Harav Avrohom Osdoba and Harav Yosef Braun of the Crown Heights Badatz were among the speakers at the Kinus Melave Malka. Other notable moments included a siyum on Igros and emotional memories.
By Anash.org reporter
Thousands of shluchim gathered on Motzei Shabbos for the Melave Malka of the Kinus Hashluchim, with speakers delivering emotionally-charged addresses and inspirational calls to action.
Emceeing the evening was Rabbi Yitzchok Loewenthal of Chabad of Denmark. First to speak was Rabbi Aron Ginsburg, Shliach in Boro Park. In his trademark fiery fasion, Rabbi Ginsburg spoke about the koching in Moshiach. He concluded by asking all shluchim to answer Amen, as the Rebbe once asked, to a declaration that Eretz Yisroel in its entirey belongs to the Yidden, and to a bracha for the hostages to be released.
Rabbi Loewenthal then called up Harav Avrohom Osdoba of the Crown Heights Badatz, noting that the senior rov had been on shlichus in Copenhagen decades ago and that he is still seeing results. Rabbi Osdoba spoke about the source of shlichus in the Torah, the shlichus of Eliezer eved Avrohom and the lessons today’s shluchim can learn from him.
Before calling up the next speaker, Rabbi Loewenthal praised the hospitality of the Crown Heights community, pointing out how there are no hotels in the community despite thousands of annual guests. “The community is owed a deep appreciation for their hospitality,” he said.
Harav Yosef Braun of the Crown Heights Badatz spoke about achdus and praised the efforts of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky for his efforts in that regard, and wished him a refuah shleima. He also spoke of the great hisorerus currently seen among Yidden due to the situation in Eretz Yisroel.
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel, spoke of his memories of his missions from the Rebbe to Harav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik, rosh yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University. He also related some personal experiences with the Rebbe, including when the Rebbe asked him to grow the Kinus Hashluchim from a national gathering to an international one. He stressed the uniqueness of the 40th Kinus, and also spoke of the situation in Eretz Yisroel.
As Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky rose to speak, the assembled shluchim gave him a standing ovation. He thanked all those who davened and continue to daven for him. He spoke about bitachon and emunah, truly believing that everything the Eibishter does is for the good, while at the same time demanding an end to Yidden’s suffering.
Other speakers included Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, who concluded his address with a heart rendition of Reb Levi Yitzchok’s hakafos niggun; Rabi Yossi Lew, who paid tribute to Rabbi Meir Harlig and Rabbi sholom Ber Gansburg, who both merited to serve the Rebbe as mashbakim; Rabbi Efraim Mintz, director of JLI; Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, Shliach to Tallahassee, Florida; and Rabbi Lipa Brennen, coordinator of the Kinus Hashluchim.
A special moment was when El Paso shliach Rabbi Levi Greenberg was called up to make a siyum on the the full set of the Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh. Rabbi Greenberg read the letter from the Rebbe that he had concluded his study with.
A special video presentation showcased the care of shluchim for each other, with shluchim Rabbi Schneur Zalman Kesselman of Malmo, Sweden, and Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, telling how their fellow shluchim raced to their assistance in their times of need.
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