Rabbi Lau Has ‘Quiet’ Shabbos

By COLlive reporter

In preparation for the Kinus, the guest speaker stayed away from the Kinus.

Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Israel’s former Chief Rabbi currently serving in Tel Aviv, has spent this past Shabbos in the Upper West Side in New York City, COLlive.com has learned.

Having just concluded a trip to South America which involved meetings and speeches, Rabbi Lau asked to rest up before Sunday night’s address at the gala banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchim convention.

The Holocaust survivor and his Rebbetzin, Chayita Lau were hosted by their mechuteneste, Mrs. Chaya Cohen and asked that locals not be notified about his West Side stay.

He davened on Shabbos at the 84th Street shtibel, where Rabbi Shlomo Besser has succeeded his known father, Rabbi Chaskel Besser OBM.

Although he wanted a quiet Shabbos, Rabbi Besser said he felt compelled to ask Rabbi Lau to speak and the experienced orator agreed to say a few wods at the kiddush, enthralling the crowd with his recollections and insights.

Rabbi Lau was heard commenting on how enthusiastic he is about the Kinus, and the chance to pay tribute to the Shluchim, according to one attendee.

At the banquet on Sunday, to be held at the Hilton New York in Manhattan, Rabbi Lau will be tasked with the high bar set by last year’s guest speaker British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

Speaking to Kfar Chabad Magazine before his flight, Rabbi Lau said he did not have his speech written. “I will stand there and will feel the crowd and according to that I will speak,” he said.

The banquet will be broadcast live Sunday, November 11, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on COLlive.com. Tune in.