Live Blog: Kinus Hashluchim 5772 Updates

In an enormous cruise terminal-turned-ballroom at the mouth of the east river in Brooklyn, five thousand people sat down to an evening of elevation, inspiration and tribute.

5:30
The banquet got off to a lively – and on-time – start with a performance by Hasidic singing sensation Mendy Jerufi.

5:53
Kinus Hashluchim Chairman and MC Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky opened with a Dvar Torah on this year’s Kinus theme: “There goes a Chossid.” The Rebbe writes in Hayom Yom that a Chossid can be seen in the way he eats, sleeps and goes. Rabbi Kotlarsky explained that although the traditional image of a chossid usually invokes images of the Great Chassidim such as Reb Hilel Paritch and Reb Shmuel Groinem etc., the fact that the Rebbe included this in Hayom Yom proves that it is intended to apply to each and every Chossid.

6:00
Veteran Shliach Rabbi Mordechai Altein, who was sent out on Shlichus by the Frierdiker Rebbe 70 years ago to Pittsburgh, was honored with reciting the Rebbe’s Kapital.

6:05
Shliach to Sacramento, California Rabbi Mendel Cohen described how when digging for a Mikvah on his Chabad House’s property, his congregants were elated to discover gold! They knew that it was real gold – not ‘fool’s gold’ – becaouse while fool’s gold cracks when it is bent, real gold never breaks. Unfortunately, upon further investigation the metal was found to be the un-precious mica. Rabbi Cohen explained that a Chossid has too be real gold – Gold that does’t crack no mater how far it is bent.

To much applause, Rabbi Cohen saluted the Shluchim to small communities, with only a few hundred Jews in town.

Rabbi Cohen also saluted Mr. George Rohr, “the hero of JLI.”

Rabbi Cohen concluded with Birchas Kohanim, blessing everyone present with the priestly benediction.

6:30
“England has never before had a chief Rabbi who cares so much for worldwide Jewry,” proclaimed Rabbi Kotlarsky as he summoned Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks to the podium.

“If I had to describe this event in just one word,” said Rabbi Sacks, it would have to be “wow!”

Rabbi Sacks applauded the Shluchim for being the single force which has transformed every single Jewish community in the world.

Rabbi Sacks described how he once got lost in the snow capped mountains of Switzerland amid a thick fog. “Let us sing Chabad niggunim” he suggested. His companions looked at him in confusion. Rabbi Sacks explained: “Wherever on earth a Jew may be lost – Chabad will go and find him!” The audience erupted in laughter and applause.

Rabbi Sacks described a meeting he had with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in which the Rebbe challegeed him not to accept his situation, but to change it. “That moment changed my life” declared Rabbi Sacks.

“Only a leader like the Rebbe can create leaders,” he said.“

”Hearing the Rebbe blow Shofar on Rosh Hashanah was the most remarkable experiance i ever had. Heavan and earth touched“

Rabbi Sacks’ original ambition was to become a lawyer or professor, but the Rebbe instructed him to become a Rabbi, saying Anglo Jewry was in need of more Rabbis. When faced with the opportunity to be candidate for Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Rabbi Sacks consulted the Rebbe asking if he should accept. The Rebbe replied in the affirmative, and Rabbi Sacks ended up receiving the position.

On one occasion, the Rebbe told Rabbi Sacks: ”Do not forget, Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism.“

”A Shliach iz doch ein zach mit dem mishaleach“ (A messenger is one and the same with the sender), declard Rabbi Sacks in Yiddish, quoting a saying of the Rebbe.

He continued with a plea for Ahavas Yisroel: ”If you want to fight Sin’as Yisroel (hatred of Jews), promote Ahavas Yisroel.”

Rabbi Sacks concluded with saying that a Chossid has to be like a candle, spreading light without diminishing his own; and just like the Chanukah candles, continue increasing in light as he goes along.

7:10
Dinner is served. The Shluchim and guests are treated to stuffed Cornish Hen, fillet mignon on a thinly sliced bed of potato pancake, with a side of assorted greens.

While they eat, renowned Chassidic Pianist Rabbi Gershon Wachtel entertains the crowd with niggunim on a grand piano set up by the stage.

8:00
Mendy Jerufi returns to the stage with the lively niggun of ‘Ashreinu.’

8:10
Rabbi Kotlarsky took a moment to give ‘Hakoras Hatov’ (appreciation) to the many who helped make this Kinus a reality. Special thanks was given to the entire Crown Heights community for being such wonderful hosts to the visiting Shluchim!

Rabbi Kotlarsky also took a moment to remember the souls of Shluchim who departed over the course of the past year.

8:20
Video presentation begins.

8:25
Crowd gives a minute-long standing ovation to the Rohr family.

8:30
Rabbi Kotlarsky begins the ‘Roll Call’ by calling out the Shluchim to the continent of Asia and Africa.

All along, Rabbi Kotlarsky is assisted by several young ‘Tze’irei Hashluchim’ who introduce their home country.

8:52
As the Roll Call concludes, the entire gathering of 5,000 people breaks out into joyous song and dance.