London Gathers for 10 Shvat

Over 400 members of Anash, Shluchim and Tmimim in London, England, gathered for a Chasidic Farbrengen in honor of Yud Shevat.

The event, chaired by R’ Efrayim Hager, gabbai at Kingsley Way, was held at the new Mechina building in Golders Green.

Rabbi Nachman Sudak, head shliach of England, opened the event by reading and explaining a letter from the Rebbe.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Dayan of the Lubavitch community in Stamford Hill, told the story of how in 5721 the Rebbe instructed that those who had arrived for Tishrei, “al da’ati”, should keep two days Yom Tov. Rabbi Raskin interpreted it that in general if one does anything parallel to the Rebbe’s wishes then he can be included within the “al da’ati” of the Rebbe.

Rabbi Yosef Alperowitz, Shliach in Bournemouth, stressed the importance of the day that it celebrates the nesius of the Rebbe. He pointed out that we now enter the seventh decade of the seventh generation and we must gather the special kochos we are given at such a special time to do all we can to bring the Geulah closer.

The guest speaker was Rabbi Levi Wineberg, Rav and head of the Semicha program in South Africa. Rabbi Wineberg retold that the Afruf Kiddush for one of his brothers could, for practical reasons, not be held in 770. When his father, Rabbi Yossel Wineberg, wrote to the Rebbe about his disappointment, the Rebbe answered “there is no difference, as long as someone recites Chassidus.” In a clear manner, Rabbi Wineberg then chazzered a Maamar in English (having stressed that his belief was that chazoro of Chasidus should be in the vernacular, so as to be understandable to the audience). This was well accepted and greatly appreciated by the packed crowd.

After the formal part of the event finished, many stayed behind until the early hours of the morning to continue to farbreng and draw words of inspiration from the guest speaker.

This event brought to a close a successful 4-day visit of Rabbi Wineberg to London. Over Shabbos he spoke at Heichal Menachem, Anash Shul in Golders Green and on Shabbos day he farbrenged all day at Kingsley Way in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He also addressed the Neshei Chabad event on Motzei Shabbos which attracted over 50 women, as well as a large group of Bnos Chabad in Stamford Hill on Sunday evening.