The Monsey community marked Yud Tes Kislev, the “Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus,” with a grand communal farbrengen and a full fleishig meal that brought together hundreds of Anash families from across Rockland County, representing many Lubavitcher shuls.

The event, themed around the phrase “Ohr V’chayos Nafshenu Nitna Lanu” – this light and vitality of our souls was given to us – drew fathers and sons in large numbers, along with many non-Lubavitchers.
A maamer was delivered by Rabbi Yossi Krasnjanski, and the Rov, Rabbi Baruch Lesches, also spoke, very powerfully. The evening was expertly guided by MC Rabbi Levi Teichtel.

The featured guest farbrenger was shliach Rabbi Lazer Gurkov from Ontario, who shared inspiring words about his main message, focusing on recognizing one’s true identity. He asked, “Who am I? What are we? We’re neshamos, we’re part of the Chassidim of the Rebbe, and when we recognize that, we can overcome any obstacle.”

Rabbi Gurkov farbrenged for many hours, engaging the crowd until three in the morning. The farbrengen also inspired many individuals to take on hachlotos tovos. A mivtzoim table offered attendees menorahs to take and give out, encouraging Anash to do mivtzoim throughout Chanukah in the community.

“The farbrengen was really an amazing sense of unity,” Rabbi Levi Teichtel told Anash.org. “The feeling of everyone sitting together to celebrate Chassidus and how to renew our commitment to the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s inyonim was really felt among all participants.”

The event was jointly organized by a wide array of local organizations and shuls and arranged by Rabbi Yehuda Zalmtam, Rabbi Levi Baruch, Rabbi Berry Nash, Rabbi Sholom Ber Rabin, and Rabbi Hershel Rosenbluh.

The farbrengen was dedicated in loving memory of Yechiel Michel ben Menashe Zvi.