Yud Shvat in London

STAMFORD HILL, London [CHI] — The visit of Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Bukiet to London came to a close on Wednesday night, at the central Farbrengen for Yud Shevat in Beis Lubavitch, Stamford Hill.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Throughout Wednesday Rabbi Bukiet visited the educational institutions of Lubavitch, starting with the Boys Junior School and continuing on to the Girls school, first addressing the Junior school and then the High School. In the afternoon, he farbrenged with the talmidim of the Mechina.

The reaction was very positive. “My daughters returned home with chassidishe stories they heard from the Mashpia”, said one parent. “The students of the High School were really impressed with Rabbi Bukiet and they were all uplifted and strengthened by his words”, commented a teacher.

The central Farbrengen began with Rabbi L. Y. Raskin, Rov of the Stamford Hill Kehilla, reading a telegram sent by the Rebbe in honor of Yud Shevat 5719 (1959). Rabbi Raskin went on to repeat a message from Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg, whom he has just met in NY.

The guest speaker, Rabbi Bukiet, focused on the pure emunah we must have in the Rebbe’s words, even though we may not understand them and that times seems to be far from the prophecies we heard. As it was when Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim, things seemed to only get worse when Moshe spoke to Pharroh, but this was test to see if Yidden will keep their emunah, same with our generation, declared by the Rebbe in his first Maamar to be the first generation of Geulah, we are being tested to keep our pure belief in the Rebbe’s words. If the Rebbe’s words would be seen physically, even misnagdim would believe in the Rebbe! The trick is not to believe when things have worked out, but rather to believe when things don’t seem to be right.

Rabbi Bukiet also spoke about Ahavas Yisroel. Basing himself on a sicha of the Rebbe, it is asked why a Hakhel was needed before building the Mishkan? The answer is that before building a Mishkan, which means bringing Achdus Hashem down here, we must be united among ourselves, only then we will succeed. The same applied to our generation, the first dor of geulah, the Rebbe is telling us: before you bring Moshiach, before you finally complete achdus Hashem, you must all be united.

Rabbi Chaim Citron, Shliach in LA, related a story showing the immense Ahavas Yisroel of the Rebbe.

After the “official” Farbrengen ended, Rabbi Bukiet continued to farbreng with the remaining Bochurim and Anash until 1am, when there was a live hook-up to watch the Kinus Hatmimim in NY.

It must be mentioned that the Lubavitch community in London greatly enjoyed and benefited from Rabbi Bukiet’s visit. Warm words were directed at Agudas Chasidei Chabad, who thought about them and arranged for the visit. “We hope that Aguch will continue helping us to bring more mashpi’im to farbreng with our community, even after Shnas Hakhel”, said one of the main organisers of the events, “the positive feedback from the community and mosdos continue to be heard. No one can remember such a positive visit from a Mashpia, where all communities and schools benefited to hear the Mashpia, and to be happy.”

“This visit uplifted and strengthened Anash in London. It has been a while since we had the merit to have a visit from such a true Chasidic figure”, said a leading member of Anash.