For the past week, Somaliland and its millions of citizens have been celebrating after Israel became the first nation to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state, ending more than three decades of diplomatic isolation since it declared independence in 1991.

Fireworks lit up the skies and crowds poured into the streets as a population long burdened by extreme poverty and limited resources seized upon real hope for new opportunity.

Yet just days before the celebrations erupted, two Anash from Miami were in Somaliland on a very different mission of their own.

Yanky Rubin, together with his dear friend and partner in previous missions, Mendy Lieberman, traveled to print the Tanya in the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa.

“There were many moments of real risk, uncertainty, and challenge,” Rubin told Anash.org, “but ultimately we were allowed to complete the printing without incident, and everything unfolded safely.”

First launched by the Rebbe in 5738 (1978), and again emphasized in 5744 (1984), the Rebbe instructed that the Tanya be printed as part of his global initiative to bring the wellsprings of Chassidus to every corner of the world. The Rebbe explained that printing the Tanya in each location establishes that place as a source from which Chassidus flows outward.

Rubin, who has previously traveled extensively across Africa and beyond – including Iraq, Kuwait, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana – to carry out the Rebbe’s directive, was pleased to add another country to the growing list of places where the Tanya has now been printed.

In addition to Somaliland, they also journeyed to South Sudan, where they printed a Tanya on Yud Daled Kislev, the anniversary of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s wedding. The Somaliland Tanya was printed on Yud Kislev, the day of the Alter Rebbe’s release from prison – both especially auspicious days for reaching new heights in spreading Chassidus.

“Baruch Hashem, we had the zechus to spread the Rebbe and Chassidus to even the most remote locations on the globe,” Rubin told Anash.org. “We are sure this gave the Rebbe much nachas and brought Moshiach much closer.”

Just days after Somaliland was added to the spiritual map through the printing of the Tanya, the country was, for the first time, recognized as an independent nation, with crowds filling the streets in celebration.

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