Couple Honored for Rescuing West Coast Chabad HQ

It was the largest rabbinic gathering in the history of West Coast Chabad. On Sunday, March 4, Chabad’s 260 rabbis — emissaries of The Rebbe from up and down the states of California and Nevada — gathered in Westwood to celebrate the 40th Annual West Coast Kinus HaShluchim and to pay tribute to Shlomo Yehuda and Tamar Rechnitz, pillars of chesed in California and throughout the world, who stepped forward last year and courageously rescued the West Coast Chabad Headquarters from financial distress.

Despite their commitment to the Torah virtue of “run away from honor,” Shlomo and Tamar Rechnitz have become recognized as one of the most generous and committed philanthropists in the Torah-observant world today. Whether enabling thousands of Torah students to dedicate their days and nights to study, or the thousands who are helped by their generous, yet very private giving, Rechnitz is one of the bearing pillars of the global Torah community.

With their pure, humble and unassuming manner that allows people from all walks of life to feel comfortable and respected in their presence, Shlomo and Tamar Rechnitz personify the word “chesed,” and they are leading the world by example.

Perhaps this is why Chabad and Rechnitz have become ‘brothers in alms,’ helping so many thousands in need and providing Torah education to children, adults and seniors in virtually every community throughout the West Coast.

And so, on Sunday, Chabad’s emissaries joined together in Westwood to say “Shlomo and Tamar Rechnitz, thank you for saving our house.”

Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, The Rebbe’s Head Shliach on the West Coast, presented the award to Rechnitz with blessings, gratitude and appreciation on behalf of all of The Rebbe’s Shluchim. “I know that the hundreds of community leaders who stand before you tonight all share a single thought,” Rabbi Cunin said, “We would not be gathered here together today if not for your generous kindness. ‘Hinei ma tov u’ma naim, sheves achim gam yachad.’”

The inscription on the award reads, “Presented to Shlomo Yehuda and Tamar Rechnitz, with eternal gratitude for your towering and selfless commitment to chesed, and your courageous rescue of the Chabad West Coast Headquarters.” It concludes with the Talmudic adage (Sotah 14, a) “The Torah begins and ends with acts of kindness.”

Rabbi Cunin concluded the presentation with the riveting words: ”Shlomo and Tamar Rechnitz are a wellspring of vitality and nourishment for the landscape of Torah true Judaism. And through their kindness and giving, Torah continues to flourish throughout the world.”

The theme of the convention was “Emuna, Simcha and Bitachon — strengthening our faith through joy in the final moments of Golus” to hasten the revelation of Moshiach. The convention sessions throughout the day included topics of Jewish law, Chassidic philosophy and Talmud on a variety of subjects, and lectures by leading scholars on the study of Rambam, a global campaign launched by The Rebbe that has just completed its 30th cycle of daily study. Lecturers included Rabbi Shimon Raichik (Congregation Levi Yitzchak), Rabbi Eli Hecht (Chabad of Lomita), Rabbi Naftali Estulin (Chabad Russian Center), Rabbi Avraham Zajac (Chabad of South La Cienega), Rabbi Mendel Cohen (Chabad of Sacramento), and Rabbi Elimelech Gurevitch (Chabad of Laguna Beach).

The banquet and Farbrengen included presentations and words of inspiration by Rabbi Abba Perelmuter (Chabad of Belmont Shores), Rabbi Zalman Marcus (Chabad of Mission Viejo), Rabbi Yehoshua Gordon (Chabad of The Valley), Rabbi Yonah Fradkin (Chabad of S. Diego) and Rabbi Ezra Binyomin Schochet (Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad). Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin delivered the keynote address with prayers and a renewed commitment to do all that is in our power to hasten the arrival of Moshiach.

Photos by David Miller