By COLlive reporter
Over 200 friends and members of Chabad of Kensington in Brooklyn gathered Thursday night, Beis Tammuz, to celebrate the 60th birthday of their beloved Shliach, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levin.
In the crowd were childhood friends, Chulon Chief Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, neighboring Shluchim, owner of Russian Davidzon Radio Gregory Davidzon, prominent journalist Ari Kagan, and of course, his family.
A shocked Rabbi Levin entered the packed hall, where a delicious buffet dinner and a beautiful program awaited him and the guests.
Speakers divided his life in years of 20, starting with the entrance of Dr. Zev Leifer, Professor of Microbiology and Pathology at New York College of Podiatric Medicine.
As a young bochur of 16, Rabbi Levin met Dr. Leifer when he flew on a secret mission to Moscow in 1969.
Dr. Leifer related how they met for 5 minutes in a park, followed by which Rabbi Levin was arrested and interrogated by Russian agents. This past Thursday was the first time Rabbi Levin met him since that fateful day 44 years ago.
The next speaker was Michoel Livshin of Morristown, NJ who related how as a young man in the 1980’s he heard of Rabbi Levin while still in Russia, where he was told “when you come to America, find a Rabbi by the name of Moshe Chaim Levin, he will help you with whatever you need,” and indeed it was so.
Livshin related many stories of Rabbi and Mrs. Levin’s effect on his spiritual and physical life, keeping the crowd chuckling with his amusing and inspiring stories.
The last 20 years was represented by Mr. Sender Gozenpud, a very dear member of Chabad of Kensington, who related the personal effect Rabbi Levin had on him, guiding him from being a young, secular boy who only knew he was Jewish, to a proud Chassidishe father of 5, living the life of a true Chossid.
Afterwards, Rabbi Gershon Avtzon Farbrenged with the crowd in connection with Gimmel Tammuz, sharing inspiring stories depicting how the Rebbe still takes care of us and is with us still today.
A video clip was then shown of Rabbi Levin passing by the Rebbe where he presented the Rebbe with 51 Tanyas that he printed by the kvarim of the Rebbeim and cities throughout Russia, which the Rebbe received with much Nachas.
Many took on hachlatos as spiritual gifts in honor of the birthday.
You’re not kidding about his mother, and I’m sure Rabbi Levin follows in her footsteps as does his sister.
Is their a video available? Mazel Tov Rabbi Levin.
Rabbi Levin you had a very special mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Levins are the nicest people
Rabbi Levin – you are always young and energetic chossid