Hundreds from Hanover, Germany, from around the world, led by a member of the Bundestag (German parliament), the Deputy President of the Hanover region, the Mayor of Hanover, and many Chabad shluchim from Germany and around the world, participated in a series of events culminating in the inauguration of the play center “Gan Bereishit” at Chabad of Hanover’s “Beit Binyamin” campus, marking the fifth Yartzeit of the unforgettable shliach Rabbi Binyomin Wolff, on Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
The commemorations began with the annual three-day German-language Jewish Book Fair. This unique event, now taking place for the third consecutive year, showcases fundamental Jewish texts in all areas, presented by various Jewish publishing houses in the German language.
Over the course of the three-day book fair, a variety of activities for all ages took place with the participation of prominent public figures from across Germany. One of the event’s featured Ahmad Mansour, a renowned psychologist and author in Germany, known for his strong support of Israel.
The memorial ceremony on the day of the yahrzeit, began at the Jewish cemetery in Hanover, and was attended by social and political dignitaries, community members, family, friends, and guests from around the world.
The ceremony opened with moving welcoming remarks by the head shlucha to Hanover Mrs. Shterna Wolf, followed by inspirational remarks by: member of the Bundestag Mr. Adis Ahmetovic, Deputy President of the Hanover Region Mr. Petra Rudszuk, Mayor of Hanover Mr. Thomas Hermann, CEO of the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany (ZWST) Mr. Aharon Schuster, the head shliach to Germany Rabbi Yisrael Diskin, and the Hanover shliach Rabbi Levi Gottlieb. Cantor Menachem Ganon led the attendees in song and prayer accompanied by music from Igor Ginzburg.
The highlight of the commemoration day was the inauguration of the new, state-of-the-art, outdoor play center “Gan Bereishit” at the Chabad of Hanover “Beit Binyamin” campus.
This unique project, the first of its kind in Germany, was initiated by the head shlucha to Hanover Mrs. Shterna Wolf. It is a Jewish-educational playground designed to bring Jewish learning to life. The educational play center was built in the shape of a Star of David, with each of its six points illustrating one day of Creation, while the center of the star represents the holy day of Shabbat.
The play center was inaugurated by the shliach to Berlin Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, who thanked all those who contributed to its establishment. The event was hosted and MCed by renowned NDR television anchor Christina von Sass.
The new play center “Gan Bereishit” was made possible thanks to a major grant from a dear friend of the Rebbe’s shluchim around the world and of Chabad in Hanover, philanthropist Mr. George Rohr, in memory of his parents, the renowned philanthropists and supporters of Chabad, Sami and Charlotte Rohr, of blessed memory.
Special thanks to Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky for his friendship and support, and for following in his father’s — Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky — footsteps, a dear and dedicated friend of Chabad in Hanover, who was very instrumental in the establishment of the “Beit Binyamin” campus in memory of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf.
“Gan Bereishit,” says Mrs. Wolf proudly, “will serve as a unique experiential and educational center for the Jewish children of Hanover, and from all over Germany. In addition, the play center will be open to the greater community of Hanover, where all children, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will have the opportunity to learn about the creation of the universe through the lens of Judaism and deepen their recognition and connection to HaShem.”
