Chabad of Talbiya-Mamilla, directed by Rabbi Eliyahu and Chanale Canterman, hosted its 13th annual Yud Tes Kislev celebration, drawing close to 600 people for an evening of spirit, song, and live miracles.
Yud Tet Kislev, widely celebrated as the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidut, marks the liberation of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidut. His release in 1798 is viewed as a watershed moment that allowed Chassidic teachings to spread freely and illuminate Jewish life around the world.
This Jerusalem event has become a flagship celebration, with Chabad Talbiya-Mamilla hosting hundreds annually and bringing internationally recognized lecturers and musicians to the city. This year’s program continued that tradition of excellence and heartfelt inspiration.
The evening opened with a lively and delectable buffet reception, followed by a stirring musical introduction featuring classic chassidic niggunim. Guests filled the hall with anticipation as the program transitioned into its centerpiece: an address by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, scholar, author, and founder of the Meaningful Life Center who flew in for less than 24 hours to inspire!
Rabbi Jacobson delivered a magnificent address, exploring the spiritual significance of Yud Tet Kislev and the enduring relevance of Chassidic teachings. Drawing from the Alter Rebbe’s legacy, he spoke about resilience, inner light, and the ability of the human spirit to transform adversity into growth. His remarks offered both timeless wisdom and timely guidance, resonating strongly with the diverse audience.
Rabbi Jacobson’s talk was notable not only for its intellectual depth but also for its emotional clarity. He emphasized the liberation of the Alter Rebbe as a liberation of the Jewish soul itself a moment that empowered generations to unlock their own inner strength and purpose. His ability to articulate profound spiritual ideas in accessible, relevant terms created a palpable sense of uplift in the room. Attendees described his address as “illuminating,” “empowering,” and “exactly the message needed at this moment,” further solidifying the event as one of the most meaningful Yud Tet Kislev celebrations to date.
An “aha-moment” came when Rabbi Jacobson shared stories of his personal friendship with President Milei and the back-end story of their encounter with the Prime Minister of Israel, just an hour before Israel went to war with Iran. The crowd was spellbound.
Following Rabbi Jacobson’s address, the guests heard from Elkana Bohbot, a released hostage and hero whose presence brought profound emotion to the room. Elkana was accompanied by his wife, Rivka, as well as by his son and parents.
This was not Elkana’s mother, Ruchama’s, first time at a Chabad Talbiya-Mamilla event. Ruchama had previously been the guest of honor at Challah Bake #20, one of the seventy-five challah bakes arranged by Chabad Talbiya-Mamilla’s Women’s Circle in support of the hostage mothers (see clip below). Her appearance at this event was even more heartening, as this time she arrived reunited with her son- the very son whom hundreds of women had davened for two years earlier.
Initially scheduled to offer only a brief thanks to the crowd, Elkana instead shared a powerful reflection on enduring faith under extreme conditions, speaking for over half an hour.
He described the inventive way he lit the Chanukah lights while held captive: “The terrorist gave me a spotlight to use in the deadly, pitch black tunnels. It was this spotlight that I used to light the Chanukah menorah on my finger on night one. Then, for each proceeding night of Chanukah, I switched the spotlight to a different finger.”
He then added a declaration that brought many in the audience to tears: “They took my child from me, they took my wife from me, they took my shower from me, they took my food from me, they took my freedom from me- but they NEVER, ever succeeded in taking my deep emunah in G-d from me.”
In a moment of tears, the shluchim of Chabad Talbiya-Mamilla presented a Chanukah menorah to Elkana’s son, Reem. Three days later, one could see Reem lighting that same menorah on Instagram.
Elkana’s words encapsulated the spirit of the evening: the triumph of faith over fear, and the power of Jewish resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. His remarks naturally transitioned into a heartfelt kumsitz, as he joined the audience in song and uplift.
As the formal program concluded, attendees remained in their seats, drawn into an extended farbrengen atmosphere. In a stirring finale, the entire hall rose together to sing one of the Alter Rebbe’s niggunim- “The 4 Babos”, a haunting, elevating melody that has long been associated with spiritual depth and redemption.
The collective singing created a moment of profound unity, symbolizing the central message of Yud Tet Kislev: that the light of Chassidut continues to illuminate Jewish life, guiding communities through both celebration and challenge.
Chabad Talbiya-Mamilla’s Yud Tet Kislev celebration has become one of Jerusalem’s most anticipated annual events, bringing together families, students, and visitors from across the city. As voices joined in song and hearts were lifted by messages of hope, the 13th annual celebration reaffirmed the timeless relevance of the Alter Rebbe’s teachings and the enduring strength of the Jewish spirit.
Photography by Ephraim Allouche | Videography by Sasha Gorev
