Blumes Hosts Friends Farb

An intimate Farbrengen took place last night in a Crown Heights home, giving friends and long-ago classmates a chance to shmooze and be inspired.

R’ Nosson Blumes, director of development of Oholei Torah schools and a member of the Bais Shmuel congregation, hosted the evening in honor of his late father Ephraim ben Zev. Nosson ended the year cycle of saying Kaddish on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.

Ephraim Blumes passed away last year at the age of 73. During his lifetime he merited to have a connection with the Rebbe. Over cake and salads, his son related a story about the positive result of his visits to his parents’ hometown of Winnipeg, Canada.

“Today’s Hayom Yom talks about hashgacha protis (divine providence),” Blumes said. “When my father was ailing, we made a family gathering and used the opportunity to do mitzvos. Many people agreed to put on Tefillin. One person, 93 years old, put on Tefillin for the first time in his life. His wife said proudly, ‘I think he was a good Jew until now, but now he’s even better.’ The man passed away shortly after.”

Members of the Young Leadership Committee of Oholei Torah, a patron group Blumes founded, came to join Blumes and farbreng in a warm and heimishe atmosphere.

Old friends from Blumes’ Yeshiva days came and reminisced. They were joined by members of Bais Shmuel. Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Rabbi of Beis Shmuel, attended as well, and said a sicha of the Rebbe.