Shliach Rabbi Chaim Kaplan organized a joint Sefer Torah dedicated by multiple donors in honor of the Rebbe on the thirtieth anniversary of Gimmel Tammuz, celebrated with a grand community seuda.
By Anash.org reporter
A group of families in Tzfas got together to dedicate a sefer Torah in memory of their family members, and dedicate it to the Rebbe in honor of the 30th anniversary of Gimmel Tammuz. The writing was organzied by Tzfas shliach Rabbi Chaim Kaplan for the Oholei Menachem Mendel Yeshiva in Tzfas.
On erev Gimmel Tammuz, in the afternoon, some of the donor families, who were not deterred from coming to Tzfas despite the constant rocket-fire, gathered with community members and yeshiva students at the Heichal Menachem Mendel shul in Otzar HaStam – where the Torah was written – for the writing of the final letters.
Among those participating in writing the final letters, were the rabbi of the Chabad community, Rabbi Mordechai Bistritzky, the mayor Mr. Yossi Kakun, and the head of the religious council Rabbi Nahorai Lachiani.
From there, they proceeded with joyful dancing up the hill to the magnificent campus of the Oholei Menachem Mendel Yeshiva. The menahel ruchni, Rabbi Shmuel Mishulovin, honored the community members by carrying the sefer Torah and later led the hakafos and dancing in the yeshiva hall, headed by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kaplan.
As night fell and ushered in Gimmel Tammuz, the crowd gathered for maariv in an adjacent hall, while the organizers arranged the hall for the seudas mitzva and central Farbrengen.
Rabbi Mishulovin, recited the Maamar Ve’ata Tetzaveh, followed by a chassidishe farbrengen. Rabbi Chaim Kaplan, spoke addressing the dual emotions of the day: on one hand, the burning feeling and cry of ‘ad masai’ that no Chassid could have imagined, even in the worst nightmares, that 30 years would pass since the Rebbe’s passing and moshiach would not yet have arrived; and on the other hand, the visible fulfillment of ‘ma zaro bachayaim‘, as no one could have believed that thirty years after Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe’s work would multiply exponentially and continue to grow and shine.
Rabbi Yisrael Roshzki, the rabbi of the Mevo’ot Hachermon, spoke at length about the opportunities he had to be with the Rebbe, sharing his experiences with great excitement.
Rabbi Chaim Bezak, the head of the Beis Din of Tzfas explained the virtue of serving Hashem amid difficulty and concealment, comparing it to the value of an investment in a painting, which, although less precise, becomes immensely more precious due to the effort put into it.
The Rebbe of Nadvorna, who honored the event with his participation, spoke about the Rebbe’s extraordinary devotion to every Jew, without considering his own benefit, and how the Rebbe educated his Chassidim in this way. He urged the attendees to make decisions in this direction.
Rabbi Mordechai Bistritzky, the Rav of the Chabad community, spoke about what we must take upon ourselves on this yahrzeit: to strengthen our observance of the Rebbe’s instructions and ways.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kaplan, the Rosh Yeshiva, connected the conclusion of the Torah with the yahrzeit, teaching a lesson from the parsha about the need for self-improvement to influence others.
Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira spoke about the significance of the day, and Rabbi Elisha Shapira, one of the directors of Beis Chana Seminary, continued the gathering with inspiring words.
After the official part of the gathering concluded, the young men and community members continued the gathering in the nearby study hall with Rabbi Elisha Shapira, while the students continued their gathering with the yeshiva rabbis deep into the night.
Throughout the event, participants sat in the yeshiva lobby to write panim, which Rabbi Kaplan took with him to the Ohel to deliver on the yahrzeit.
The excitement of the community was palpable, as everyone felt the Rebbe’s presence and the commitment to increase their efforts in following the Rebbe’s path and striving for the ultimate and complete redemption.
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