Hundreds of The Alter Rebbe’s Descendants Gather For 280th Anniversary of the Birth of the Alter Rebbe
Last night, at the Savyon Cultural Center, the annual event of the Descendants’ Association – “Feeling Connected” – took place, with the participation of hundreds of descendants from across all branches of the family.
The evening opened with a heartfelt prayer led by Amichai Brisk, a tenth-generation descendant of the Alter Rebbe. This was followed by greetings from Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Halperin, one of the heads of the Association. In his remarks, he emphasized the great privilege and responsibility of being a descendant of the author of the Tanya, weaving in anecdotes from the Rebbe’s life and teachings that added a personal and inspiring touch to the entire event.
The evening was skillfully and sensitively hosted by author Rabbi Zalman Ruderman.
The centerpiece of the evening featured a fascinating lecture by Rabbi Dr. Yosef Shtemler on the mitzvah of blowing the shofar in the teachings of the Tanya. This was followed by a personal address from Yoel Cheshin, a seventh-generation descendant, who shared his deep sense of closeness to his great ancestor and invited participants to strengthen their own bond with him.
A particularly moving moment came with an innovative multimedia presentation drawing a parallel between Yaakov Avinu and the Alter Rebbe. Both shared the same heartfelt wish – that their descendants would remain connected as “children,” even in future generations. Both conveyed this message through their grandchildren, who became a model and aspiration for generations to come. The presentation delivered the message powerfully, leaving participants deeply moved.
Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Halperin presented a review of the Association’s expanding activities over the past year. During his remarks, he invited two individuals whose contributions to the Association’s growth stood out in particular – Mr. Erez Waxman, a biological descendant, and Mr. Amir Malka, a spiritual descendant. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause, and the excitement in the hall reached its peak as the two were presented with certificates of appreciation.
The musical and soulful part of the evening was led by singer and composer Adi Gabison, who moved the participants with songs and melodies rooted in the Alter Rebbe’s teachings. At the conclusion of the evening, participants received a new calendar, specially produced by the Association, along with a jar of honey – a symbol of a sweet and good year.
The event was produced by Yonatan Fisher, accompanied by copywriter OndaHouse Digital – Sheli Falik.
Photo: Dovber Hechtman
