This past Motzei Shabbos, parshas Toldos, some 70 men and women, members of the Besht Center and the greater Crown Heights community, came to bid farewell to Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson, rabbi of the Besht. The Kalmensons will be moving to Central London to open a new Chabad house.
While attendees enjoyed a delicious buffet, Rabbi Kalmenson spoke about the important role that the Besht plays in Crown Heights continued growth as the spiritual hub for Chabad Chasidim the world over. Afterward, he received a parting gift as a token of gratitude by members of the Shul.
The Besht Center was founded over two years ago to meet the growing needs of the Crown Heights community. According to founder, Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, the shul was established to serve young working professionals in their spiritual growth. It seeks to “develop a love of learning through intellectually engaging shiurim,” and it features “inspirational davening,” so that its member can “grow to be chasidim in the fullest sense of the word.” To that extent, current programing offered by the Besht Centers includes: weekly gemara shiurim, ‘Chavrusa Sushi,’ weekly guest speakers, and a new initiative of monthly Melava Malkas.
Sruli Clapman, the president of the Besht Center, found the Melava Malka as a fitting send off for the Kalmensons.
“We wish Rabbi Kalmenson and his family hatzlocha in their new shlichus, and we will greatly miss him,” Clapman says. “Rabbi Kalmenson helped form much of what the Besht Center is today through his charisma and sincere love for our shared vision. By coming together for monthly Melava Malkas, I believe the achdus we’ll show is the logical extension of everything we’ve learned from him.”
You make the Shanowitz family proud.
We’ll miss you very much, mendel, there is no one like you in the world! And your kids are adorable! 🙂
Who’s taking him over?
Mazel Tov on your shlichus! You inspire so many through your writings on chabad.org and your leadership at the Besht center. Much hatzlacha on your shlichus- may you go from strength to strength and continue to warm hearts and ignite neshamos wherever you are.
the person texting is sruli caplan. he is engaged to chani kopfstien from london. u think he txting her?.. lol
Sruly, better pics then the Vort!
Kallah have a GR8 Flt.!
Thanks for the amazing Farbrengen with Rabbi Lew on Shabbos!
I really enjoyed davennen and learning there under Rabbi Mendy K even though I am a member of an older generation than most of the mispallelim..May his derech ll continue and strengthen in CH and in London..
Pinchos Kurinsky
Continue to bring the Rebbe true nachas! hatzlacho rabah.
np
Mendy, very proud of you.
Meir Geisinsky , from strength to strength
we are so happy sruly clapman is getting married because he can run for vaad haakol and finally turn this place around! he does NOT stand for nonsense and will roll up his sleeves and do in his first 3 months more for the people of CH then anyone did in the last decade.
Why don’t you continue some of the Shiurim?
There’s skype for a reason.
May you be blessed with much success in your new Shlichus!
A very special guy! Rabbi Kalmanson will be missed!
whats the name of the guy who is texting??
has been in london since the summer
I can’t believe he’s leaving already, it felt like just few short days ago that the Shul started.
I actually did not believe the shul would Ben last it’s first few months, cause they started out in a bad location, I went Friday night and I had to stand cause there was not a single empty seat!!!!!
You will be missed.
Levi katzman!!
YOU WILL BE MISSED
His articles are great
i wander who sruly is busy texting?