By COLlive reporter
The Melave Malka of the Global Yarchei Kallah was held at Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, on Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Ekev. Sitting on the dais were rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and mashpiim from around the world.
It marked Chof Av, the 80th yartzeit of Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson OBM, the father of the Rebbe and a gaon and mekubal who stood up to the communist regime.
The Yarchei Kallah was established by Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and head of the camp, who wanted the Chassidim to commemorate Chof Av.
The annual gathering was deeply cherished by the Rebbe, who asked that Chassidim attend the Melave Malka, as part of his personal fulfillment of the Mitzvah of Kibud Av.
One example was shared by Rabbi Berel Levine, Director of the Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in New York. He said that one year, the Rebbe asked him to urgently publish a sefer. Hearing that Rabbi Levine had traveled to the Yarchei Kallah, he instructed him to remain and complete the work upon his return.
Now in its 50th year, the program was mostly held in English catering to a younger crowd. Among the speakers were Rabbi Mendel Gordon, Head Mashpia of Yeshivas Lubavitch in London, England, and Rabbi Moshe Wolberg, maggid shiur at the Central Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad, Israel.
The program was emceed by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, coordinator of the Yarchei Kallah and a Shliach in Tucson, Arizona. It opened with Tehillim for the safety of the holy land of Israel by Rabbi Efraim Demichovsky, Mashpia of the Central Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad.
The Tehillim was recited shortly after Israel launched an offensive attack against the Hezbollah terror sites in Lebanon to thwart a major attack on central and northern Israel. Because of the ongoing war, most rabbonim from Israel were not able to attend this year.
Another guest speaker was Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Pewsner, Shliach and Director of the Sinai educational network in Paris, France. He shares memories of his parents of Reb Levi Yitzchok and his wife Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson OBM.
In honor of the 50th year of the Yarchei Kallah, a special edition of the series Mimeged Yerachim was printed. The 500 pages feature sichos of the Rebbe in connection with the Yarchei Kallah, and divrei Torah from past and living rabbonim. Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov, Head Shliach of Uruguay spearheaded its publishing.
Another memento given was “Gems from Likkutei Levi Yitzchok” in English, with the Torah of the Rebbe’s father on every Parsha and yomtov. Published by Chayeinu, it includes a pirsum rishon of his handwritten notes on the Tanya.
Special thanks was given to the camp director Rabbi Yossi Futerfas and his brother Rabbi Shlomo Futerfas for all of their work and dedication, as well as the camp staff.
The evening included Chabad niggunim sung by Yaakov Moshe Friedman and played by Benny Rosenbaum on the keyboard. Participants danced together, with the wish to hold the next Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim.
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