’siferes, and how the shluchim connected with this sefira have been granted an exalted privilege. Rabbi Friedman’s unique approach, articulate diction and enjoyable content penetrated deeply into hearts and minds of his audience, providing them with inspiration, encouragement and exalted sensibility, and a reinforced desire to accomplish even more speedily the arrival of the actual Geula.
“It was a gathering permeated with warmth,” said Rabbi Butman. “The deep inspiration of the shluchim, and their renewed dedication to the Rebbe and to fulfilling his shlichus, were clearly palpable.” Many present said proudly that this was a gathering that poignantly expressed Chassidic feeling and warmth.
is it available on video? Please!
Kudos to the Goldwasser seniors and of course to Yosef
From your fan Shiffy and family. We miss you guys!! SCS
incredible Shliach! keep up the good work!
People – Keep up being rolemodels.
Future star shliach – i’ll have a sprite with that. lichaim
Great to see so much Achdus