Kinus Hashluchos Gala Banquet

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Monika Lightstone and Michal Weiss

The Gala Banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchos took place at the New York Hilton in Midtown Manhattan, uniting over 3,000 Chabad Shluchos, family members and friends on Sunday.

The event culminated the 4-day conference in Brooklyn that included inspirational speakers, discussions, workshops and farbrengens focusing on life in service of the global Jewish community.

The emcee was Mrs. Estee Stern, a second generation Shlucha in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her parents are Rabbi Avraham and Hadassa Vigler.

“We are one family spread across the globe,” she said. “We are part of a worldwide organization working side by side and hand in hand to make this world a spiritual and G-dly place.”

Warmly thanked for their dedicated work as members of the Executive Committee were Mrs. Esther Grossbaum of Canada, Mrs. Rivkie Kahanov of Florida, Mrs. Chaya Perman of Venezuela, Mrs. Dinie Rapoport of Wisconson and Mrs. Nechama Shemtov of Washington, DC.

Singled out for her presence was Rebbetzin Simi Abuhatzeira, widow of the great Sephardic kabbalist, Rabbi Yisroel Abuhatzeira OBM, known as the Baba Sali who had a special relationship with the Rebbe.

After being invited to say a chapter of Tehillim, Mrs. Dina Hurwitz commented, “Thank you. I am honored and blessed to be able to call myself your sister.” Hurwitz’s husband, Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz, is battling ALS disease as they remain on Shlichus in Temecula, California.

Chabad niggunim were sung by accomplished performer Esther Freeman and the girls participating in the Kinus Yaldei Hashluchos, the convention for daughters of Shluchos taking place parallel to the women’s conference.

Names and photos of Shluchos who passed away this past year were displayed in memoriam. Two of them passed away a mere week ago – Mrs. Keny Deren of Pittsburgh and Mrs. Chasiah Kudan of Florida.

Addressing the evening were also Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, the educational and social services arm of Chabad-Lubavitch which organizes the convention.

Sharing a personal perspective of life on Shlichus was an off-script conversation on stage, moderated by Mrs. Baila Olidort, editor of lubavitch.com and Lubavitch International, with Mrs. Estie Greenberg, Shlucha in Anchorage, Alaska and Mrs. Chanie Mondshine of Smolensk, Russia.

Providing a perspective of the receiving-end of the Shluchos was Mrs. Diana Sragowicz, scion of the major philanthropist Rohr family and daughter of Moshe and Lilian Tabacinic. “My own family exists only thanks to Chabad,” she said.

As an introduction to the keynote speaker, she spoke fondly of her Shluchim, Rabbi Shalom Ber and Chanie Lipskar, leaders of the legendary The Shul in Bal Harbour, Florida.

VIDEO:

Greetings: Mrs. Estee Stern – Johannesburg, South Africa

Global Update: Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky

Message to Shluchos: Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky

Guest Speaker: Diana Sragowicz

Keynote Address: Chanie Lipskar