By COLlive reporter
“If we, who do not specifically identify as Chabad, are ever dismissive of you; if we ever speak negatively, I want you to know it’s because you threaten us; it’s because you make us question if we are passionate enough about our Judaism whether we’re doing enough for Klal Yisroel…”
These were the opening words of Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn, dean of Yeshivas Yavneh, at the Gimmel Tammuz symposium hosted by Maayon Yisroel Chassidic Center in Los Angeles, in conjunction with Sha’arei Tefilah.
Last Sunday night, in an incredible show of unity, over 500 members of the Los Angeles Jewish community came together to commemorate and reflect on twenty years since Gimmel Tammuz.
Five distinguished rabbis, representing various sectors of the Jewish community, shared their perspectives on the Rebbe and his lasting impact on world Jewry. The evening was emceed by Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, rav of Sha’arei Tefilah.
Noted historian and dean of YULA girl’s high school, Rabbi Avraham Lieberman, spoke of the unparalleled vision and influence of the Rebbe, and encouraged the audience to take advantage of the Rebbe’s many published works, specifically on Rashi.
Rabbi Einhorn, who is also the creator of the WINGS consulting group for synagogues in the USA, discussed the Rebbe’s Torah scholarship, giving two examples of his brilliant chiddushim. In the past, he presented “7 powerful ideas from the Rebbe that can change your life” on the Yeshiva University’s website.
Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, noted scholar and professor at Loyola University, began with a disclaimer that ideologically and temperamentally he stands as far away from Chassidus as possible, however at the same time he considers the Rebbe’s leadership unique in every respect. He emphasized that unlike other Jewish leaders, the Rebbe was concerned about every area of life that affected the Jewish people and the world as a whole.
Rabbi Moshe Bryski, head shliach in the Conejo valley, spoke about the challenges the Rebbe faced in his early years of leadership and how He lifted an entire generation, one Jew at a time, one mitzva at a time.
Rabbi Reuven Wolf, director of Maayon Yisroel, discussed the Rebbe’s mission, as the seventh and last generation before moshiach, of reaching the lowest places and breaking through the last barriers of concealment in this physical world.
Throughout the evening the audience was treated to moving performances of the thirteen nigunim that the Rebbe taught us, played by pianist Rabbi Dovid Lipson and violinist Ami Levi.
VIDEO: Full footage of the event
With your sincerety and humor you bring across to us the most profound concepts and lessons of life. The Rebbe gave us the commands and the direc tion and you and all the wonderful Chabad Rabbis show us how to fullfill them. Thank You for showing us the clear path to the coming of Moshiach! Your are the best!
this even was unreal… thank you mayyon yirsoel and rabbi wolf for an incredible event
Go to maayon.com for thousands of chassidus classes. There is a weekly podcast of a parsha class that you can download.
I listened to the whole thing, and enjoyed it! Where can we get similarly inspirational Torah classes online?
Moshiachdik – true .
The unity felt great
Beautiful tribute to the Rebbe .
Best speakers !
Such unity should carry is through to Bias Moshiach…one Yid at a time.
The speakers were fabulous. The whole
evening inspired me . Thank you organizers
Thank you for sharing, I was there and it was a real Kiddush Lubavitch, to c a diverse get together for 3 hours, to learn and get inspired was beautiful!
MW
Facinating Thank you
If I recall correctly the Rebbe says that we first say MODEH and then ANI and not ANI MODEH because Hashem comes first so we first are Modeh and there is the I the ANI.
I just heard your talk it was GEVALDIG! thank you for inspiring and you have a great zechus to be and feel inspired and influence others as myself with your inspiration
What an event! You can hear the power and get chizzuk from the speeches, yet wish I was able to be there to feel it
Moshiach now
An amazing event. Definitely one of the best!
Thank you to those who sponsored and thank you rabbi wolf and rabbi kesselman for putting it all together!