Monsey Farewells Rov on His Way to Kingston

Ahead of his move to Kingston, Pennsylvania to assume the role as the community’s rov, Harav Gedalya Oberlander was seen off by members of the Monsey Heichal Menachem and Chabad communities.  

By Anash.org reporter

Members of Heichal Menachem of Monsey and the local Chabad community gathered to see off their rov, Harav Gedalya Oberlander, ahead of his move to Kingston, Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Oberlander founded Heichal Menachem of Monsey in 5759, and had stood at its helm ever since. In time, it grew into a full shul and community. He is the chief editor of the ‘Ohr Yisroel’ journal which discusses contemporary halachic subjects, and author of numerous seforim on Halacha. He is also a member of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch, and a rov and mentor to many anash and shluchim.

Two hours away, in Kingston, PA, the Chabad community has, in recent months, grown by leaps and bounds, and the search for a full-time rov for the community took on new urgency. After being asked time and time again, Rabbi Oberlander agreed to come and serve as the community’s rov, and will begin in his post ahead of Rosh Hashana 5784.

As he prepared to depart Monsey, his community held a Tzeischem L’shalom and farbrengen to farewell him and thank him for his quarter-century of dedicated service.

Rabbonim, mashpi’im and tens of locals joined the event, held on Thursday night in the Puppa Hall in Monsey.

Divrei Torah were offered by Harav Menachem Meir Weismandel, rov of Neitra – Monsey, Rabbi Efraim Pikarski, mashpia in Morristown Yeshiva and rosh kollel of Heichal Menachem’s leil shishi Chassidus Kollel, and other rabbonim in attendance. Rabbi Oberlander also spoke, offering his own words of Torah and thanks.

At the conclusion of the official program, many of the assembled came over to Rabbi Oberlander to personally thank him and wish him well. This was then followed by a chassidishe farbrengen, led by Rabbi Oberlander, Rabbi Pikarski, and Rabbi Chaim Chazan.

“We send our humble bracha to the rov shlita that he have much success in the new shlichus, and may he merit to spread Torah to many, and be a conduit to making a dirah Loi Yisborach,” the organizers said.