Wedding Gift of a Different Kind

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Levi and Devorah Chekly, Shluchim to Angola had their reservations and were planning to surprise their head Shliach, Rabbi and Mrs. Shlomo Bentolila at the wedding of their daughter Monday night, 8 Shevat in New York.

But on the day they were meant to purchase the tickets they received a call from Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Kahn, Rav of the Lubavitch community in Paris, France that he and his group of Shochtim and helpers received their visas to Angola and were ready to fly to Angola on Monday 8 Shevat.

Should he decide to push them off and postpone their trip, the next available dates would be in one months time!

He consulted with some of the local Baalei Batim, some suggested he travels and postpones the Shechita, while others said that the biggest present he could give to his head Shliach is to do this historic project which will enable local Jews to eat kosher meats and chicken.

Still unsure what to do, he called Rabbi Bentolila and placed both options on the table. Rabbi Bentolila’s response was immediate.

Stay and do your Shlichus. It’s erev Yud Shevat and there is nothing than can make my wife and I happier than giving Nachas to the Rebbe, and especially this week.

Rabbi Kahn and his team came, 1500 chickens and 20 cows (of which four were certified as Glatt Kosher) were slaughtered and Koshered.

The enthusiasm of the local Jewish community was amazing with a dozen families taking a Hachlata to Kosher their kitchens and to begin eating only Kosher food.

Several couples even approached Rabbi Chekly and asked when will they begin building a Mikvah! On the spot, they asked Rav Kahn to supply them with Mikvah plans and designs.

In the next 6-8 weeks, the Cheklys expect to receive a container of custom made Shul furniture from Israel and to make a grand inauguration and Chanukas Habayit.

The Shechita was made possible thanks to the generosity and sponsorship of Mr. Yaakov Karakow and Mr. Elazar Benjamin, primary sponsors of Chabad in Angola.

The Shluchim to Angola, Ghana and Nigeria were appointed and are supervised by Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila, head Shliach to Central Africa and who is now celebrating 25 years of Shlichus to Kinshasa, D.R.C. from where he overseas activities in 16 countries across Central Africa.