Hei Teves Marked at Ohel

By COLlive reporter

Over 500 Anash, Shluchim and bochurim gathered at the Rebbe’s Ohel to mark the auspicious day of Hei Teves.

Shluchim of all ages from around the globe, including Europe, Israel, Canada and throughout the US joined Anash and bochurim from local and out of town Yeshivas for an event and farbrengen that lasted through the night.

The formal event began with MC Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, who shared anecdotes about the Seforim case and the events transpiring up to the victory.

Rabbi Brook told many different anecdotes of the case and stressed the importance of learning the Rebbe’s Torah and strengthening our Hiskashrus through learning the Rebbe’s sichos.

Rabbi Yona Shur of Toronto spoke about the events of the case and what was happening in Crown Heights at the time as he experienced it as a bochur in 770. Rabbi Shur described what it was like living through that period of time and how they understood the Rebbe’s directives during the case and after the win.

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Rebbe’s personal secretary and Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, later spoke and shared many details of the case that he experienced first-hand, being that he was the one who reported to the Rebbe what had transpired in court each day of the trial.

He shared that after he reported to the Rebbe the news that the case was over and Chabad had won, shortly afterward the Rebbe inquired about the birth of Rabbi Krinsky’s new grandchild, an indication of the Rebbe’s love and care towards his Chasidim at all times.

Later on during the farbrengen, a Shliach related a similar story about the Frierdiker Rebbe, that after he had been released from prison and had a few hours to spend with his family before being exiled to Kostroma, the Frierdiker Rebbe inquired about the health of the wife and newborn child of one of the Chasidim.

Rabbi Brook also pointed out the parallel between Yud Tes Kislev and Hei Teves, explaining that just as there was a decree on the nesius during the time of the Alter Rebbe and subsequent victory with his release from prison, Hei Teves represents the decree of our generation, and we relate to the victory as the “Yud Tes Kislev of our times.”

“The connection our generation has to the Yom Tov of Hei Teves has become even stronger in recent years,” the farbrengen’s organizers from Vaad Or v’Chom Hahiskashrus said. “Especially in the past few years, there has been an increase in the farbrenging and purchasing of new seforim around the world, since many connect to this day as the Yud Tes Kislev of our generation.”