By COLlive reporter
Hundreds of people recently gathered at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for an evening of unity and inspiration, celebrating the life and teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Titled “One People, One Heart,” the event was organized as a joint project of many Chabad Centers in Minnesota, in commemoration of Gimmel Tammuz, the 25th yartzeit of the Rebbe.
The event was emceed by entrepreneur Alex Portnoy. Head Shliach of Minnesota Rabbi Moshe Feller addressed participants with words of inspiration.
The highlight of the event was an address by Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, Director of Chabad of Poway, California, who survived a terrible shooting attack at his center on the last day of Pesach.
Rabbi Goldstein kept the audience spellbound, relating how the Rebbe influenced his life and gave him strength in all aspects of his life, so that when it came to the toughest times – the horrendous events at Chabad of Poway, it gave him the strength to confront the shooter and save lives.
Rabbi Goldstein described the events of the tragic day of the shooting, which took the life of Lori Kaye HYD, and stressed that since he had saved children, his own life was saved. Rabbi Goldstein said that the Rebbe’s teachings are what gave him the courage to delay being transported to the hospital and remain with his congregation following the shooting. “The Rebbe empowered every person to do great things,” he said.
The crowd enjoyed a live musical performance of the Rebbe’s Niggunim in a unique multimedia concert accompanied by a local string quartet.
The event concluded with remarks by Rabbi Zalman Bendet of Chabad of S. Paul, encouraging participants to add in deeds of goodness and kindness to improve their lives and make the world a better place.
An “ark” shaped charity box was distributed to participants, and the newly published books about the Rebbe’s impact, “One by One” and “Social Vision” were offered for sale.
Rabbi Goldstein is one of a kind and Hashem should repay him.