Visionaries Honored at Inaugural Or Hachasidus Dinner

A large crowd gathered for Or Hachasidus’ gala dinner on Sunday night, celebrating 20 years of the organization’s work to spread Chassidus, and honoring visionaries who helped make it happen.

Twenty years of spreading Chassidus around the world were celebrated at Or Hachasidus’ gala dinner in Brooklyn on Sunday night, where the visionaries behind this remarkable achievement were honored.

For the past two decades, Or Hachasidus has shared the Rebbe’s teachings with diverse audiences across America, Europe, and Israel. Their efforts include special publications, curated collections, discounted sales, and innovative initiatives like a mobile Chassidus library. Sunday night’s dinner at Bison & Bourbon celebrated the milestone anniversary and outlined a vision for the future growth and expansion of their work.

The evening featured special video presentations highlighting 20 years of impactful work, along with a rich and inspiring program that captivated the attendees.

The dinner also paid tribute to several outstanding visionaries whose contributions have profoundly shaped the legacy of hafatzas hamayanos:

The family of Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm z”l was presented with the Legacy of Light Award in recognition of Rabbi Wilhelm’s unwavering dedication and support for Or Hachasidus from its inception and throughout the years.

Dubi and Racheli Minsky, together with Shneur and Yocheved Minsky, were honored with the Chassidus Visionaries Award. Special mention was made of their initiative to establish a Chassidus Kollel in Monticello, which operates year-round as a center for limud haTorah and hafatzas hamayanos.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Hindy Hecht received the Lamplighters Award for their tireless efforts in spreading the teachings of Chassidus in Monsey and its surrounding communities.

Rabbi Hecht shared with the organizers that he had considered skipping the event after his father, Rabbi Sholom Ber Hecht, was hospitalized in critical condition following an injury. However, after speaking with his mother, she encouraged him to attend, saying it was something his father would want him to do.(Please continue to say Tehillim for Harav Sholom Dovber ben Chava). 

Rabbi Hecht took the opportunity to inspire attendees, urging them to generously support Or Hachasidus. He emphasized that not only is he a dedicated donor, but he also regularly uses the organization’s materials for his Chassidus shiurim.

The guest of honor, Rabbi Chaim Piekarski, delivered a powerful speech on the importance of hafatzas hamayanos and emphasized how it is the ultimate investment. 

Emceeing the event was Rabbi Sholom Moshe Paltiel of Port Washington, and singer Berel Zuker, accompanied by Chony Milecki, led a heartfelt seder nigunim. 

The attendees at the dinner were deeply moved by the entire evening and unanimously agreed on the importance of Or Hachasidus continuing to expand its sacred mission.

A surprising moment of the evening came when the staff of Or Hachasidus presented an award to founder and chairman Rabbi Avremi and Bracha Mann, on behalf of the staff in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. The award was given in recognition of Rabbi and Mrs. Mann’s unwavering dedication to the mission of Or Hachasidus over the past twenty years.

The evening also marked the launch of a special campaign in honor of Or Hachasidus’ 20th anniversary and Yud Tes Kislev. The campaign will allow Or Hachasidus to continue their work and launch new initiatives to bring the Rebbe’s Torah to even more Jews, reaching them in every possible way. Stay tuned!

The evening was produced by Bracha Torenheim of TOP 360, along with a team of graphic designers and writers, who prepared the event materials. Special thanks were given to Shneur Minsky and Levi Mochkin of Bison & Bourbon.