Chassidic Dance Moves to Tears

Over 450 people from the heimish and Anash communities of Stamford Hill, London, joined for a chassidishe fabrengen and melavah malkah, this Motzei Shabbos in preparation for Yud Tes Kislev.

The annual event, hosted by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Liberow, director of the Ohr Hatorah Chassidus Library, took place at the Yismach Lev Satmar hall.

The fabrengen was chaired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gordon, mashpia of Yeshiva Gedola Kingsley Way and was graced with the presence of many prominent rabbonim including the Rabbi Efraim Padwa (Rov of London), Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Hertz (Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Kingsley Way), Rabbi Pinchas Schneebalg (Rosh Yeshiva of Chaim Meirim Wiznitz London) and guest speaker and fabrenger – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Foigel, Rosh Kollelei Mayonei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.

The overflowing crowd, both from anash and the wider Chassidic community, sat down together to a lavish catered meal accompanied by live music. The keynote speech, delivered by Rabbi Foigel, highlighted the importance of every single individual to learn Chassidus and to learn it in a way that one is able to reach a greater clarity, by discussing concepts of chassidus with other people.

The entire crowd joined together and sang soul-stirring niggunim concluding with the Alter Rebbe’s niggun daled bovos. Just before benching, the crowd arose and burst out into joyous dancing. People were moved to tears by this ultimate expression of achdus of all Chassidic circles dancing together.

The thirst for Chassidus was evident by the amount of interest shown in the display of seforim on sale.

The active participation of the shluchim and bochurim of the Yeshiva Gedola, Kingsley Way enhanced the atmosphere of the fabrengen.

After bentching, which was way after midnight, Rabbi Foigel continued to fabreng till 4:00 in the morning.

The melavah malkah was preceeded by a Friday night fabrengen at the home of Rabbi Nachman Yosef Wilhelm and Sunday night there was also a fabrengen till the early hours of the morning. Many yungerleit and yeshiva bochurim attended these late night fabrengens. Rabbi Foigel returned to Eretz Yisroel Monday morning, leaving the London community with a greater enthusiasm to pursue the teachings of chassidus.

This evening once again has inspired many to take upon themselves to learn Chassidus as part of their daily schedule. Ohr Hatorah has received numerous requests to host more of these shiurim and fabrengens and this highlights the necessity of Ohr Hatorah’s programs for the Chassidic community.

Ohr Hatorah is open every evening for the benefit of all those looking to access the world of Chassidus. The library has an extensive collection of thousands of Chassidic seforim, journals and publications and a special room in the library has been dedicated to be able to view the many thousands of hours of Farbrengens and distribution of dollars etc. Ohr Hatorah also hosts Farbrengens and shiurim regularly in its warm and friendly environment.