By COLlive reporter
Photos: Yakov Rosenthal
Postponed due to hurricane Sandy, the Bris Avrohom organization held its the 33rd Annual Dinner this Sunday, November 11, at the Sheraton Parsippany in New Jersey.
Honored were the Ginzburg family of Hewlett Harbor and Kiev and the Odzer family of Woodmere, NY. They were greeted by Rabbi Moshe Azman, Chief Rabbi of Ukraine.
Both families donated a room in the Bat Sheva-Chaya Esther Mikvah. One in honor of their parents – Zalman and Nina Ginzburg and the other in memory of their late father Seymour Odzer.
Mr. Roger Prince, general manager of the Staten Island Crossings for the Port Authority of NY and NJ, received the Community Service award for his leadership in having Bris Avrohom set up menorahs on the Goethals, Bayonne and Outerbridge Crossings.
WEDDING TIME
Prior to the festive dinner, the 27th Gala Weddings celebration was held. 4 couples from the former Soviet Union were married in religious Jewish ceremonies, a rite that was denied to them in their native lands.
The couples rejoiced in this great milestone in their lives, surrounded by family and friends. Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky, Youth and Torah Education Director of Bris Avrohom, was the master of ceremonies for the chuppahs.
The Rebbe’s letter was read by Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Executive Director of Bris Avrohom and was translated, into English and Russian, by Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Program Director of Bris Avrohom. Rabbi Dovid Wilansky, Administrator of Bris Avrohom, organized the logistics of the chuppahs.
After the reading of the letter, Rabbi Berel Zaltzman, Community Development Director of Bris Avrohom and Rabbi of Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn sang the Mir Adir. Each chuppah then started its own ceremony.
Rabbi Benjamin Yudin of Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn, Rabbi Eliyahu Shain, certified mohel of Bris Avrohom, Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman, Youth and Camp Director of Bris Avrohom and Rabbi Berel Zaltzman were the four mesader kedushin.
Rabbi Shaya Richmond, from Bais Tefilah of Woodmere and a dear friend of the Odzer family, recited a bracha for the same couple who had been escorted to the chuppah by Tzvi and BatSheva Odzer.
The kallahs were prepared for this event by Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, Associate Director of Bris Avrohom. and Rabbi Elazar Meir Teitz, Mara D’asra of Elizabeth, prepared all the ketubahs for this event.
MUSICAL HIGHLIGHT
A highlight of the evening was a concert from the renowned Chassidic singer, Avraham Fried, who regaled the crowd for nearly an hour.
Prior to his performance, Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky presented Fried with photos taken 22 years ago at a visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the 2 dollar bills for charity given to Fried at that time.
The significant photos and dollar bills were thought to have been lost, but were recently found and presented to the entertainer, who was visibly moved by the gesture.
“He was shocked,” Rabbi Avremy Kanelsky said about Fried. “He later recalled that it was then that the Rebbe told him to give tzadaka before and after concerts.”
As the 300 supporters and guests of the brides and grooms saw, Fried gave a dollar before the concert for its success and another dollar after the concert thanking Hashem.
ahhh remeber those days
just saw aletter written to bris avrohom which is printed in likutei sichos book 35 week of toldos same as the dinner date explaining the importance of bris avrohom and supporting it
go bris avrohom and all the staff making the rebbe proud and bringing moshiach closer
Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker is the Rebbes Shliach to his very essence!
And Rabbi Avremi Kanelsky too!!! Also who gets the job done. Nice and quiet. Never complains!!!!!!!
this is shlichus!!!! this is so special, such nachas!!!
rabbi lepkivker, !!! wonderful to see you, the loved one by all of the orginization, never makes too much noise and gets all done may hashem reward you for all the wonderful work , rabbi wilansky as well, devoted shluchim that go above and beyond.!!!!
why are there no pics of rabbi kanelsky beautiful family???
I just love that picture of the 4 kallahs dancing with the kallah umbrella! Oh so holy! thanks for uplifting my day!
he is in 2 pictures
very moving!
I would like to wish Rabbi Motel Kanelsky much hatzlocho in all your hard work and continue giving Nachas to the Rebbe.
I know Rabbi Kanelsky brought thousands of people to the Rebbe for dollars – I’m positive that he brought more people to the Rebbe than any other Shliach.
Berel!!!!! Used to sing for the Rebbe!
where is Rabbi Yudi Kanelsky?
A Rabbi that gave and gives true nachas to the Rebbe
last picture in this gallery rabbi kanelsky with renowned artist domingo zapata
this rabbi is good