During the last monthly meeting of the Chabad Shluchim in the Philadelphia region, Head Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov suggested to revive the custom of gathering their families.
He said it was in the spirit of the International Kinus Hashluchim, the theme this year being “Ish u’Beiso” – a focus on the families on Shlichus.
The idea, Rabbi Shemtov said, would be to hold a Farbrengen meal for the Shluchim and their wives, and rally for their children, around the time of every Chassidic holiday.
The first of such was on Yud Tes Kislev, the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus, when a “Shluchim Family Gathering” was hosted by the Shluchim of Bucks County at their beautiful spacious center in Newtown, PA.
Over 25 families showed up, comprising of 20 adults and close to 100 children.
Following a festive meal, singing niggunim and watching the Rebbe on the Living Torah video, the children enjoyed their own rally, ran by the Shluchos of Bucks County, Miriam Shemtov, Rosie Weinstein, Dassie Prus and Chevi Frankel, while the adults remained to farbreng amongst themselves.
The children then joined their parents, and the farbrengen continued for a while as many Shluchim opened up and shared their hergeshim about the day.
“It was like one big chassidishe living room: kids playing in one part, the shluchos sharing stories amongst themselves in another, and the shluchim in yet another part of the room, like one big family simcha. Mamosh beautiful,” one Shliach told COLlive.com.
Another Shliach related: “I asked my son what he enjoyed most (at the Farbrengen) and he said “being with all the shluchim.”
“I asked, ‘and not with the children?’ and he answered, ‘we are shluchim too.’ He meant that when he answered initially, he meant being with his friends, which are the shluchim.”
Sorry but the gathering of Shluchim families of this region was actually begun last year by the Mangel and Kahan families from Cherry Hill, NJ and although it was a beautiful event in Buck’s County, the kudos actually go to them for beginning this tradition more recently and giving us the push to do so. It is so nice when we all get together…
To #8 that was in 1975. Rabbi shemtov lit the first public menorah by the liberty bell in 1974. Way to go philly shluchim!
The Achdus between the Shluchim of this region is truly inspiring and refreshing!
Kol hakavod to you all!
The first one to have a public Menorah was Rabbi Chaim Itche Drizin in S. Francisco, CA
We are lucky to have such a fine group of people, the future is in good hands
25 families ish ubeiso:-) do the math
there were way more thank 20 adults! It was a beautiful gathering of the shluchim! 🙂
Yochonon Goldman!
Avremel is a person of ideas. He was the first one to have a public menorah.
so nice , such great achdus!!
so nice!!! go philly!!!
go us!! 🙂