Aliya Celebrates Bar Mitzvah Year

This past Thursday night Aliya celebrated its 13 year Gala Bar Mitzvah Dinner in the most beautiful and uplifting way imaginable.

Friends and alumni of Aliya got together to make sure every detail was perfect. Moishe Okunov donated the most stunning lighting system which completely transformed the room. Nachman Blizinsky took the pictures and everyone brought along their friends and family to share the celebration.

Lavie Popack and Mordechi Werde were honored for both being involved with Aliya over the years, as well as supporters of Aliya.

The food which was catered by Mendy’s looked and tasted magnificent. Even though the event was only catered for 100 people, Mendy’s was easily able to feed the 150 + people that came to celebrate that night.

The hall was decorated by Tzipporah Hahn who has seen Aliya’s great work first hand and did her best to make it a really special evening. Ebbers liquor, brother in law of Rabbi Feiglin provided a very plentiful and upscale wine tasting stand.

Awards were also given to Nachi Goldshmidt and Chaim Drizin , who received the award for his father R’ Mendel Drizin, for their support of Aliya.

The speeches were short, yet heartfelt and to the point. Aliya member Mendy Alexander was the Emcee and very eloquent at that. He spoke about how he became involved with Aliya and how it changed him for the better. A siyum with Kaddish was then done by Moshe Simon L”N all the young men of CH that left us tragically early.

Then came Rabbi Feiglin. When he walked up to the podium there was a three minute standing ovation where the young men cheered joyfully for Rabbi Feiglin. Many shouts were heard from the crowd of “we love you Rabbi.”

Rabbi Shemtov then spoke from his heart and even broke down in tears several times as he related what goes on at Aliya.

Then came the video presentation which was very professionally organized by Aliya Alumn Chaim Lazarus who is getting married this week in Italy.

The evening ended off with a delicious buffet dessert and auctioning off some paintings of the Rebbe and Frierdiker Rebbe.

The evening was a real boost for Aliya, for its members and supporters. The resolution from the dinner was that it’s time for Aliya to take down its shabby hut and rebuild a beautiful edifice to house the many amazing programs and events that go on at Aliya, and take Aliya “out of its childhood and into manhood” after its Bar Mitzvah.