Oihel Nosson Marks Three Years As a Community

Last Sunday, about 200 Crown Heights residents hiked through Prospect Park to its magnificent Picnic House, where they celebrated the conclusion of three years as the Oihel Nosson community. The dinner theme was “The Power of three,” underlining the three pillars that the world, and this community, stands on.

Sushi, a beef-carving stations, a wine bar and roaming starters welcomed the guests, followed by a sit-down dinner and program that had every participant wowed by the joyous vibe and energy in the room.

Two founding Oihel Nossonites, Aaron Popack and Yoni Raskin, MC’d the evening, opening with Tehillim and a video collage of the Rebbe speaking about the power of community.

The room was then taken with an announcement that a special-edition Oihel Nosson Tanya would be printed.

Reb Mordechai Nagel, whose early support of the shul included the name sponsorship and two sifrei Torah, was invited to start the printing of “the Torah Shebichsav of Chassidus.” The Tanya printing prompted a truly spontaneous joyous dance, as the Freliach Band and Yoili Greenfeld played “Eimasai ka’asi mar…”

During dinner, Choni Goldman, a close friend and “member-at-large,” performed a number of songs to powerful effect.

The keynote address was delivered by shul member Avi Webb, who noted how, as Chassidim of the Rebbe, we’ve all grown up knowing that every person counts. With a focus on drawing the furthest Jews closer, it bears remembering the ability we have to draw ourselves closer to our families, to one another and to Hashem.

Comparing a community to a bus-ride, the address underlined how every man and woman can choose to get onboard and ride for as long as they want. “A viable vehicle has been built and is moving forward,” Avi said.

Two couples who have committed tremendous personal passion to Torah learning in Oihel Nosson were thanked at the dinner and presented with token gifts as they move off to further Shlichus.

Rabbi Sruli and Mushka Deitsch, new Shluchim to Broxville/Mount Vernon, New York were thanked in particular for starting and hosting a weekly Lunch ‘n Learn for Shul members who work in Crown Heights. Sruli also gives a weekly Sicha shiur on Friday night in Shul.

Rabbi Levi and Sonya Wolvovsky who are moving to Florence, Italy were thanked for their commitment to the Shabbos morning Chassidus Shiur. The MCs noted that the merit of the shiur belongs equally to Levi for giving the Shiur and to Sonya for supporting his Shabbos morning commitment.

Before the evening closed, Aaron Popack announced one more tribute to Yoni and Moussie Raskin, “the engines of the shul.” As a bochur, Yoni gave every waking moment and most of his sleep to the people, programs and progress of Oihel Nosson. After marriage, Moussie joined his work with enthusiasm.

The music and dancing continued late into a night that will be remembered forever.