Shluchim – Bochurim Gather for Inspiration
This Shabbos, the holy city of Tsfas was host to 50 of the Rebbe’s Shluchim. As part of the world wide conventions for Talidim HaShluchim, bochurim from the eight Lubavitcher Yeshivas in Israel came together to unite and farbreng.
After weeks of preparation the grand Shabbos finally arrived. This is the first hand report we received:
“Friday we all gathered at the beautiful Campus Yisrael Aryeh Leib – Yeshivas Tzeirei Hashluchim – Tsfas. The program began with a buffet lunch, as Levi Teldon, one of the hosting Shluchim, welcomed everyone and introduced the guest mashpia, Rabbi Gordon of London. Rabbi Gordon focused the crowd as per the goals of this kinus.”
“Soon we were on our way to the ”gan ha’ir“ where we began a fascinating tour of the city and its Chabad institutions. We visited the Tzemach Tzedek shul, Beis Cabad of the old city, Simtaot, and the beis hakvaros. There we davened by the Ari zal, the Rebbe’s brother R’ Yisroel Arye Leib, and a bunch of eltere Chassidim. All this was guided by the world renowned mashpia, Rabbi Ahron Leizer Ceitlin. The shluchim really enjoyed it, it was amazing. Before Shabbos set in, we gathered for a quick group picture.”
“Shabbos was beautiful beyond words; the major achdus that was felt throughout the Shabbos is indescribable. Friday night we ate in the main dining room, Chaim Goldstein MC’d the evening, Shmuly Chatzkelevitch gave a Dvar Malchus, Arele Teleshevsky relayed an ”inspiring shlichus experience“ very nicely. As the night wore on Rabbi Gordon farbrenged for hours about the importance of shluchim, keeping seder, the Rebbes attention to the shluchim etc. He told us about when he was as bochur on shlichus in Caracas, Venezuela. This was intermixed with a lot of stories.”
“By day Rabbi Gordon gave a very nice shiur chassidus (ruboi kekulo atended) mezonos keyad hamelech. Shacharis (kiddush club with cake for those who could not wait…) Mincha, Seudas Shabbos with Motel Kastiner as MC. He called Levi Slonim, Shliach in Maayanot, for dvar malchus. Then, one by one, the shlucim stood up on there own accord to share their experiences. Rabbi Gordon farbrenged until way after 9 pm. At 3:00 am, to the sounds of ”Tayere Brider“ and lebedike dancing, we bid Rabbi Gordon a very warm Farewell.”
“Sunday saw workshops and sessions with personalities such as, Rabbi Sholom Ber Hertzel, Rosh Yeshivas Tzeirie hashluchim, Rabbi Yossi Chitrik, Shliach to Tzfas, and Rabi Chaim Kaplan head Shliach of Tzfas and Menahel of the Yeshiva.”
“For the grand finale we gathered in the ”Colel Chabad Eshel Bimyomin“ for a banquet with great speeches and lebedike nigunnim, everyone present was totally involved, realizing that an amazing Shabbos just passed and their shlichus for the rest of the year (In Israel we continue through the summer) will not be quite the same…”
Thanks are due to the Bochurim who organized it, including Yossi Freedman and Yisroel Noach Wichnin. To the Hanholoh of Yeshivas Tzeirei Hashluchim; Rabbis Chaim Kaplan and Menachem Traxler. To Rabbi Gordon for making the tiring trip to Israel, for inspiring our dear bochurim, for not sleeping for three days straight… And especially to the devoted staff of the Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim Haolami for making it all happen.
