By Liba Andrusier (Frank), Co-director of Young Israel/Chabad of Pembroke Pines, FL
Rabbi Aaron Eliezer Ceitlin sitting at the head of a large, white, rectangular table in Beis Chana Seminary in Tzfas, surrounded by over 100 girls on a regular school night will always be etched in my memory.
It was close to 18 years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday.
I’m sure hundreds of other Chabad Seminary and High School girls have the same special memories and can add to my words. Rabbi Ceitlin probably wouldn’t even know what an impact he had on me. Now, married with a family and on Shlichus, I am still inspired by this humble person years later.
He lived for the Rebbe and for Hashem his whole life. There are very few people in this world that lived and breathed Emes and were a true example of being the Rebbe’s Chosid every living second that they were awake, Rabbi Ceitlin was one of them.
Rabbi Ceitlin would farbreng, inspire, encourage us and then always end off by telling us how we need to do more. It was always so warm, positive, full of fire and life. The farbrengen would last for hours.
When it was time for us to sing, Rabbi Ceitlin would encourage us to do so while he walked outside to observe the halacha. When we were done, he’d come in and continue farbrenging. This could have happened a few times during the farbrengen until it was 3 or 4 AM and we needed to go to sleep to be up the next day for classes.
I can’t imagine how the world will be without this giant of a man. One who was a pillar of Chabad, a true Shliach and Chosid of the Rebbe in every cell of his being.
Who will Farbreng like he did for the Seminary girls and inspire them?
Who will replace the smiling, warm Chosid walking down Kingston Ave., with hundreds of Israeli girls during Tishrei looking to be enthused by the Rebbe?
Who will lead the group of Israeli High School girls each year at the Kinus Hashluchos Banquet, sitting up at the balcony with such excitement that was palpable?
Who will go to Shluchim around the world and encourage and inspire them to keep doing what they are doing with such zest and Simcha?
And my last question – What would you tell us now Rabbi Ceitlin – when we are heartbroken that you are not physically here to help us fight the last moments of this hard Galus?
My humble guess would be, that you would tell us we should be B’Simcha- like you always were and keep doing what the Rebbe wanted – like you always did.
To share your memories and stories with Rabbi Ceitlin, visit rebaaronleizer.com
Cannot believe it and still so so sad… We were so lucky in beis chana and in other seminaries around the world to have him farbreng with us. He would come to Melbourne and farbreng with OC and win Beit chana alumni and even though he was so exhausted he would farbreng until the wee hours. He valued each girl and her potential- it was an investment in the chassidim of the future. Kind, funny, serious, driven, warm and with the weirdest and most wonderful vocabulary and grammar that mixed Hebrew English Yiddish and Aramaic into the most enlightening speeches.… Read more »
He was (is) such an inspiration! Was funny, witty, interesting, inspiring. A true chossid, and dugma chaya.
every word is Emmes He was “TZU G-T UN TZU LEIT”
May he storm the heavens & bring the geula Shlaima right NOW!!!
He was such a special and extrandonary person and chassid!
I believe he would want us to do what he did to others
We have the ability!
To share our stories,and accept everyone with love
He will trube missed!
All stories about him keep him alive physically and spiritually.Trying to be somewhat like him will definitely accomplish that.
from a family member
Gave me the chills seeing a matzevah with his name. Such an amazing chossid we lost. He really left an impact on me. Both in ruchniyus but also just as a person.we need Moshiach!
A big white table in Beis Chanah Sem… with Rabbi Ceitlin chatting to himself/us, outloud, encouraging us, not even so much by his words, but by his being.
Moshiach achshav.
Thank u got expressing what I and my classmates and probably anyone who went to beis chana is thinking.it’s unreal how someone who epitomized life …..I still have not comprehended.I was lucky enough to go to Russia and Ukraine with rabbi ceitlin,an experience that will always stay with me……..May his family find nechama and his students use what they learned to end this crazy galus….