As we enter the 70th year of the Rebbe’s leadership nothing can be more appropriate than to spend the week of the Kinus Hashluchim and Rosh Chodesh Kislev, Fabrenging about Shlichus and Kabolas Ol.
This is why last week in the Mesivta of Antwerp, where over 85% of the 70 Bochurim in the yeshivah are Shluchim in twenty-two countries around the world, Rosh Chodesh Kislev was celebrated with a grand Kinus Hashluchim Banquet. The theme of the Kinus was “Rebbe Mir Zeinen Doh”, Kabolas Ol to the Rebbe.
The beautiful event was arranged through the hard work of the new Shluchim to the Yeshivah, Shmuly Meijers, Mendel Kaplan and Mendy Lapidus.
Like the gala banquet in New York, Antwerp’s Banquet started with the recital of the Rebbe’s Kapitel. Led by Rabbi Eliezer Nidam, Shliach to Nice, France.
The banquet was joined by members of the Yeshivah’s Hanhola and respected members of the Antwerp Community. The Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Twardowitz, was honored with opening remarks, followed by words of encouragement from the community’s Mara D’asra Harav Aharon Shif. The head Shliach of Belgium and Mashpiah Kloli of the Yeshivah, Rabbi Shabtai Slavititzky spoke about the essence of Shlichus and what it means for a Bochur in Tomchei Temimim.
A special video presentation was prepared starting with a video of the Rebbe speaking about avodas Hashlichus in our generation. To the crowd’s surprise, a video of Rabbi Moshe Katlorsky, Vice-chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch was shown, in which he spoke of the theme of the Kinus in New York “Shliach Oseh Shliach”. This was followed by videos that were sent in by parents of Bochurim from around the world and former Shluchim to the Yeshivah who are now learning in 770.
The keynote address was delivered by the Yeshivah’s Mashgiach and Mashpia Rabbi Yehoshuah Asher Rabinowitz. In his impressive speech he continued to delve into a Bochur’s role in Yeshivah and how to grow to be a successful Shliach of the Rebbe.
The event continued with representatives from each Shiur who either spoke about the banquet’s theme or shared personal stories from their places of Shlichus. Shiur Alef was represented by Yitzchak Chazan of Milan, Italy, Shiur Beis by Mendel Markowitz of Kiev, Ukraine, and Shiur Gimmel by Zalman Katzman of The Hague, Netherlands.
The banquet was concluded with the traditional rollcall led by Menachem Chazan of Milan, Italy, followed by “spontaneous” dancing.
