Over 70 classmates, known among themselves as the “Lamed Vov’niks” – born in the year 5736 – gathered this past weekend in New York for an uplifting 50-year reunion, joining together for a Shabbos Achdus packed with activities, shiurim, farbrengens, and unforgettable memories.

Friends traveled in from across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Eretz Yisroel, along with other locations around the world, where many now serve as shluchim.

The reunion began at the Ohel, where the group came together for a Chassidus shiur delivered by R’ Moishe Zavdi, followed by davening and an emotional reunion as friends who had not seen each other in years – some for decades – reconnected.

The group then entered the Ohel together to daven, after which they visited the kevarim of two former classmates, R’ Levi Deitsch and R’ Mordchai Schapiro AH, who tragically passed away at a young age.

From the Ohel, the group traveled to the hotel, where they would spend the entire Shabbos. They were greeted with welcome packages and a lavish Toameha-style buffet, as the atmosphere quickly filled with lively camaraderie and friends catching up.

Opening remarks by R’ Meir Geisinsky and R’ Chesky Holtzberg set the tone, followed by an engaging icebreaker that brought out laughter and shared memories from decades past.

Throughout Friday afternoon, participants joined roundtable discussions addressing real-life topics relevant to their stage in life, including chinuch with R’ Elchonon Friedman, shidduchim with R’ Moshe Bleich, and the intersection of shlichus and business led by R’ Esriel Rappoport and R’ Alter Korf.

As Shabbos approached, the group gathered for a class photo, followed by a shiur from R’ Yosef Wolvovsky and Kabbolas Shabbos. An elegant and uplifting Seudas Shabbos followed, masterfully guided by MC R’ Chaim Greisman, with divrei Torah delivered by R’ Mendel Hendel, R’ Shmuly Rothman, and R’ Mendel Lifshitz, as the group continued farbrenging late into the night.

Shabbos morning began with a shiur in Chassidus by Yossi Raskin, followed by Shachris and a drasha from R’ Leibish Heller. Throughout the afternoon, the group continued farbrenging and heard from R’ Yossi Spalter, R’ Chaim Leib Hildesheim, R’ Alex Kaller, R’ Avraham Berkowitz, and R’ Peretz Chein.

Motzoei Shabbos began with a video of the Rebbe, followed by a grand Melaveh Malka filled with acapella music and a full program led by Meir Geisinsky, including a performance by illusionist R’ Ilan Smith and a moving video presentation that served as the finale of the reunion.

On Sunday morning, participants gathered once more for Chassidus with R’ Michoel Goldman, followed by Shachris and a final breakfast together before departing.

Participants:
R’ Levi Azimov, South Brunswick, New Jersey
R’ Mendy Barber, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Velvel Belinsky, Baltimore, Maryland
R’ Avraham Berkowitz, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Yossi Berkowitz, Huntington Beach, California
R’ Aaron Isaac Binyominson, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
R’ Moshe Bleich, Wellesley, Massachusetts
R’ Hillel Blesofsky, Manchester, United Kingdom
R’ Pesach Burston, Orange County, New York
R’ Shmuel Chanin, Hollywood, Florida
R’ Peretz Chein, Waltham, Massachusetts
R’ Zalmen Drizin, Brooklyn, New York
R’ Shmuli Eber, San Diego, California
R’ Yossi Eber, West Pasco, Florida
R’ Nachy Eisenberg, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
R’ Zevy Engel, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Sholom Feldman, Los Angeles, California
R’ Uri Fraenkel, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Elchonon Friedman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
R’ Avraham Abba Friedman, Lauderhill, Florida
R’ Meir Geisinsky, Cedarhurst, New York
R’ Michoel Goldman, Kaua’i, Hawai’i
R’ Nochum Goldshmid, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Boruch Greenbaum, Los Angeles, California
R’ Chaim Greisman, Stokholm, Sweden
R’ Moshe Hackner, Pomona, New York
R’ Sholom Heidingsfeld, Simcha Monica, California
R’ Leibish Heller, London, United Kingdom
R’ Mendel Hendel, Athens, Greece
R’ Chaim Leib Hildeshaim, Thornhill Woods, Ontario, Canada
R’ Chesky Holtzberg, New Haven, Connecticut
R’ Alexander Kaller, Sunny Isles, Florida
R’ Mendel Karasik, Israel
R’ Shimon Kessler, Eretz Yisroel
R’ Alter Korf, S. Petersburg, Florida
R’ Shmaya Krinsky, Hillside, New Jersey
R’ Sholom Laine, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Levi Lazar, Pomona, New York
R’ Zalman Lezell, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Mendel Lifshitz, Boise, Idaho
R’ Melly Light, Los Angeles, California
R’ Arye Zev (Leibel) Lipsker, Los Angeles, California
R’ Yossi Mandel, Brooklyn, New York
R’ Ari Minkowicz, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Meir Palace, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Bentzion Pape, Little Rock, Arkansas
R’ Gedalia Potash, Noe Valley, California
R’ Esriel Rappoport, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Yossi Raskin, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Yanky Reiter, Roslyn, New York
R’ Eli Rogatsky, Cedarhurst, New York
R’ Yehoshua Rosen, Boca Raton, Florida
R’ Yisroel Rosenblum, West Orange, New Jersey
R’ Shmuly Rothman, Boynton Beach, Florida
R’ Avraham Abba Rubin, Saratoga, NY
R’ Sholom Schapiro, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Dovid Schmukler, Los Angeles, California
R’ Dov Schochet, Surfside, Florida
R’ Nechemia Schusterman, Peabody, Massachusetts
R’ Mendel Schwartz, Los Angeles, California
R’ Menachem Seewald, Los Angeles, California
R’ Benjy Silverman, Dobbs Ferry, New York
R’ Yitzchok Slavin, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
R’ Yosef Spalter, Montville, New Jersey
R’ Nussi Sternberg, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Avremi Susskind, Novi, Michignan
R’ Sholom Ber Tenenbaum, Gurnee, Illinois
R’ Zalman Thaler, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
R’ Bentzion Turk, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Levi Wilhelm, Crown Heights, New York
R’ Yosef Wolvovsky, Glastonbury, Connecticut
R’ Levi Zarchi, New City, New York
R’ Moishe Zavdi, London, United Kingdom

VIDEO

Early memories of the Rebbe