Thursday night, 16 Sivan, June 12, Anshei Lubavitch hosted a fundraiser, concert, and Chinese auction featuring a performance by two of its distinguished mispalelim, Benny Friedman and Eli Marcus, along with the Gershon Freishtat Band.
Before a crowd of about 300 and many thousands more watching online, the duo uplifted the crowd, performing a diverse repertoire of musical works, including medleys from Dveykus, Miami Boys Choir, the Diaspora Yeshiva Band, Chabad Nigunim, segments of Gan Yisroel Songs and a special feature, a Musical Journey Through a Day in Anshei.
The shul’s rov and driving force, Rabbi Yossi Garelik opened with a letter from the Rebbe to an Anshei Lubavitch in 5712, 1952, where the Rebbe explained that the name Lubavitch, which means love in Russian, “indicates the deep connection of chassidus with the three loves, Ahavas Hashem, Ahavas Hatorah, and Ahavas Yisroel (love of Hashem, love of the Torah, and the Jewish people) which are indivisible, and must accompany every Jew in their daily lives,” echoing the mission of Anshei Lubavitch to be a center of davening, learning, and gemilus chasadim.
Throughout the evening, members of the shul highlighted the various programs and events of the shul. Zalmy Loewenthal and Dani Chitrik led a farbrengen-style discussion on the shul’s various shiurim, projects, and construction. Dovid Margolin and Dubi Rabinowitz discussed the numerous Chassidus Shiurim in the mornings. Mendel Rogatsky led Tehillim for Eretz Yisroel.
Video presentations addressing the shul’s programs were interspersed throughout the evening, including an emotional feature showcasing Anshei Hug, the shul’s sisterhood initiative that helps families during a crisis.
As Rabbi Garelik said, “It’s not just a shul anymore, it’s Anshei Lubavitch. Consistent daily shiurim, a life pulse. A living, breathing family. Everyone has a place. Everyone is seen. A woman’s space, a real sisterhood. Real growth from cradle to crisis. Chessed isn’t a service – it’s a family taking care of its own.”
The event was an incredible success, and Anshei surpassed their fundraising goal for the night of $500,000, with more than 2000 individual donors.
The event was emceed by Sruli Richler and catered by Yitzi Silver of SilverLine Catering.
Replay of the event:
Eight prizes will be drawn on Thursday, June 19, 2025, 23 Sivan, at 11 PM.
Split the Pot, Jackpot, Kosherica, Barbara Wig, KMR, Tzfasman, Tickets to Eretz Yisroel, Collision Repair.
Visit AnsheiAuction.com for your chance to win and support a great cause.
Auction Winners:
9 SILVER Zalman & Bella Brook
10 WASHER & DRYER Anonymous
11 $1800 CASH Elly lieber
12 LUXURY COUCHES David Zelman
13 BEDROOM OASIS Mendel Chein
14 FLORIDA VACATION Loewenthal
15 AMAZON Moishe Zirkind
16 SHABBOS PACKAGE Anonymous
17 LAPTOP Elie and Sheina Laskar
18 $1000 GIFT CARD D Orimland
19 DINE OUT Luba & Suffi Silby
20 ORGANIZE Bella Rubashkin
21 COACHING (FOR HIM) Shaina T
22 A.SOLIANI Mendel and Tonia Telsner
23 COLOR PALETTE Yossi and mushka
24 TEFILLIN BAGS JACKPOT
25 DOONA Sholom
26 SUKKAH & ESROG Chaim Leiter
27 YO-YO STROLLER Bella Rubashkin
28 $500 CASH Brachy Lipszyc
29 UBER/UBER EATS SDH
30 LINEN SET Elie and Sheina Laskar
31 GROCERIES Levi Tenenbaum
32 ZAKON’S Anonymous
33 THE KIDS SHOPPE Shulamis Labkowski
34 GLASSES Chana z minkowitz
35 CAMP CRATE Doni & Sara Gross 36 ART Anonymous
37 HEADPHONES Mutty fogelman 38 COACHING (FOR HER) Sruly K
39 RECORD A SONG Anonymous
40 EMOTION CODE Morah Mushka
41 CG BLOOMS M.S.
42 24/6 SOLO 3 Karasik Family
43 CRICUT Sruly K
44 TOYS Snyder Family
45 MEN’S HAT Anonymous
46 TOVEEDO Dovid & Shternie Zaltzman
47 PARTY RENTALS Anonymous
48 CUSTOM SUIT O’s
Anshei Lubavitch extends gratitude to the entire community and the thousands of donors who contributed to the fundraiser.
Thank you to Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzin Chanie Garelik, Zalman and Brochi Friedman, Yisroel and Mushkie Karasik, Mendy and Rikkel Gopin, Zalmy and Mushky Loewenthal, Levi Shloush, Shimon Sabol, Shmully Wudowsky, Mendel Rosen, Fitz Rabin, Mendel Katzman, Dovid Abba Goldstein, Dovi Abrams, Yakov Moshe Friedman, the team at Charidy, Mendy Abelsky, Yehuda Kirsh, Elka Friedman, the Board of Anshei, the Women’s Committee and all the members of Anshei who organized fundraising teams, all those who put their hearts and souls into making the event an incredible success!
Video features:
About Anshei
Anshei Hug
What a beautiful community. Accomplishing the impossible, and showing every younger class shul how it should be done. Mechoyil el choyil, movers and shakers of Anshei!!
This is very impressive. This is what a community should look like
Glad the community surpassed their original expectations. I don’t live in the area I fondly call “Crown Heights East” but I tip my hat to those fellow Lubavitchers who, unlike others,willingly made the tradeoff of less spacious homes for remaining in close proximity to the “old” Crown Heights, actually extending it. Kol hakavod.