The seventh annual Yud Tet Kislev event organized by Chabad of Talbiya-Mamilla took place this year at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem and was very well attended.
After a lavish reception, the evening commenced with masterful emcee, Daniel Bider, who delivered opening remarks. Famous flutist, Avi Piamenta, set the tone with other guest musicians playing Chabad niggunim.
Along with the musicians, the audience enjoyed the incredible talents of singers Yoni Shlomo and Chaim Zippel.
Rabbi Eli Canterman, shliach of Chabad of Talbiya-Mamilla and host of the event, followed by explaining the relevance of Yud Tet Kislev today. He then warmly introduced the next speaker, guest of honor Raphael Nouril.
Raphael Nouril, former court artist to the Shah of Persia, enthralled his audience by recounting how he and his family fled Teheran for London during the revolution. While living in Hampstead, the Nouril family became close with Gedalia and Rachel Rutman, who encouraged him and his wife Katie to write to the Rebbe for a bracha regarding a medical crisis that was of tremendous concern. Almost immediately after receiving the Rebbe’s blessing, the crisis was resolved.
This was the beginning of a new kind of journey for the Nourils. After deciding to paint the portrait of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he flew to New York hoping against hope to be able to show his work to the Rebbe personally. Not only did he achieve that goal, but the Rebbe was incredibly impressed by his talent. Even so, he asked Raphael to repaint his hands in the portrait.
This encounter with the Rebbe changed Raphael’s course of life. From being a secular Jew, he gradually adopted a life of Torah and mitzvot. Each painting, starting with that of the Rebbe, then the previous Rebbe, and other works, propelled him along this path. At the end of his tale the audience rose as one acknowledging the uniqueness of Raphael.
The guest speaker of the evening was Rabbi Ari Shishler, founder and rabbi of Jewish Life Centre, Strathavon, South Africa.
In the spirit of Yud Tet Kislev, he passionately spoke about the intrinsic goodness of each human being, which is a tenet of Chabad philosophy and of the tremendous goodness inherent in the world – טבע הטוב להיטיב.
Other philosophies translate Tikkun Olam to mean a damaged world which needs constant renovation. “We don’t need to לתקן עולם,” he proclaimed emphatically. His message however, was: “לגלות את הטוב שכבר נמצא בעולם”, to look for the good that is waiting for you and make that one’s daily focus.
The audience was so uplifted after Rabbi Shishlers upbeat and forward thinking chizuk, that they burst into spontaneous, joyous dancing and no one wanted to leave the electric atmosphere. The simcha continued at in impromptu farbrengen held at the home of the Mostovicz family, community members of Talbiya. The night came to an end at 4:00 am, when Rabbi Shishler had to catch a flight to his next speaking engagement.
As one of the participants commented – “The saying ‘כל השביעין חביבין’ could not have held more true than at this 7th annual Yud Tet Kislev event in Jerusalem.”
B’ezrat Hashem, next year at the 8th in Jerusalem
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