Hurwitz Family Keeps Joyous

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Chaim Ezagui – 347-785-8798

The theme of the evening held Wednesday night in Crown Heights was the saying of our Sages that “simcha poretz geder,” happiness and joy have the power to transcend barriers.

It wasn’t that guests of Eli Chaim Hurwitz‘s Bar Mitzvah celebration needed a prerequisite for their attendance. But they all wanted to make it the most joyous and memorable event possible.

“How many people do you know in this room? Probably no more than 50,” Rabbi Hirshy Minkowitz, Shliach in Alpharetta, GA, pointed out to the 13-year-old boy sitting in a crowd of 300 people who filled the Lubavitch Yeshiva events hall.

“Yet all these people are here for one reason – they love your parents,” Minkowitz said, referring to the Bar Mitzvah boy’s proud parents and fellow Shluchim Rabbi Yitzi and Dina Hurwitz (nee Berkowitz) of Temecula, California.

Yitzi has recently been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating disease which weakens various physical abilities and often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

Upon hearing that Rabbi Hurwitz wanted his son to have his Bar Mitzva aliya to the Torah at 770 Eastern Parkway, friends of the family organized the celebration on the East coast for all to participate.

Minkowitz, who served as the evening’s emcee, was one of them. He recalled growing up with Yitzi, sharing memories of his best childhood friend and neighbor in Crown Heights. He also described to the Bar Mitzva boy how beloved his parents are to so many.

That sentiment was certainly shared by guests, which included members of the Hurwitz and Berkowitz families, and friends of Yitzi and Dina – some of whom hadn’t been in touch for many years.

“I’m going to begin with a dvar Torah because I’m a shliach, and we spent Pesach away from our Chabad House, so I’m aching to say a dvar Torah,” Rabbi Hurwitz opened his touching, yet witty remarks.

He thanked all his dear friends who not only put together a beautiful simcha, but are providing support to his family during this difficult time. (Donations can be given at Hurwitzfamilyfund.com)

The guests danced and sang along as Benny Friedman sang and Yossi Goldstein performed a cappella chassidic melodies, chasing away dark thoughts and medical predictions, putting full hope and faith in G-d Almighty’s love and mercy.

“May you dance at the weddings of your sons and grandsons,” Merkos Vice Chairman Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky wished Hurwitz in his speech.

The public is asked to continue saying Tehillim and doing mitzvos in merit of Yitzchok ben Bracha.