The Chabad community in Melbourne commemorated Gimmel Tammuz this year in many ways that catered for all of Anash and Neshei Chabad.
Prior to Gimmel Tammuz, much preparation was underway in Melbourne with a unique Mivtza spearheaded by Kollel Menachem Lubavitch. It was decided that the best way to prepare for this holy day and to strengthen Hiskashrus was by learning the Rebbe’s Torah.
This decision was based on a Hayom Yom of Sivan 24: “The true bond is created by studying Torah. When you study my maamarim, read the sichos and associate with those dear to me – the chassidic community and the tmimim – in their studies and farbrengens, and you fulfill my request regarding saying Tehillim and observing Torah-study times – in this is the bond.”
The Anash community came together and divided all of the Maamarim Melukatim of the Rebbe to be learned before Gimmel Tammuz. This Mivtza was carried out with considerable enthusiasm and speed, and within a matter of a few short weeks all of the Maamarim were allocated and being learned. Rabbi Yonason Johnson, Rosh Hakollel, personally delivered the communal Duch of participants to the Ohel on Friday Erev Gimmel Tammuz.
In the days leading up to Gimmel Tammuz, Rabbi Boruch Kaplan of Jerusalem farbrenged and spoke to many different groups. Rabbi Kaplan is a senior lecturer in Talmud and Chassidus at Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem and teaches in various Lubavitch seminaries for young women in Israel.
He spoke for Post-Seminary girls and women, Yeshivah College, Mesivta and Beth Rivka were all inspired by Rabbi Kaplan culminating with a farbrengen for the bochrim in Yeshivah Gedolah. A highlight was a farbrengen with the Mayanot alumni that completed this short but enriching visit to Melbourne.
Shabbos Gimmel Tammuz was an uplifting day in Yeshivah Shule which included, Chazora of the Maamer V’atah Tetzaveh and a farbrengen which went all afternoon until Maariv led by Rabbi Kaplan.
On Motzai Shabbos, Gimmel Tammuz, close to 650 people gathered in the Werdiger Family Hall for a Community Tribute evening. Led by MC Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, the evening included a Siyum on the entire Likkutei Sichos by two Shluchim of the Yeshivah Gedolah, Hatomim Menachem Mendel Gurary and Hatomim Menachem Mendel Shuchat.
Keynote guest speaker Rabbi Boruch Kaplan uplifted the crowd, highlighting the sensitivity and awareness of others that the Rebbe demands from everyone on their personal Shlichus. A moving video presentation was shown depicting interactions of the Rebbe’s with Jewish individuals of all ages. Participants were left inspired with a positive message and call to action.
Sunday morning, Tammuz 4, the community gathered once again, to mark the Yartzheit of Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner z”l, the Head Shliach of the Rebbe to Melbourne. Rabbi Kaplan motivated those assembled, speaking of the sensitivity the Rebbe demands from his Chassidim, a trait which Rabbi Groner possessed in great measure.
Monday night saw a gathering of young Anash as the Young Yeshivah community hosted Rabbi Yisroel Deren of Connecticut for a farbrengen. Rabbi Deren vividly described personal experiences and encounters he had with the Rebbe, which display the Rebbe’s unbounded and enduring compassion of all yidden.
I spy Ilan Kedem
One of the many examples of the positive programs Yeshivah Centre runs on a regular basis
Best Teacher EVER!!!!!!!!!!
He taught us in MSY!! And still does 🙂
he is the one that brought me to lubavitch 26 years ago !!
i am eternally grateful , Toras chaim yeshiva !!!
best teacher!