Events Large and Small Honoring 30th Anniversary of the Rebbe’s Passing

by Avraham Denburg – chabad.org

Around the world, people of all backgrounds are preparing to mark the upcoming 30th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneersohn, of righteous memory. The yahrzeit, which this year occurs on Tuesday, July 9, will see tens of thousands visit his resting place at the Ohel, in Queens, N.Y., and communities everywhere are hosting events to honor the day.

In one initiative, the 20 Chabad-Lubavitch centers of Westchester County, N.Y., will gather together for a joint event reflecting on the Rebbe’s life and teachings through prayer and increasing their acts of goodness and kindness.

“Many in Westchester feel a deep connection to the Rebbe, and his impact is strongly felt here even today, 30 years after his passing,” said Rabbi Mendel Silberstein, who co-directs Chabad of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, one of the participating communities. “The Rebbe is the inspiration behind much of the vibrant Jewish life that Jews enjoy today in Mamaroneck, White Plains, New Rochelle and all of Westchester.”

Silberstein, who in June took a group of community members to visit the Ohel, is gearing up for the event titled “A Close-Up Glimpse Into the Life of the Rebbe.” The evening will feature Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the sole surviving member of the Rebbe’s secretariat and chairman of both Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Machne Yisrael, as guest speaker.

Krinsky’s remarks will be followed by a concert featuring a string quartet performing a series of Chassidic melodies. Silberstein adds that the event, which is taking place on July 11, highlights how the development of many more Chabad centers in the Westchester area over the years really testifies to the Rebbe’s continued leadership and presence, even after his passing.

“Many thought Chabad would peter out following the Rebbe’s passing,” Silberstein said. “But 30 years later, we see his teachings and legacy continuing to empower millions around the world.”

A Musical Tour

Elsewhere, Chassidic music star Shulem Lemmer is kicking off his summer tour by performing at a number of Chabad centers in honor of the special day.

Lemmer, who in 2020 became the first Chassidic Jew to sign with a major record label, is making stops in six different states. In California, he’s heading to Sacramento, where the 12 Chabad centers of the region are hosting him for “An Evening of Song and Inspiration.”

“When I first arrived in Sacramento,” recounts Rabbi Mendy Cohen, director of Chabad of Sacramento, “my kids were the only ones wearing yarmulkes. Now, Judaism in Sacramento has grown beyond our dreams, with multiple Chabad synagogues, camps and a local Jewish school with over 100 students. I see clearly the Rebbe’s koach (‘energy’), in how fruitful our efforts have been.”

The concert is expected to draw a large crowd, with charter buses already prepared to help those from the Greater Bay Area attend. Lemmer, in addition to his own hits, will sing some of the niggunim taught by the Rebbe over his years of leadership. Videos showcasing the Rebbe speaking about the Land of Israel and its inhabitants will also be played at the event.

Some events, like the one held last week in South Florida’s Rick Case Arena, have already taken place. “30 One” saw some 3,000 people from across the spectrum of the Jewish community join together for an evening of inspiration.

“This was an event that appealed to Jews from all walks of life,” said Rabbi Yisroel Spalter, director of Chabad of Weston, Fla., and one of the organizers of the event. “Whether a ‘card-carrying Chassid’ or someone who has walked into a Chabad center once or twice, all of our lives have been deeply impacted by the Rebbe, and the event was a real reflection of the Rebbe’s range of relationships.” Spalter added that many drove long distances to attend.

Speakers included Rabbi Moshe New, a Chabad emissary to Montreal; and Rabbi Leib Shapiro, head of the Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College of Greater Miami. Multiple videos were played featuring people telling personal stories of their connection with the Rebbe, both before and after his passing. Israeli countertenor Motty Steinmetz gave a heartfelt performance together with Canadian cantor Shlomo Simcha, with the crowd enthusiastically joining in.

On July 1, Chabad centers in Washington state came together under the banner of “One People, One Heart.” Following a reception, Psalms were recited in the merit of those in Israel, led by a Seattle native returned from serving in the Israel Defense Forces fighting Hamas in Gaza. Following a performance by Steinway Artist and pianist Judith Cohen, the 300-strong crowd was then addressed by Rabbi Moshe Bryski of Agoura Hills, Calif., moving many among them to the verge of tears.

“Rabbi Bryski was riveting,” said Rabbi Shmully Levitin of Chabad Young Professionals of Seattle. “After his talk, a woman quickly approached me, asking about a mezuzah for her daughter. She even asked if any of the Rabbis had mezuzot with them, not wanting to wait another day.”