Millionaire goes all out for Birthday

The Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk recently welcomed Jewish businessman and philanthropist Mr. Leonardo Farkas of Chile and the United States.

He was joined by a delegation of Chabad rabbis headed by Vice Chairman of Merkos, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky and his son Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky, Director of Merkos Suite 302.

Already on their arrival at the airport, they were personally honored by the head of the Passport Control department in the Dnepropetrovsk area and his assistants, thereby setting the tone for the rest of their stay.

The visit began at the educational institutions – the Levi Yitzchak Jewish school, the boys’ yeshiva and the “Chaya Mushka” school for girls, where Mr. Farkas approached the children, listened to each of them and, of course, distributed gifts.

From there, the delegation visited the elders of the community at the Beit Baruch Jewish Nursing Home, situated on the other side of the city. Rabbi Kotlarsky spoke warmly to them and then Mr. Farkas went up to visit, individually, those who were confined to their beds in their rooms. His visit and the exceptional treatment he accorded to these elders of the community, will certainly add days and years to their lives.

The long Friday enabled the delegation to enjoy a tour of the Menorah Jewish Center, and also gave them the opportunity to meet local Holocaust survivors and heroes of the Jewish fighters, who had gathered in Rabbi Kaminetzky’s office especially for this occasion.

They also managed to include a visit to the impressive Jewish Holocaust Museum before Shabbat.

The festive Friday night davening, accompanied by the “Meftach Sol” choir and Cantor Shlomo Glick from Israel, set the tone for the atmosphere of the evening, followed by a Shabbos meal that continued into the small hours of the night at the home of the Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk district and the Rebbe’s shaliach, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky. The occasion left a strong impression on the participants and they’ll surely be speaking about it for a long time to come.

The wonderful weather and gracious hospitality at the Jewish Menorah Center enhanced the feelings of excitement and elation.

The “Golden Rose” synagogue was filled to the brim in anticipation of an uplifting service. Indeed, every word of the prayers received a new and refreshing meaning on this Shabbos, accompanied by heart-warming Chazzanus passages. The Leining and Aliyos seemed to take on a added sanctity too.

Rabbi Kaminetzky welcomed the guests with words of Torah after which Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who had made a great effort to attend, greeted the audience and included in his words a very moving story about a Jewish Holocaust survivor, Velvel Ben Moshe from western Ukraine, and his return to Judaism thanks to the Mesirus Nefesh of the local Shliach in the town where he lived.

After Mussaf, which left everyone inspired and overcome with a renewed sense of Jewish pride, Mr. Leonardo Farkas invited the whole community to a sumptuous Shabbos meal in the huge banquet hall at the Menorah Center.

During the meal, with over eight hundred guests, the Chazzanus choir performed Chassidic songs, much to everyone’s enjoyment and appreciation.

The meal continued on to a Chassidic Farbrengen for the Shluchim to Dnepropetrovsk with guest Rabbis and Shluchim – Rabbi Benzion Korf, Rabbi Mendel Katz, Rabbi Chaim Stern and Rabbi Moshe Denberg.

The climax of the visit was on Motzei Shabbos with the Torah celebration – the kind of event one doesn’t see too often. It was the siyum of the writing of a Sefer Torah that was ordered from the Stam Center in Dnepropetrovsk by the distinguished guest, Mr. Leonardo Farkas. The Sefer Torah will be brought to the synagogue in Haditch, the resting place of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe.

At the Torah celebration, Mr. Farkas held a Jewish quiz for the children who participated in the event and they won very valuable prizes. He also explained and taught them about the great merit of giving Tzedoko.

A night of singing and dancing until the early hours was the perfect finale for this dream visit, and hopefully the beginning of a strong friendship between the Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk and the legendary Mr. Leonardo Farkas.

The visit can be summed up as having been an intense and very significant event for the Jews of Dnepropetrovsk. It certainly strengthened them and has already made its mark on their connection to Am Yisroel, to the community and to the amazing work in Dnepropetrovsk.