Hundreds of Yidden from across Boro Park gathered on Motzei Shabbos at Heichel Menachem’s 29th annual Melave Malka for an evening of inspiration in Chassidus with leading rabbonim and mashpiim, and guest mashpia from Eretz Yisroel, R’ Fitche Ofen, who farbrenged until 2 am.
By Anash.org reporter
Hundreds of Yidden from across Boro Park gathered on Motzei Shabbos at Heichel Menachem’s 29th annual Melave Malka for an evening of inspiration in Chassidus with leading rabbonim and mashpiim, and guest mashpia from Eretz Yisroel, R’ Fitche Ofen, who farbrenged until 2 am.
Since the Melave Malka’s inception in 5757, world-renowned Mashpi’im and Rabbonim from within and outside of Chabad have attended and spoken at the annual event. R’ Yoel Kahn a”h would address the crowd and lead a farbrengen following bentching, that would last deep into the night.
Participants also drew inspiration from R’ Yisroel Friedman, Rav of Bnei Brak R’ Moshe Landau, R’ Yossel Weinberg, R’ Leibel Groner, R’ Binyomin Klein, Klausenberger Dayan R’ Fishel Hershkowitz, R’ Moshe Wolfson, the Margaretener Rav, Mattersdorfer Rav, and R’ Don Yoel Levy z”l; giants in Limud HaChassidus and in Darkei HaChassidus, whose absence is now keenly felt.
Yblch”t, other Rabbanim include, R’ Yosef Heller, Saderheler Rav R’ Chaim Leib Katz, Viener Dayan of Boro Park R’ Tzvi Halpern, R’ Leibel Schapiro, R’ Ezra Schochet, and many others shlit”a.
The annual event attracts between 1,000 and 1,500 people in the neighborhood and focuses on being mechazek participants in the learning of Chassidus for the entire year.
This year, R’ Shlomo Sternberg, menahel of Chovevei Torah, who emceed the event, delivered the opening words, followed by Mashpia R’ Leibel Altien, author of Chassidus Mevures and director of Heichel Menachem. R’ Fishel Oster, maggid shiur in Heichel Menachem, also spoke. The program continued with R’ Avraham Yitzchak Wolfson, Rov of Emunas Yisroel in Monsey and son of the late R’ Moshe Wolfson, who would grace the Melave Malka every year. Attendees enjoyed a full seuda, followed by joyous dancing. Special guest, Mashpia R’ Fitche Ofen of Yerushalayim, spoke during the Melave Malka and led a inspiring farbrengen that continued until 2 a.m.
Other prominent participants included the Viener Dayan of Boro Park R’ Tzvi Halpern and the Pressburger Rov R’ Akiva Ludmir. Participating donors included R’ Sholom ber Drizin, R’ Chaim Drizin, R’ Yossi Popack, and R’ Yossel Avtzon.
This year’s teshura was a USB flash drive with all of Heichel Menachem’s publications over the last three decades, including hundreds of various publications and booklets.
One of the highlights of the yearly Melave Malka is a video from the Rebbe’s farbrengen that is specially selected by Heichel Menachem for the event. In the video prepared for this year, the Rebbe addresses the fundamental topics of Emunah and Bitachon.
“There’s something very special in the air,” Rabbi Yisroel Stern told Anash.org. “This night is about being inspired in inyanei Chassidus, and is mechazek people in their learning of Chassidus. People come every year, they don’t want to miss out on this atmosphere.”
As the night winds down, Yidden from many walks of life, link arms and join in dancing, accompanied by niggunim by Yossi Cohen and his Kappelle, filling a thirst and a quest with strengthened resolutions, on this Rosh Hashana of Chassidus.
Since the first Melave Malka was held 29 years ago, the concept has spread across the globe. Today, farbrengens such as this one take place in Eretz Yisroel, Antwerp, London, Monsey, Lakewood, and many other locations.
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