Grand Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen in South Florida

The Chabad communities of South Florida are eagerly awaiting its annual Grand Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen celebration at The Shul of Bal Harbour, Florida. Over 700 people are expected to pack The Shuls’ expansive Social Hall, where they will celebrate the Chassidic Yom Tov marking the release of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, from prison and the Birthday of Chabad Chassidim.

Members of Chabad Lubavitch communities and Shuls from areas such as South Beach, Miami Beach, North Miami and Sunny Isles, will be joining The Shul members of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor, Indian Creek and Surfside in this festive and joyous event. Students and Bochurim from the Landow Yeshivah Semicha program will be joining the Bochurim of The Shul Semicha program to Farbreng together and say L’Chaim. Shluchim from as far North as Jupiter and as far South as Key West, are expected to travel the long distance to join in the festivities.

Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar, Founder and Spiritual Leader of The Shul, will address the assembled and welcome the many participants from all walks of Jewish life. Rabbi Lipskar will introduce the Guest Speaker Rabbi Moshe Feller of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Rebbe’s Shliach to the Upper Midwest of the U.S. Rabbi Feller who has led Farbrengens in the community on other occasions, will again move the assembled with his words of Chassidus and inspiration, presented in a practical and often warm humorous fashion.

The Chabad Baal Menagen Mayer Simcha Rivkin, who has risen to notoriety after the recent release of his CD recording ‘Expressions of the Soul’ – The Rebb’s Niggunim, will Farbreng with the assembled via a special performance of the Alter Rebbe’s Niggunim. The Alter Rebbe’s many superlative qualities, said Mayer Simcha, included a powerful, impressive voice and advanced musical talent. In the spirit of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidism, the Alter Rebbe, the founder of Chabad Chassidism, utilized these for the service of G-d, encouraging his followers to use song to intensify inspiration, in prayer and at Chassidic gatherings. The Alter Rebbe introduced and composed (at least) ten Chassidic melodies, most of which are known. It is uncertain, however, whether all of the melodies ascribed to him actually belong to the ‘ten classic melodies’.

When asked why he chose to specifically sing the melodies of the Alter Rebbe, Mayer Simcha replied with a quote from the third leader of Chabad, the Tzemach Tzedek, (1789-1866) who quoted the saying of our Sages: ‘Whoever repeats a Torah teaching in the name of the sage who taught it, should see – or will see – the one who taught it as if he is standing opposite him.’ On this, the Tzemach Tzedek commented: ‘This is true when one repeats a Torah teaching taught by the sage, or tells a story about him, or sings a melody he composed.’ Mayer Simcha then added, the Tzemach Tzedek’s son and successor, the Rebbe MaHaRaSh (Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, 1834-1882), told his own son and successor, the Rebbe RaShaB (Rabbi Sholom Dovber, 1860-1920), that when Chassidim used to sing the Niggun of the Alter Rebbe, known as ‘Melody of the Four Movements’, they were so inspired by it that each used to look around to see whether his Rebbe – the Alter Rebbe, was actually standing next to him!

The very talented author and musician, Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, who arranged the music for Rivkins’ CD ‘Expressions of the Soul’, has been asked to do the music for the event and accompany Mayer Simcha Rivkin with the Niggunim.

The Farbrengen is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM on Sunday evening Yed Tes Kislev (December 10, 2006). A celebratory dinner and L’Chaim will be served. Men and women are welcome to attend the Farbrengen free of charge.