Commemorating sixty-eight years since its founding in 5715 (1955), the Central Lubavitch Youth Organization, Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, held its annual gathering on Beis Iyar, the birthday of the Rebbe Maharash.
Commemorating sixty-eight years since its founding in 5715 (1955), the Central Lubavitch Youth Organization, Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, held its annual gathering on Beis Iyar, the birthday of the Rebbe Maharash, whose motto was “Lechatchila Ariber!” The Shluchim and committee members convened to inspire each other and farbreng together in a spirit of “Sheves achim gam yochad” — friendship, unity and brotherhood.
The convention of the Shluchim and heads of the institutions under the auspices of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis — the Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) — was permeated with an electrifying atmosphere of dedication to the Rebbe, the Meshaleach and how to carry out the Rebbe’s Shlichus with added vigor and momentum, befitting “Lechatchila Ariber.”
In consideration of recent events of world turmoil and instability, a special emphasis was placed on continuing in a firm and even stronger and ever-greater manner.
The dinner Kinus was celebrated in great fashion with a festive banquet at the Tzivos Hashem Museum. With unique emotion, the participants watched a segment of the Rebbe’s Sichoh on the importance of “Lechatchila Ariber” in connection to Beis Iyar.
MC Rabbi Kasriel Boruch Kastel, the program director of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, began with opening remarks and offered a warm and heartfelt welcome to all the participants. He then continued with a general overview of the activities of the Shluchim in the New York area and its surroundings. Rabbi Kastel encouraged the Shluchim to continue and expand their efforts in the manner of “Lechatchila Ariber.”
As Beis Iyar was the first day of both cycles of learning Rambam, Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, started by making a Siyum and a Hascholoh on the Rambam.
Rabbi Butman spoke of the exceptional merit granted by the Rebbe to all those associated with Tzeirei Agudas Chabad. He continued by quoting Rabbi Dovid Raskin, the late chairman of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, whose Yohrtzeit is 7 Iyar. Rabbi Raskin would say that even though the Rebbe spoke about establishing Tzach on Shabbos Mevorchim Iyar, 24 Nisan 5715, the Rebbe emphasized that the day of the actual founding was Beis Iyar, “Tiferes Shebetiferes,” and “Lechatchila Ariber.” The Rebbe energizes everyone who is part of this institution to act with both of these qualities: that all his activities be fulfilled in the manner of “Lechatchila Ariber” and also in the most beautiful way of “Tiferes Shebetiferes.”
Rabbi Raskin would also emphasize, time and time again, that the Lubavitch Youth Organization was founded directly by the Rebbe himself and that it is under the direct Nesius of the Rebbe himself.
Rabbi Butman spoke of the unique privilege of being the Rebbe’s Shluchim in the “Palterin Shel Melech” — the king’s Capital City and vicinity — the New York Metropolitan area. He mentioned what the Rebbe said to the Chossid Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gurary, who repeated it to Rabbi Dovid Raskin several times: “My Zohir T’fei is Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, it is more precious to me than any of the other institutions.”
Rabbi Butman thanked the new members of the board of Tzach: Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, Rabbi Leibel Baumgarten, and Rabbi Sholom Tenenbaum. “They are wonderful. This is a Vaad that really works.”
Rabbi Butman wished a Refuah Shleimo and many more happy, healthy years to Rabbi Moshe Pesach Goldman, the long-time secretary of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis from its very beginning.
In an emotional and sentimental tone, Rabbi Butman said that we lovingly remember the member of the board of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis Rabbi Chaim Meir ben Reb Alter Yissochor Dov Halevi Lieberman, who is no longer with us. “Nothing was too difficult for Reb Chaim Meir to do for Tzeirei Agudas Chabad. Sometimes I wondered where he took the time to talk to me four or five times each day.”
Three Shluchim spoke and shared with their fellow Shluchim updates from their holy work.
Rabbi Ze’ev Halevi Wineberg of Long Island City spoke about how his Shlichus first began, and its continuous development to this day.
Rabbi Yochanan Morozov, Shliach in Flatbush, Brooklyn, spoke about the tremendous success of the Chabad House “Beis Menachem Mendel,” where people from all walks of life come for learning and inspiration.
Rabbi Dov Yona Korn, director of Chabad House Bowery in Manhattan, spoke about the activities at the Chabad House and that “what we have seen so far from the Rebbe is only the beginning of what the Rebbe will show us now.”
The common theme among all the speakers was their dedication to their goal — to fulfill the Rebbe’s Shlichus.
It was beautiful to see how during the Shluchim’s speeches, their fellow Shluchim listened attentively and saw reflections of their own Shlichus. This further emphasized the internal connection between all the Shluchim.
The keynote speaker was the veteran Shliach, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar, who built the grand, magnificent and prestigious Chabad House “The Shul” in Surfside, Florida. Rabbi Lipskar made his remarks via Zoom and emphasized that “every Shliach should know at all times that he is the Rebbe’s Shliach and behave at every moment like the Rebbe’s Shliach.”
Rabbi Lipskar told several stories about the Horo’os and personal guidance he was privileged to receive from the Rebbe, and how the Rebbe cared and continues to care for him and his personal health and activities all these years. Rabbi Lipskar left a powerful and deep impression on the Shluchim. Many Shluchim asked for the recording of his meaningful and inspiring address.
The gathering radiated tremendous energy, Ahavas Yisroel, and total dedication to the Rebbe. “This was a uniquely warm event,” commented one Shliach. “We were uplifted with excitement and genuine Chassidic warmth that we will take back to our communities and work with even greater vigor to fulfill the Rebbe’s mission to prepare ourselves and our surroundings for the true and complete Geulah.”
The Shluchim gathered at the Kinus in an atmosphere of unity and brotherhood and, above all, devotion to the Rebbe’s Shlichus. They left the wonderful evening determined to help each other in any way they could. All the participants resolved that this will be a year of unprecedented momentum, committed entirely to the Rebbe’s mission to prepare the world for the complete Geuloh, when the Rebbe will lead us out from the Golus immediately, in the manner of “Lechatchila Ariber.”
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