Evening in Baka Jerusalem Gives Participant ‘Clear Direction’

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Ben Bresky

A diverse crowd of 120 people gathered before Pesach at Chabad of Baka in Jerusalem to partake in a dinner farbrengen in honor of Yud Alef Nissan with world-acclaimed authors and speakers, Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf of Australia and Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson of England.

Participants enjoyed a delectable dinner and live music by Pinny Shachar and young violinist, Yekusiel Hendel, son of Baka Shluchim Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel.

Rabbi Kalmenson, Shliach in Belgravia and author of “Positivity Bias,” opened the evening and focused on the Rebbe’s legendary Ahavas Yisrael and attention to each individual, sharing stories that moved the crowd to tears. He described the farbrengen marking the 150th anniversary of the Alter Rebbe’s passing on 24 Teves, which became known as the “emptying of the pockets.”

Leading by example, the Rebbe urged those at the farbrengen to empty their pockets to emulate the selflessness of the Baal Shem Tov, who wouldn’t go to sleep at night before giving away all that he had. And, behold, a handsome sum was collected to fund the printing of the Alter Rebbe’s illuminating teachings.

Rabbi Kalmenson concluded his riveting talk with a call to action, encouraging each individual to reach out to someone in need, to share shmurah matzah or their Seder with someone who might not have experienced one before, and to approach each day with the Rebbe’s attitude of giving everything we have to that very day.

“He spoke from his heart, and it entered our hearts,” was a sentiment voiced by the audience.

Rabbi Wolf, founder and dean of the Spiritgrow Center in Australia and author of “Practical Kabbala,” delivered a deep maamar that the Rebbe shared at the first Yud Aleph Nissan farbrengen in a most engaging and relatable manner. He emphasized the importance of bitul and avodah in overcoming the daily battle within ourselves and highlighted the importance of connecting to the nasi hador in order to reveal our own spark of Moshe within.

Rabbi Wolf shared some of his personal encounters with the Rebbe, which were fascinating and empowering. For example, when he was considering taking a break from his shlichus on campus in Wisconsin to brush up on his Torah knowledge, the Rebbe said, “When there is a battle, one can’t afford to leave the front lines.”

When Rabbi Wolf was offered a particular position that he didn’t feel qualified for, the Rebbe encouraged Rabbi Wolf to accept, reminding him and his wife that “if you know aleph, you should teach aleph.”

One participant, Tzipi, later shared that she was being asked to teach Tanya and felt inadequate in light of the learned teachers throughout Jerusalem. Rabbi Wolf’s words encouraged her to go forward and try to teach and inspire others in her own way. Another guest noted, “Rabbi Wolf spoke straight to my neshama.”

The Yud Aleph Nissan gathering was beautiful and uplifting. As many articulated, “Now we feel energized and charged to bring the Rebbe’s timeless messages into our own lives.”

English speakers and all Jews are welcomed at Chabad of Baka. For more, visit chabadofbaka.com