Photo & Video Credits: Ben Bresky
On Sunday evening, July 3rd, the Chabad of Baka community in Jerusalem, led by Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel, gathered for a gourmet dinner and farbrengen, commemorating the Rebbe’s 28th yartzeit and celebrating their community’s 14th anniversary.
Michael Allouche, who is an aerospace engineer from France who became a devout chassid, shared his fascinating aliyah journey and personal connection with the Rebbe. Allouche emphasized, “One turns to the Rebbe for advice because the Rebbe can see where your spiritual mission is at any given time.”
His family’s delayed bracha for immigrating to Eretz Yisrael was precisely what was necessary for them to grow and develop both spiritually and materially and actually prepared them for a successful aliyah.
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Allouche also shared lessons that we can learn from aerospace. In his words, upon a suggestion made by his mashpia Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz (whose books Allouche translated into French), “Chabad after Gimmel Tamuz is like a malat (unmanned aerial vehicle which is designed and run by a pilot from a distance.) The Rebbe has designed the flight plan and where we want to go, which is the Geulah shleimah. The Rebbe is with us to monitor, help, and bless us. We just need to get on board!”
Special couples in the community, Gene and Georgina Rice and Johnny and Elisheva Stross, were honored for their support and devotion to Chabad of Baka, which is a welcoming community for olim from around the world. Jonny Stross shared, “I feel like Yisro. I checked out every shul in Jerusalem, and finally at Chabad of Baka, I found my home and my family.”
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak and Hindy Kalmenson, the shlucha’s parents, were guests of honor from New Haven, Connecticut.
The dinner also marked the shloshim of beloved community member, Evelyn Hayes z’l. Evelyn is famous for her unprecedented devotion to Kever Rachel, where she bought an adjacent property, donated a Sefer Torah, and arranged increased busing, Torah classes, and programming to ensure that it would continue to be in Jewish hands.
Yehoshua Hayes, Evelyn’s husband who partnered with her in all of her virtuous endeavors, thanked the community for being there for him and his family through their aliyah and his wife’s illness and passing.
Alex Traiman, the shul Gabbai, was the charismatic master of ceremonies and Rabbi Hendel shared words of chizuk. The shluchim praised the unique ahavas Yisrael of the Chabad of Baka community, which is in line with the Rebbe’s vision and mission statement for all of us.
Jessica Wolf, a clinical psychologist and mother in the Friendship Circle of South Jerusalem, directed by Chabad of Baka, shared touching words of gratitude. “Being a psychologist and having three children with special needs, I am on both ends of the care system, helping and providing resources for others and receiving support and assistance. From all of my experience, I have yet to encounter a support system on either side that comes close to the Friendship Circle because it comes sincerely from the heart, as a real shlichus.”
Talented musicians graced the evening, including flutist Shmuel Allouche, violinists R’ Yitzchak Hurwitz and Yekusiel Hendel, and pianist and singer, Pinny Shachar. The music was joyful and energetic and led to spontaneous dancing.
VIDEO: Dinner Highlights
The atmosphere was beautiful and uplifting, and participants left motivated to grow and add in their spiritual development. For more information and upcoming events, you can visit chabadofbaka.com.
The Hendels are incredible! Baka is one lucky city.