Hundreds of chassidim, rabbonim, shluchim, mashpiim, bochurim, and mekuravim landed in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan, in preparation for the commemoration of the seventy-fifth yahrtzeit of Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s father.

Distinguished rabbonim and mashpiim include: Rabbi Leibel Schapiro, Elik Friedman, Dovid Dubov, Chaim Schapiro, Mendel Kaplan, and Pesach Schmerling.

A prominent group of shluchim from around the world – South Africa, China, New York, and Russia – are among the visitors, along with Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice-chairman of Merkos.

In addition, are a group of sixty bochurim from yeshivos in the US and Canada, who won a raffle through study of the Torah of the Baal HaHilula.

This year, for the first time, a group of about sixty women came from Eretz Yisroel to spend the day near the tziyun.

The crowds await a packed program, which includes special shiurim and farbrengens. Next to the tziyun, a special tent was set up with air conditioning and refreshments, where visitors can write a pan, learn and daven.

The tremendous operation is thanks to the generous sponsorship of the philanthropists R. Avi Shaulson and R. Shmuel Stern.

Photo credit: Yossi Rosenbaum