‘I Have Been Disinvited from the Kinus Hashluchim’
Rabbi Sholom Ciment, a successful Shliach in Boynton Beach, FL, presiding over a magnificent Chabad Center with hundreds of members, was disinvited from attending this year’s Kinus Hashluchim in New York. But by whom, and why, might surprise you.
Writes Rabbi Ciment on the first day of the Kinus:
I have been un-invited to The International Conference of Chabad- Lubavitch Shluchim 5775 which began today in Brooklyn, NY.
Some 5,200 emissaries are registered at this conference, from 86 countries around the world. This, the largest conference of its kind, is an annual event that keeps on growing. Shabbos will be spent at “770” Lubavitch World Headquarters. All of the conference meals and 83 workshops, over the the next six days, usually facilitated in Crown Heights, can no longer be held there due to the conference’s spectacular numbers. Instead, the 138,000-square-foot massive Brooklyn Armory, once home to army tanks and drill hall of Troop C Cavalry Unit will house another type of infantry this weekend; this veritable army of The Rebbe’s Shluchim whose life-long mission is love.
Absent the physical presence of The Rebbe, the “Kinnus HaShluchim” has become the single most powerful source of inspiration for every Shliach in attendance. It is there, more than at any other time, that one can feel The Rebbe’s presence embodied in the palpable and extraordinary energy exuding from this mammoth gathering of his selfless Shluchim.
Knowing that his presence will be felt is precisely what uninvited me.
It began some 6 months ago. Into a Shabbat service came a young mother and her son. I immediately discerned that there was something different. Mother and child were changing seats often, the mother was extra vigilant of the boy. After services, an always welcoming member introduced me to 12 year old Nathan and his Mother Mia. “Nathan is going to be bar-mitzvah soon but no synagogue wants to facilitate it, so I suggested they come speak to you,” said the congregant and walked away.
In hushed tone, Mia described her son Nathan’s Autism and a frustrating inability to find a temple that would train and allow him a proper celebration for his special day. Without hesitating, I told her that I considered myself “an expert” in preparing special young men like Nathan for their bar mitzvah and I am prepared to do so for him as well. Mia gave me a look over, while pulling Nathan a bit closer and tighter. “An expert?” she asked unconvinced. “Do you have a degree in special education or have you studied Autism?” I answered, “no, but that shouldn’t prevent me from preparing your son for his Bar-Mitzvah. Frankly, I see no difference between a special or not so special Jewish child. Both have equal rights and fully deserve to be accorded their bar mitzvah,” I told her. In tears, she accepted my offer.
The ensuing weeks and months brought me the privilege of befriending a brilliant, insightful and sensitive young man; a special child indeed. Nathan learned by heart, in just a few sessions, all of his necessary prayers. His was an easier training than scores of young men who I have taught over the last 2 decades.
During one session, Nathan listened carefully as I described to him the tradition of throwing candies after his Aliyah to the Torah. Those lobbing the sweets I told him, “wish to ensure that you have a sweet life.” He dismissed my explanation as silly, saying, “that’s like saying if you throw books at me I will be smart.” Nathan remains unconvinced, but nonetheless is looking forward to the candy.
He decided to do something special as his bar-mitzvah project. Ever sensitive, his “best dog friend” Morty came to mind. This trained dog has enabled Nathan to go into public, effortlessly. Prior to Morty he would grow very agitated and simple errands became a monumental challenge for him and his family. “What about kids like me that can’t afford a Mordy?” Nathan asked his mom one day. “Can we try to raise money to get them a Mordy?.” Sure enough, together with his mother and his many friends and our community members, “Nathan’s Special Day Fund” launched. At his community party after Shabbat, Nathan will be presenting a check of $5000 to a representative of the Canadian organization which trains and places the service dogs into the homes of needy Autistic children.
When I discovered that the date of this year’s convention collided with Nathan’s big day, I quickly realized that I was just uninvited. To The Rebbe, each and every Jew is extra-ordinarily special. Observant or not, educated or illiterate, physically or spiritually handicapped, jailed behind iron bars or constrained emotionally, The Rebbe piercingly looked into the eyes, and even deeper into the soul, of each Jewish man, woman and child and all he saw was special. Some, like Nathan, were extra-special.
This year, the feeling of The Rebbe’s presence usually offered by being embedded in the sea of thousands of his selflessly dedicated Shluchim convening in Brooklyn, will be borne from the Bimah of Beis Menachem (named for The Rebbe), Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton’s Shul on Shabbos afternoon as Nathan is called up to The Torah. He will kiss it and then recite his blessings with pride, clarity and confidence as his friends, family and fellow community members celebrate a new and brilliantly special young adult Jew joining our everlasting and eternal people.
Then, after the candies are thrown, the dancing subsides and the desserts served, I will get on a plane to New York where “The Banquet” will be taking place. Holding distinction as NYC’s largest sit-down dinner, over 6000 Shluchim together with their lay-leaders will be seated in the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, transformed into a resplendent banquet hall. There, I will, G-d willing, merit to dine, dance, say L’chaim and re-discover, together with my fellow 6000 Shluchim just why my new friend Nathan is so very special, and why, indeed, every single Jewish man, woman and child in the entire world – as they will be represented in that august banquet hall – is so beloved and special, and will forever continue to be so, to the Rebbe.
wow
wow
Depleted
?? With that headline I thought I was gonna have an interesting article- you wonder why they believe it would attract so many hits with that headline.
Flatbush
I don’t get it. Why were you ‘disinvited?”
It seems that there was a conflict between the two events. Is there something more nefarious that I’m missing?
Ezra
This sentence from the article should clear it up:
“When I discovered that the date of this year’s convention collided with Nathan’s big day, I quickly realized that I was just uninvited.”
So yes, both events were scheduled for the same Shabbos, and so Rabbi Ciment “uninvited/disinvited” himself from the kinus in order to be there at the bar mitzvah.
Ch
I’m with you. Don’t think the title is correct. He wasn’t disinvited. He chose the more important event!
Agree.
Sweet narrative but bad, click-bait title. What is this, Buzzfeed?
yitzchoklevi
As a father of a young man with autism, this story brought tears to my eyes.
Rabbi Ciment may have been “uninvited” to the Kinus, but he was konah Olam Habbah.
Akiva Shapero
Rabbi, we knew you had an ace up your sleeve. Keep up the great work!!
Beautiful
So touching
me
Good Subject line but misrepresentation of the article – Schedule conflict not more.
avraham
very touching Rabbi Ciment
i heard a story (I don’t remember all the details ) when
the Rebbe didn’t farbrengen on shabbes 10 kislev so chabad peoples would go to a bar mitzvah boy celebration on rogers or bedford shul!!
I have heard
From his community that the Rabbi is outstanding. My grandparents and cousin’s love him. Rabbi C is a class act and amazing.
mendel
I was sure it was Rabbi Korf that disinvited him, turns out “disinvited” just made for a good headline.
Montreal
How are you disinvited He had an invitation he decided not to go he makes like he is a victim
Mother
He still had the invitation
OK OK guys
Very touching story. No Really.
Did you news people *really* need to use that headline in order to chap readers looking for some controversy?…
Tsk tsk…
ukedai bizoyon,,,,
Nice story but very wrong headline.Please think before you use language which is easily misunderstood
Anonymous
oye.. it’s difficult to accept the blatant fact that some people are way too serious.
the Rabbi was never uninvited –
it was his (cute) way of explaining why he did not go to the kinus.. that something extremely precious cancelled his ability to participate in the kinus this year.
Each and every year...
At the end of the Kinus, the dates of next year’s Kinus are publicized.
But it doesn’t even need that. All you need is a calendar for Shabbos Mevorchim Kislev. Hasn’t changed in THIRTY STRAIGHT YEARS!
Furthermore, it’s always on Shabbos Chayei Sarah, and occasionally – when TIshrei has the “three day Yom Tov setup – it’s Shabbos Toldos.
And so, as soon as one hears that anything could be on Chayei Sarah or Toldos, look at a calendar and with very minimal effort, you will know when the Kinus is.
Someone asked me to do something next year Thanksgiving. But the Kinus had already released the schedule that next year’s Kinus is Thanksgiving weekend.
It’s ridiculous that Rabbi Ciment couldn’t check this previously.
Oh, wait: Had Rabbi Ciment checked his calendar, he wouldn’t have a story to tell. Oh well…
Anonymous
I cannot believe your response
take a chill pill……….
he was trying to be cute and everyone gets bent out of shape.
I am beginning to wonder…….
who said Yidden are smart?
Y keller
The rebbe canceled the farbraingen of the 10th of Kislev 5735 (1974), because a special boy was celebrating his bar mitzvah in Frankel shul on president between Rochester and Utica. Note Shem Tov should know all the details
ymg
“False advertising”
A Montrealer
The title should say “Why I disinvited myself from the Kinnus……….” Otherwise it sounds like you’re one of those Shluchim who were takeh not invited……………..
Agree.
That would have made for an even more interesting story! I’d love to hear from one of the shluchim who actually got disinvited. Actually, I’d pay to read that. SIGN ME UP!
Correct decision
The Rabbi made the correct decision to stay in Florida for the Bar Mitzvah, but the heading of the article was NOT correct he was NOT un invited to come to the Kinus, no one told him NOT to come, it was his own choice. !!!!!!!
@crown heights.info
Please fix the title of the article. The first thing that people think is a shliach was told not to come to the kinnus.
strange title
Very nice but why are you trying so hard to make a catchy title.
And misleading
beautiful story-title not OK
just attracts machlokes
Nice story. Change the tittle.
Some people don’t read entire articles and may already draw an interesting conclusion… It throws people off. We think it would be best to change it to a more positive title which reflects the true story.
Thank you.
Disinvited by the Rebbe?
I understood it that he was disinvited by the Rebbe, knowingn the bar mitzvah is wxactly where he’s supposed to be on that date, not at the kinnus
To the editor:
While the headline is catchy and cute, it immediately gives people the impression that this is a political statement against the organizers of the Kinnus. Some readers will jump to conclusions without reading the article and place blame on certain individuals.
Please change the headline to something more accurate.
Thank you
Mimi Furst
“uninvited/disinvited” ?
Call it what you may!
This act is the epitome of what Chabad Shluchim are all about, all the time!
Rabbi Ciment, may you and your entire mishpacha, along with Klal Yisroel, go from strength to strength.
chaim
as a non shaliach i didn’t attend the kinnus. Mean while I put tephillin on a karkafta. Do i get “uninvited to the kinnus?”
In the know
The events didn’t “collide” – they “coincided”.
Zal
I was at the Shul for the Bar Mitzvah- Rabbi Ciment glowed like the Childs Father. I felt that he felt that he had to be there be there for his community. he had to help his child!!!
izzy tal
This story brought tears to my eyes.
And Rabbi Sholom Ciment certainly made the right choice!