Sydney Inspired by Farbrengen

A Grand Farbrengen and communal gathering was held at the Yeshiva Centre – Chabad NSW HQ in honor of Gimmel Tammuz, marking 20 years since the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

The hall was set for hundreds however, many additional chairs were needed through the night as more and more people arrived to take part in the Farbrengen.

The Farbrengen started with the reciting of Psalms and special prayers led by Rabbi Chaim Ingram, Honorary secretary of the Rabbinical Council of NSW in honor of the 3 Kdoishim who were cut down in their youth only for being Jewish.

Following the service, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM, Dean and spiritual leader of the Yeshiva Centre and Head Shliach to New South Wales opened the evening with words of inspiration and encouragement.

“Marching Orders” the video presentation by JEM prepared specially for the event was displayed with its moving message to all, reminding us of the extraordinary attention the Rebbe gave each person, it also reminded us of the great charge the Rebbe has left us with to bring Moshiach.

The Keynote address of the evening was by international guest speaker and best selling author, Rabbi Shais Taub of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Taub spoke of the levels of consciousness with which we serve Hashem and how we can over time become more in tune with how Hashem wants us to be, starting with our actions and speech and ultimately to our thoughts as is taught in Tanya.

He also quoted the medrash that tells us of how when Moshiach will be revealed, should one attempt to pick a fruit from the tree on Shabbos, the fruit will call out “don’t pick me, its Shabbos today” Rabbi Taub compared this to fire of today. We all know that should one think to place his hand in a fire, automatically he will restrain himself for it is as though the fire is calling out, don’t touch me, I’m hot! So too, in Moshiach times, we will live with this level of consciousness in serving Hashem.

A special 28 page brochure was distributed, entitled: “The Visionary leader who spoke one language: Yours.”

Although Rabbi Taub had said he did not come to inspire rather to pass on information that could be useful in one’s day to day life, many people went away inspired and uplifted. As one person put it: “My new passion is the Rebbe, I want to be like the Rebbe and help and inspire those around me to be better!”

After the formalities, the informal Farbrengen carried on to the early hours of the morning.

The Farbrengen was organized by Rabbi Elimelech Levy of Chabad Youth NSW, Music by Rabbi Yehoshua Niasoff and co, photos by Menachem Spielman.