By COLlive reporter
Photos by Yossi Percia
An emotional event was held Monday evening to mark the Shloshim – 30 days since the passing of Rabbi Tzemach Cunin OBM, who passed away suddenly at the young age of 43.
A standing-room only, overflowing crowd of family, friends, congregants and fellow Shluchim gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles for an evening in memory of the beloved Shliach of Century City, CA.
In his opening remarks, MC Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin, brother of Rabbi Tzemach, shared that the event was taking place in the same room where the last event that Rabbi Tzemach attended, a gathering marking Gimmel Tammuz, took place, just hours before his untimely passing.
Rabbi Tzemach’s son Levi Cunin then led the crowd in Tehillim.
The event was highlighted by a stirring acapella musical tribute by Eli Marcus and The Shira Choir.
Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach of the West Coast and father of Rabbi Tzemach, gave words of inspiration and Chizuk to participants.
Rabbi Tzemach’s wife Ada Cunin spoke next, giving participants and the thousands tuning in from around the world a glimpse into Rabbi Tzemach’s love, care and devotion to others.
“Tzemach always had time for everybody,” Ada said. For the thousands that he touched during his lifetime, they all felt that they “were the center of his universe, while at the same time his family was the center of his universe,” she said. “Somehow they existed simultaneously.
Video tribute to Rabbi Tzemach Cunin
Mendel Cunin, Rabbi Tzemach’s oldest son, made a siyum on the Mishnayos.
Special guest speaker, Rabbi Dov Greenberg, Director of Chabad of Stanford and a dear friend of Rabbi Tzemach, shared personal reflections about his friend and his unique personality and approach to Shlichus.
Rabbi Tzemach’s daughter Goldie then announced the writing of a new Sefer Torah in his memory, which, she noted, Rabbi Tzemach himself had ordered only a few months ago, as his dream had been for many years to write a Sefer Torah for Chabad of Century City.
The first letters were written by Rabbi Tzemach’s family, in the presence of his wife and children, fulfilling his dream.
Rabbi Zalman Wilschanski, Ada Cunin’s father and Rosh Yeshiva in Tomchei Temimim of Morristown, made a Siyum HaRambam. The Hascholas HaRambam was made by Harav Ezra Binyamin Schochet, Rosh Yeshiva and Dean of Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad.
Israel Consul General Hillel Newman shared condolences and blessings from the Holy Land.
VIDEO: Event Highlights:
VIDEO: Full Event replay
Help support Rabbi Tzemach Cunin’s family: www.kerentzemach.com
