JEM: The Rebbe’s First Maamar Watched by Over 15,000
It’s been 70 years since the Rebbe’s first maamar, and this Yud Shvat the Rebbe’s words were as widespread as ever, thanks to Connection Point, whose program brought together over 10,000 men, women, and children together to watch the Rebbe’s full Yud Shvat farbrengen.
A project of JEM and in collaboration with Tzivos Hashem, Connection Point aims to “make the Rebbe’s words fully accessible,” says Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin, Executive Director of JEM. “It’s an essential way for our generation to stay connected.”
The Yud Shvat program was divided into two parts to cater to the different audiences. From Thursday to Sunday over 100 schools joined, with 5 different levels of difficulty to cater to different age groups. Anash from over 300 locations all around the world joined in, either watching the full farbrengen or part of the farbrengen.
“Everyone connects according to their level,” says Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum, director of Tzivos Hashem, explaining the theory behind the tracks. “And we wanted every child to be able to walk away with the concept of the maamar.”
Connection Point has built a reputation among kids and is now a highly anticipated program, thanks to stand out prizes that draw kids in. “We try to motivate both the nefesh elokis and the nefesh habihamis,” says Rabbi Chaim Loschak, Connection Point production manager. “The motivation really works.” At this Yud Shvat program, raffle winners claimed 15 grand prizes, such as trips to the Rebbe, $500 at kehot, airpods pro etc.
The program was free of charge due to a generous grant from Yossi & Nechama Dina Katz and family.
70 years after the Rebbe first shared Basi L’Gani, people of all ages were given a chance to pause from their busy schedules and tune in to the Rebbe’s vision. About the purpose of the program, Connection Point Director Rabbi Levi Plotkin, says, “We all have to come back to the yesod of Dor Hashvii.”
Connection Point’s Classic (Grades 5-8) and High (High Schools and Seminaries) are about to start Round 2 – Purim. This is Connection Point’s Flagship program; enabling schools to watch full rallies and farbrengens of the Rebbe. To learn more or sign up, please email lplotkin@jemedia.org.
Connection Point affiliate schools that are taking part in upcoming Purim round:
Boys
Chabad Hebrew Academy San Diego, CA
Chabad of Irvine Chassidushe Supplement Program Irvine, CA
Chabad Youth St Kilda E, AU
Cheder at the Ohel Queens, NY
Cheder Chabad Boynton Beach, FL
Cheder Chabad New Haven, CT
Cheder Chabad of Philadelphia Bryn Mawr, PA
Cheder Lubavitch Skokie, IL
Cheder Menachem Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
Darchai Menachem Brooklyn, NY
Lubavitch Cheder Day School Saint Paul, MN
Lubavitcher Yeshiva Brooklyn, NY
Lubavitcher Yeshiva Ocean Parkway – Brooklyn, NY
Nigri International Shluchim Online School International
Oholei Torah Grades 5-7 Brooklyn, NY
Oholei Torah 8th Grade Brooklyn, NY
Oholie Menachem Postville, IA
Ohr Menachem Brooklyn, NY
OYY Lubavitch School Salford, UK
Sacramento Jewish Acadamy Granite Bay, CA
YTTL Montreal Montreal, QC
Torah Academy Primary School Johannesburg, SA
Girls
Bais Rebbe Los Angeles, CA
Bnos Menachem Brooklyn, NY
Chabad Hebrew Academy San Diego, CA
Cheder Chabad – Lakeworth, FL
Cheder Chabad New Haven, CT
Cheder Chabad of Philadelphia Bryn Mawr, PA
Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School Chicago, IL
Lubavitch Cheder Day School Saint Paul, MN
Shluchim Online School Brooklyn, NY
High Schools
Beis Chana Miami, FL
Bnos Menachem Brooklyn, NY
Chabad Youth St Kilda E, AU
Lamplighters Jewish Academy Oxnard, CA
Ohel Chana Los Angeles, CA
Rohr Bais Chaya Academy Tamarac, FL
Torah Academy High School Johannesburg, SA
