Russia’s Chief Rabbi Farbrengs in Brighton Beach

Hundreds of Jews packed into the Sea Breeze Jewish Center in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn for an evening of reflection and inspiration on the day of Gimel Tamuz. In addition to the inspiring messages by the speakers, they were moved by the songs of the Rebbe and a film commemorating his life’s work.

Rabbi Zushe Winner, the spiritual leader of the Shul, spoke about how the Rebbe was both a source of strength and determination, as well as a model of sensitivity and caring. Addressing the recent murder of the three youths in Isreal, Rabbi Winner pointed to the message of the Rebbe after the terrorist attack on Kfar Chabad in 1956. The Rebbe then said that the response should be moving forward with even more growth and expansion of Jewish initiatives.

The guest speaker of the evening was Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, who described to the audience the awesome changes that have taken place in the former Soviet Union through the Rebbe’s Shluchim throughout Russia. Rabbi Lazar shared many stories about how the Rebbe saw the good in every person and in every situation, an appreciation of goodness that should unite all of us.

Cantor Zalman Baumgarten entertained the audience with a beautiful rendition of songs taught by the Rebbe as well Cantorial masterpieces.

The evening was also an expression of unity between several Shuls and Chabad Houses in the South Brooklyn area. The dais was graced by Rabbi Yitzchok Winner, Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, Rabbi Moishe Wiener, Rabbis Hershel, Avrohom and Dovid Okunov, Rabbi Shimmy Silver, Rabbis Avreml and Moishe Dovid Winner, and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny.