3 Day Celebration in Worcester

In an unprecedented move for a small city, Worcester rose to the Rebbe’s challenge and celebrated three straight days and nights in honor of Yud Tes Kislev.

Rabbi Mendel and Chani Fogelman, together with a fabulous support staff of Bassie Levin, Sylvia Avinoam, Shorah Gaval, Lili Nagatti, Reus Chaya Hersh, Rochie Shaw, Malkie Shaw, Robin Levine, Aviva Liss, Michelle Gaval, Miriam Phillips, Tirtza Phillips, Malka Phillips, Leora Gaval, and Margo Smith, organized a full Shabbos dinner with close to 100 people on Friday night, followed by a Shabbos Kiddish Farbrengen and a Melave Malka for 120 members of the community.

An outstanding scholar-in-residence, Rabbi Chaim Schochet who spent Pesach and Tishrei with the community, was brought back by popular demand for the Yud Tes Kislev celebration.

He held the crowd spellbound as he wove a deep and beautiful explanation of the Yom Tov.

On Friday evening after licht bentchen, there were separate classes for men, women, and children, led by Rabbi Michoel Philips, Rabbi Chaim Schochet, Adam Zev Levine, Orit Cohen, and Shaina and Sheva Fogelman.

The Shabbos dinner was replete with niggunim, divrei torah, and sippurim, energizing all who attended with a warm feeling.

On Shabbos morning Rabbi Schochet inspired the crowd after mussaf, and a farbrengen was led by Rabbi Chaim Fishman, a longtime member of the hanhala in Worceseter.

On Motzei Shabbos the room was once again full with over 120 people, and guests were served a full course seuda. Rabbi Michoel Green, the shliach to Westborough, roused the crowd with various niggunim of the Alter Rebbe.

Rabbi Mendel Fogelman was master of ceremonies. As a highlight of the evening, Rabbi Fogelman made a surprise presentation of a beautiful silver menorah to long time Baal Schachris, Reb Leib Lasky. In his message, Rabbi Fogelman stated that Leib Lasky had a tough act to follow from the previous chazzanim, Reb Moshe Levine, Reb Laizer Berkowitz, and Reb Osher Kazarnovsky. Leib is a credit to our rich shul history. He had a tough challenge this year having a serious case of laryngitis for the whole month of Elul, but in his quiet, unassuming way he came through. The special presentation was followed by Rabbi Schochet’s keynote address, leaving the crowd spellbound once again.

Rabbi Fogelman explained that The Rebbe called this kvius the langa yud tes kislev, the long Yud Tes Kislev spread out over three nights. Rabbi closed the evening with the following remarks, “Worcester, although small in size is huge in varmkeit. Be proud of what we accomplish. Be proud of our shul. Be proud of our hebrew school. Be proud of our Chabad on Campus activities We are in a new stage of growth. Invite people that you might bump into while shopping. Bring them to your homes. Bring them here to Chabad. This has been a tremendous weekend of unity. Let us all look forward to a great Chanukah!”