In the Shul of the luxurious Rixos Hotel in Alma Ata, more than 150 Shluchim, Rabbis, Chassidim and Bochurim gathered for a Grand Farbrengen and event to mark the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson obm, the father of the Rebbe, who is buried with honor in the city after being exiled to the region during the communist regime.
The MC for the evening was the Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rabbi Menachem Mendel Chitrik, who noted the wonderful hospitality for the many guests coming to Alma Ata for the Yartzeit, sponsored by the donor and philanthropist R’ Avi Shaulson from Miami.
There was not a dry eye in the house during the speech of the Head Shliach Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, who spoke about the Jewish revolution and the spiritual revival in the country as he called to the stage a 15-year-old boy who decided to receive a Bris Milah on the anniversary of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, and his name was called in Israel – Chaim.
Fascinating speeches from the Torah teachings of R’ Levi Yitzchak were heard from honored guests: The Shliach Rabbi Eli Wolf from Eretz HaKodesh, Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, the Shliach in Beijing, and head of Yeshivat Tomchei Temimim Netanya Rabbi Moshe Orenstein.
Words of blessing full of Chassidic emotion were heard by the donor R’ Avi Shaulson who donated the hospitality for the anniversary visitors on 20 Av, which began at his initiative together with his relative R’ Shmuel Stern. He spoke about the great merit to return to the resting place of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, a place that was known as ‘the address’ for Chassidim in the Soviet Union when the iron curtain blocked the possibility of leaving.
The Farbrengen was accompanied by singing Niggunim performed by the Chassidic singer and cantor R’ Berel Zucker accompanied by R’ Yossi Cohen’s orchestra. At the end of the event, the audience rose to a spontaneous dance for an hour.
The event and all hospitality for visitors to Alma Ata on 20 Av were organized by hand by Fleishman-Peles Productions.
