Concert is Tribute to Late Shlucha

By COLlive reporter

Rosh Chodesh Tamuz is the Yahrtzeit of Maryland Shlucha Chaya Zlata Geisinsky ob”m (nee Dubrawsky). This marks the 6th year since her passing in the prime of her life. Zlata is remembered as a noble Shlucha who achieved the work of a hundred lifetimes in the span of not even one.

Within a short time after she and her husband arrived at their post of Shlichus, Zlata was recognized as a remarkable educator and was offered the position as the Preschool Director of the Berman Hebrew Academy, the largest traditional Jewish Day School in the entire Greater Washington DC area. Under her direction the preschool grew to a remarkable 7 classes, each filled to legal capacity, quadrupling the size of the preschool.

Each day, immediately after school, Zlata would then devote her entire being to their Chabad Center. Her office, both at school and at the Chabad Center became quietly identified as a place to receive insightful counsel from a very wise person, who gave you her full heart and attention.

Her talents in every genre were truly incredible, as was her energy. It is no exaggeration to state that in the years that G-d gave her, Zlata directly and considerably uplifted the lives of thousands of individuals on a personal level. She was immensely admired and respected by the entire community.

Each year around the time of her Yahrtzeit, Yad Zlata, the organization established in her memory, presents a benefit concert as a tribute to her and as a way to celebrate her life and carry forward her noble deeds. Each year a star singer of Chassidic – Israeli music performs, to create a memorable evening.

This year, the Yad Zlata Benefit Concert featured Benny Friedman and the community’s response was overwhelming. The concert sold-out, students were asked to sit on the floor to allow for more people to be able to attend. Benny Friedman was absolutely magical and the audience responded in kind, the ruach was tangible.

Maestro musician Yossi Shtendig was masterful and the Kol Chaim Orchestra (Chaim Fruchter) took the music to a whole other level.

Welcoming remarks were offered by Zlata’s husband R. Bentzion Geisinsky he thanked the entire community for keeping Zlata ob”m so vividly in their hearts and minds even with the passage of time. He further explained the meaningfulness of coming together this year in particular in accordance with the Rebbe’s enthusiasm for such events during a Shnas Hakhel.

Mrs. Rochie Charytan and Mrs. Mushky Blesofsky, two of Zlata’s daughters shared a tribute to her and her son R. Sender Geisinsky engaged the guests as they arrived. As Benny brought down the house Rabbi Sender Geisinsky prompted the guest to get out of their seats and take to the floor.

The evening only came to an end when the concert-hall building management pleaded to allow them to close up after the allowed overtime had run out.

In closing R. Geisinsky announced that this year was Zlata’s 6th Yahrtzeit, which he related to being like Erev Shabbos. He asked everyone to pray and believe with full faith that by next year we will be in a state of an everlasting Shabbos, with the coming of Moshiach, then this same event will be celebrated in Yerushlaim with Mrs. Geisinsky in attendance in plain sight along with all of Klal Yisroel.

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