By Nshei uBnos Chabad
Nshei uBnos Chabad is celebrating the 60th annual convention this year.
If someone would ask you, “What women’s group or cause are you affiliated with?” As proud Lubavitcher women, Nshei uBnos Chabad is our badge of identity.
This badge is a source for more pride than any other labels we have.
“I’m firmly confident that every one of you has the zchus to belong to the Agudas Nshei uBnos Chabad…,” the Rebbe wrote in a letter to the first convention in 5716.
Convention is an opportunity to proudly celebrate our identity, bond as a group with common goals, evoke the strength and spirit to forge ahead, and meet and unite with others of the group. “[and] will make the utmost use of the opportunities and abilities which the convention presents…” the Rebbe writes in a letter to convention.
Nshei conventions were very close to the Rebbe’s heart. They culminated in an unforgettable honor: The men’s shul was vacated to make room for all the women and girls that streamed to 770 to hear the Rebbe’s message and blessings.
In 1966 the out-of-town convention took place in Worcester, Mass. That Sunday the Rebbe questioned Rabbi Leibel Groner in great detail about the progress of the convention. The Rebbe then asked him, “What about your wife?” Rabbi Groner responded that “she was home with the [young] children.”
The Rebbe immediately dismissed his secretary, “Go home. You will remain home to care for the children.”
Mrs. Groner flew in to join the convention on a small plane, accompanied by another woman who was visiting from England.
“Although I was too young to attend the first conventions,” Mrs. Gitty Stolik recalls, “I remember how excited my young friends and I were to join the women all decked out in their finery, filling several train cars with our obviously Jewish presence as we travelled to the Statler Hilton. We were students in elementary school and so proud to perform at the convention — the Rebbetzin Chana would be watching from the head table. She would likely give a report to her son the Rebbe. And we looked forward to bring pleasure to her face. Every woman and high school girl strove to attend.”
Sixty years later… How convenient that many of us could stroll down a few blocks and join the convention right in our own Shchuna (those who travel to get here score extra points!).
And we’re still dressing carefully for it – after all, we are coming to the Rebbe’s convention. Of course it is our convention — the women of Chabad — but in partnership with the Rebbe who shared of his time to address the women annually and cared so much about every detail. The themes, the program, the resolutions, all were subject to his scrutiny and input.
We will always be the team of women that the Rebbe knew he could depend on.
Convention 60 will take place 26-28 Iyar, 15-17 May. There will be a beautiful Shalosh Seudos session, dedicated in memory of Brana Shaina Deitsch obm on Shabbos afternoon 4:30 p.m. at Oholei Menachem.
The Main session will take place Sunday evening in 770’s Main Shul (lower level).
Nshei Chabad is calling on all women and girls to dedicate sixty additional minutes for the Rebbe’s directives, especially in learning Moshiach and Geulah. We want Moshiach Now!
For more information about the convention call 718-771-6479, 917-892-4718, 718-467-5106 or visit Nsheichabadcentral.org.
Beautiful picture of Martha Stock with the Rebbe.