Hundreds of Lubavitch Chassidim and Yeshiva Bochurim walked for hours on the first day of Shavuos in the traditional Tahalucha march to shuls around New York’s five boroughs.
The marchers walked up to 3 hours each way from Lubavitch World Headquarters on 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights to over 200 shuls to bring additional joy and inspiration to thousands of our brethren.
Among the many neighborhoods they visited were Manhattan, Queens, Boro Park, Flatbush, Brighton Beach, Sea Gate, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay, Howard Beach, Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights, Canarsie and Mill Basin.
These marchers shared the Rebbe’s inspirational messages for Shavuos, as the day of acceptance of the Torah with renewed spirit and enthusiasm.
Chabad Rabbonim from around the world who were in New York for the Yom Tov joined the Tahalucha.
They also stressed, as they addressed the congregants, that Shavuos is the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov who visited the heavenly habitation of Moshiach and asked him, “When are you coming”? Moshiach responded, “When your wellsprings will spread outwardly.”
Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Director of Lubavitch Youth Organization which organizes the marches, said: “The Rebbe instructed us to go on the Tahalucha and share the joy of receiving the Torah with as many Jews as possible.”
Rabbi Butman recalls the wonderful years when the Rebbe would stand at the entrance of 770 Eastern Parkway to personally escort the marchers on their important mission.
“This was indeed a great and cherished moment when the ‘Commander in Chief’ left his room to personally ‘see off his troops’,” he added. “These dedicated soldiers who went on Tahalucha are continuing the work of the Rebbe.”
It was coordinated by Rabbi Yossi Butman, Project Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization and coordinated together with by Rabbi Yosef Goldwasser, and Hatamim Shmuely Butler.
The organizers at the Lubavitch Youth Organization were particularly thankful to the NYPD, as the ongoing involvement and protection of the Police department is so very important to the success of the march.
As late as the only a few hours before Yom Tov many Rabbis were still calling the offices of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, or sent emails, to make sure that Lubavitch representatives should come to their Shuls to help them celebrate the Yom Tov Shavuos.
