Rosh Chodesh Tamuz (Tamuz 1) is the Yahrtzeit of Maryland Shlucha Mrs. Zlata Geisinsky obm.
Since her passing at the age of 49 five years ago, her community has observed her Yahrtzeit each year with a tribute event to celebrate her life.
Her family made a conscious decision not to present a somber program to mark this day each year, they felt this would only increase the pain caused by her premature passing.
Zlata is remembered and still lives in people’s minds and hearts as a vibrant and energetic Shlucha, she was a motivator who inspired people to conquer their challenges. Therefore, each year since her passing, the community has gathered for a concert to uphold Zlata Geisinsky’s memory and to celebrate her life.
Those close to her describe Zlata Geisinsky a”h as an anomaly. She was not loud, rather unassuming, and she did not project herself from center stage, but there was no mistaking that Zlata Geisinsky was a huge force in the community.
Five years after her passing, her legacy is a Chabad institution that has grown exponentially (today 3 Chabad branches strong and a new building well on its way), hundreds of people in the Greater Washington D.C. community are currently affiliated with numerous Chabad Centers throughout the area because of the key impression Zlata first made on their lives.
Many people will even tell you that to this day they make particular crucial decisions by asking themselves what would Zlata ob”m have told me to do in this case.
This year on the evening of her fifth Yahrtzeit, over 250 people filled a concert hall in tribute to a beloved Shlucha. The evening began with a reception after which people were seated in the theatre.
Rabbi Bentzion Geisinsky, Zlata’s husband, expressed the Geisinsky family’s gratitude to the community for their uninterrupted esteemed regard of Zlata a”h.
Heartfelt words were then spoken by Mrs. Aidie Shusterman , Zlata’s daughter who is a Shlucha in California, remembering her mother’s extraordinary life as a wise mentor and genuine friend, as a dedicated Shlucha of the Rebbe.
The night was then filled with a full musical program featuring star performers Boruch Sholom Blesofsky (Mrs. Geisinsky’s son-in-law) and Yehuda Green. A repertoire of carefully selected songs created just the right mood of hope and determination. The guest were lifted out their seats through the inspiration of the music. Finally the building security needed to remind guest of the late hour.
Everyone had built-up great faith that this would be the last Yahrtzeit event as it was, praying that next year we will all meet in Yerusholayim with a completely different kind of concert. Where there is faith there is hope, where there is hope there is action, where there is action there are results. No more hurt of this sort for any family. Moshiach Now!
I was a counselor by Zlata many yrs ago for many yrs.
She was the life behind it all! It’s so sad and hard to imagine shlichus without her there. I am sure it’s just not the same!
May her family have the strength to go pm till Moshiach comes
It is heartwarming and inspiring to see how a Loving husband and a loving father and grandfather Rises from the ashes of tragedy To sharing his unyielding love for the Jewish people and Am Yisroel as befitting to a true Chossid and Shliach of the Rebbe. While the pain is real and the void as painful, Rabbi Geisinski Personifies the Rebbe’s Message of turning pain and tears into action. מי כעמך ישראל! It is the incredible resilience of the Jewish people at large, and the Mesiras Nefesh of Lubavitcher Chassidim Over the past many decades, Including Rabbi Geisinski’s parents and… Read more »
Zlata continues to bring meaning to others in an uplifting way.
Zlata and the rest of her Dubrawsky Family are in a class of their own. Beautiful people inside and out. Open homes, open hearts, brilliant and fine. They emulate their wonderful parents.
This family is the epitome of chassidim and Shluchim!
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a real tzadakes