By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui
Chabad Shluchim gathered at the general session on Motzei Shabbos of the annual Kinus Hashluchim in Brooklyn were warned of the dangers the internet imposes on their families.
Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, senior Shliach to the White House and Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, proclaimed in regards to the web that “the danger is now from within.”
“We live in a time of unprecedented challenges,” he told his fellow shluchim. “It’s not an enemy from afar that you can run away from. The yetzer hara is in the house and in your pocket.”
He said decrying letters against the web – like often done by haredi rabbis in Israel – was not the way to fight back.
“Letters won’t help,” he said. Instead, Rabbi Shemtov offered, “when a boy or girl is born, surround them with holiness and Torah. The only solution is to fill them with light.”
With the session, held at Campus Chomesh in Crown Heights, being focused on the Shliach and his family, speakers emphasized the integral role the family plays in the life of the Chabad House.
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, recalled how the Rebbe once asked his father “what’s with the main things?” explaining that he meant, “healthy children and good shidduchim.”
Speeches at the session were intertwined with short video clips of the Rebbe talking about sholom bayis and chinuch.
In a rare recording, the Rebbe was heard advising a couple whose marriage was on the rocks to add more spiritually in their life and set up a time for learning together – preferably in Parshas Hashavua.
Veteran shliach and educator in England, Rabbi Shmuel Lew said that during a Yechidus, he told the Rebbe of his accomplishments and in response was asked how his wife was doing and did she have a cleaning lady helping her with housework.
“I am paraphrasing, but the Rebbe said about our children that as much as they are your children – they are children of Hashem and we are custodians,” Rabbi Lew emphasized.
Other speakers on this topic were Brunoy, France Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yechiel Menachem Mendel Kalmenson, Vermont Shliach Yitzchak Raskin and Beer Sheva Shliach Zalman Gorelick.
In middle of the session, emcee Illinois Head Shliach Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz notified that the health of Virginia Shliach Levi Deitsch is deteriorating.
He asked the crowd to sing Reb Michel M’Zloschov’s niggun in unison, which was led by Rabbi Levke Kaplan. Shluchim – some of the young ones are personal friends of Deitsch – were seen singing with deep emotion and closed eyes.
In conclusion, director of the Kinus Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky announced a new program to strengthen the connection between Shluchim.
“Shluchim Calling Shluchim” will encourage Chabad rabbis to make time to call a fellow Shliach and inquire about his well being and the health of his family.
VIDEO: Shluchim Singing
Video by The CJ Studios – 718.781.6405
An inspiration to all! Gd bless you!!!
Refuah Shlaima!
We had the terrible tragedy of Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg about the time of Kinus Hashluchim
This year tragically we had two fatalities.
The Rebbe after the tragedy with Hatomim Chitrick gave a whole sicha.
Maybe that applies today to.
Hello is there anybody there !!!!
Can the Ziknai Anash or Young Anash Speak up.
May this bring out miracles and may he have a COMPLETE Refuah Shleima NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can feel the energy in the air. Amazing, what a farbrengen can acomplish, even malach michoel cant.