100 Years from Rebbe’s Bar Mitzva

Ry Rabbi Moishe Weber

The Rebbe’s birthday, Yud Aleph Nissan, is being celebrated all over the world. This year marks 100 years – a whole century – since the Rebbe’s Bar Mitzva, which took place in Yekaterinoslav – today known as Dnepropetrovsk, in the year 1915- 5675.

The Shluchim and Anash in Dnepropetrovsk have the great zechus of continuing the Rebbe’s activities in the city where he lived and studied. They chose to commemorate this special date in the very same Synagogue where the Rebbe celebrated his Bar Mitzvah 100 years ago, at Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s (the Rebbe’s father’s) Shul on Mironovah Street.

Rabbi Levik’s Shul is today used as the Tzivos Hashem home for boys, run by Rabbi Yerachmiel Binyominson and Rabbi Yossi Glick.

On the evening of Yud Aleph Nissan, Rebbetzin Chani Kaminetzky gathered a group of Jewish women and the Shluchos for a unique Farbrengen in Rabbi Levik’s Shul.

At the Farbrengen, the women studied together from the Kuntres “Bar Mitzvah”, published by the Vaad Hanochos, and took upon themselves a list of Hachlotos, to strengthen their Hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

The wonderful atmosphere that pervaded the gathering made the women want to stay longer, listening to stories about the Rebbe, singing niggunim and dancing.
During the evening, videos of the Rebbe were shown, and parts of the Rebbetzin’s diaries were read, specifically the chapter about the Rebbe’s Bar Mitzvah celebration in the city, in which Rebbetzin Chana says that for her and for all of the Chassidim, it was a special day and a major milestone in the life of the Rebbe. The Rebbetzin describes the joy and the feelings that the Bar Mitzvah caused, the tears and the mysterious promise, which stirred the community for two more days after the celebration was over…

The women took part in the Bar Mitzvah, 100 years after it took place in the same room, as if it was happening there and then. The deep feelings that they experienced there, brought them to want to continue giving the Rebbe nachas and to do everything necessary to bring Moshiach now.

During the day, the Shul on Mironovah Street hosted many visitors. Students from the many educational centers, the high school, seminary girls… attended various events at this holy place, concentrating their thoughts on the Rebbe.
The highlight of the day was of course the Farbrengen of Anash and the Shluchim, led by the Head Shliach, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky.

At this historical Farbrengen, organized by Rabbi Moishe Weber, Rabbi Kaminetzky spoke about the early days of his Shlichus in the Rebbe’s city and about the deep connection the Rebbe feels towards the place, calling it “mein shtat” (“my city”).

The Rebbe was involved in everything that went on in the city- from major to minor details. “Those who sow in tears, will reap in joy,” said Rabbi Kaminetzky, explaining that the place where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and his family went through great suffering, is now seeing great miracles; despite years of darkness and oppression, we’re now sitting here and proudly farbrenging not far from the Rebbe’s house, the place where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was arrested and sent away to the imprisonment from which he was never to return.

Rabbi Kaminetzky and the Shluchim sat for hours in the warm atmosphere of the Chassidishe farbrengen, making Hachlotos for strengthening Hiskashrus to the Rebbe and to his holy teachings.

This week, a Yeshivas Bein Hazmanim is being run in Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s shul for the Tmimim who are home on vacation. “We can only imagine the great nachas the Rebbe is having from it” commented one of the Shluchim.

The Shluchim to Dnepropetrovsk, Anash and the Tmimim, are continuing preparations for Pesach – tens of public Sedorim, Mivtzah Matzoh, food parcels for the needy, Kimchah DePischah… when the largest happening is the gala Seder at the Menorah Center where over a hundred families from around the world will enjoy a luxurious uplifting Pesach in the Rebbe’s city, where the Rebbe grew up and still has great influence to this day, through his constant blessings.